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Position/philosophy statement
I believe every child in the Catawba County School system deserves the quality education guaranteed in the state constitution.
Current Occupation
Alternative Family Living (AFL) Provider
Age (optional)
52
Campaign Phone
8282445603
During my undergrad years at App State, I was active in Housing and Residence Life, where I was named Programmer of the Year, and helped found the Diversity Advocates. I also worked with the Department of Education Leadership Program and held leadership roles in both the Higher Education Student Association (HESA) and the Executive Impact Club as a grad student.
My perspective is to trust the educators, staff, and administrators the school system has employed. The role of the elected school board should be to ensure these professionals are adequately equipped to perform their jobs and to verify the learning objectives are achieved while upholding our community standards.
The most important responsibility of a school board member is to listen to the experts in the school system and make decisions and develop policies that meets the needs of the students. School board members should welcome input from all stakeholders in education, including parents, teachers, administrators, community members and students. Policies should be developed to ensure that educational opportunities are equitable system-wide and provide clear guidance for the services the school system provides to every student, regardless of category or creed.
Catawba County Schools face a facilities crisis with overcrowded schools which has resulted from the housing growth in our rural communities. The school board should analyze the facilities study conducted in 2025 to determine where community housing growth will most impact the schools and work with commissioners to prioritize capital needs. Instead, the current board has authorized a middle school expansion plan based on acquiring additional facilities through the school merger proposal. Top priority must be providing an environment conductive to student academic success regardless of whether the merger is approved.
We can strengthen our schools by strengthening the people who serve in them. We can utilize our partnerships with our local institutions of higher education to grow a truly homegrown pipeline of educators, offering incentives for local students to become our next generation of teachers. We can expand paid high-school education internships and offer classroom setup grants, so teachers don’t have to pay out of pocket. We need to focus the first-year educator mentorships on relationship-building, minimizing structured requirements while possibly enlisting retired or semi-retired teachers to provide their wealth of experience and community connections.
Pre-K is very important in our school district because it allows parents the opportunity to ensure their child is ready for kindergarten and acclimated to the academic environment. Offering these programs allows parents this opportunity regardless of ability to pay, which helps each child enter the K-12 schools on equal footing.
Student success should be measured using a balanced set of indicators rather than relying solely on test scores. We should include academic achievement, attendance and student engagement, higher education or workforce readiness, extracurricular activities and social engagement, and emotional development and well-being.
My campaign is built around three priorities: safe and supportive schools, strong and honest academics, and partnership and transparency.
I believe in our children, I believe in our educators, and I believe in the future of Catawba County. Every child. Every classroom. Every opportunity.
In November, remember...Vote Kevin! He's a Good Apple!
Position/philosophy statement
NC
Current Occupation
Data Analyst
Age (optional)
53
Campaign Phone
7042495592
I have three children and all of them have attended Catawba County Schools, and one of them are still in Catawba County Schools (CCS). I have been on the Catawba County Board of Education for three years and this will be my second year as the Chairman. I feel during my time on the BOE I have helped bring stability to the BOE and as a Board we have moved in the right direction with growing our student enrollment.
Being a good listener to students, staff and community. Being able to work with other community leaders on the behalf of the school system that one is representing. Putting the needs of the school system before ones other interest. Understanding how to write policy and how to make the policy fit within Federal, State and Local Laws and the policy cannot contradict any of your other policies.
CCS is growing very fast and our High Schools are older buildings. We have completed a population study with a outside contractor. We made a decision to move 6th grade to our middle schools to relieve overcrowding pressure at CCS elementary schools. We have applied for state grants, but the majority of the funding will need to come from the county level.
CCS has been working hard to recruit and retain qualified teachers. CCS has what I feel is the best in the state of NC Beginning Teacher Mentorship program.
Very important especially in the post covid world of education. Getting the children into a classroom and getting them socialized before entering kindergarten is crucial. I have heard stories of children first grade and up not being potty trained.
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Position/philosophy statement
Catawba County School Board/ Christian/Common Sense /Conservative
Current Occupation
Self employed (Rental property)
Age (optional)
66
Campaign Phone
828-612-5449
I'm a lifelong resident of Catawba County. I have worked in roles ranging from purchasing agent to operations manager and more.
Service to this community has shaped my life, I coached youth baseball for 15 years, served as
president of the SS Optimist Club, spent four years as a youth leader at SSELCA, and
have served on the SS Fire Dept. Board for the past 10 years- currently Chairman, lead Christ Church Back-to-School Bash, distributing over 8,000 backpacks in the last 5 years, and completing an unexpired term on CCS board.
I believe that college is a great choice for some, but not for all. I am committed to expanding the CTE program. I am a common sense independent thinker who will be a voice for those who feel unheard!
The most important is providing the safest, well kept atmosphere for the education of the students under our jurisdiction.
We must keep a great relationship with the superintendent, their administration along with the teachers and the entire staff to ensure that the above is fulfilled.
We must keep looking for better ways to raise the graduation rate and provide avenues for students to be successful upon graduation through mentoring programs and CTE programs.
Moving the 6th grade students into their prospective middle schools to join the 7th and 8th graders.
Along with that buildings must be updated and upgraded with building of wings at all current middle schools.
Hiring of CTE instructors in additional fields is a must.
Working with the board and superintendents office to be creative to see if there could be an incentive based program as business models flourish under.
I am not an advocate of womb to tomb government control. Kindergarten is soon enough for public education.
I am not a politician. I am stepping into this venue because I have always held the mantra that if I think I can make a difference and don’t step forward, I have failed to do God’s calling.
I am a common-sense independent thinker who will listens, learns and seeks cost-effective solutions.
I humbly ask for your vote so that I can continue serving EVERYONE in our community- including those who feel unheard.
