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VOTE411 Voter Guide

2026 Beaufort County School Board District 2

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  • Candidate picture

    Genie Brainerd
    (NonP)

  • Candidate picture

    Christopher Dantzler
    (NonP)

Biographical Information

Why are you running for the Board of Education and what are your top three priorities that you intend to accomplish if elected?

When a parent's request to remove a library book conflicts with the professional judgment of educators who contend the work has literary merit or is a book that is personally beneficial to students, whose judgment should carry more weight?

If elected, would you support, oppose, or seek to modify the district's current book-restriction process? What would 'getting it right' look like to you a year from now?

Setting salary aside, what's one specific change you'd make to working conditions, class sizes, or support staff to keep teachers from leaving?

How should the Board of Education address disparities among schools within the district in terms of academic achievement, student development, and meeting the needs of diverse student populations, such as English language learners, low-income students, and students with special needs

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Brief Bio Christopher Dantzler is the founder of the Extra Mile Club of the Lowcountry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring and developing youth in Beaufort County, South Carolina. A proud native of Beaufort and a 1987 graduate of Beaufort High School, Chris established the organization in 2008 with a vision to guide young people toward positive life choices and long-term success.
email cdantzlerd2@gmail.com
Student Achievement Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. We must focus on academic growth, meaningful opportunities, and the support students need to reach their full potential.

Parent & Community Engagement When schools, families, and communities work together, students thrive. I will work to strengthen communication, partnerships, and accountability between our schools and the families and communities we serve.

Health & Wellness Healthy students are ready to learn. We must support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our students so they can thrive in and outside the classroom.
I believe decisions about instructional and library materials should be made by qualified educators using established criteria that consider educational value, age appropriateness, state standards, and community expectations.
Determining what materials are appropriate in the libraries and classrooms cannot be an isolated approach, all stakeholders must be involved in the process. Parents should have a voice. Educators should have professional input. Administrators should ensure consistency. And the Board should provide the oversight. And every decisions must be transparent, consistent, fair and age-appropriate but aligned to the standards of South Carolina. What Beaufort County's experience with the book dispute several years ago, is a great example of how our community can disagree, but we can sit at the same table, examine the material, listen to one another follow a process and make a decision. That is the kind of leadership I believe our community deserves.
I believe in not just decreasing class size is enough, but we need to invest more in teacher health and wellness. It is a strategic investment that improves teacher retention, reduces absenteeism, increases job satisfaction, and ultimately enhances student achievement.
Every child comes to school with different experiences and needs. The goal is to make sure all students have the support they need to be successful. This includes helping students learn English, providing additional support for newcomers, and giving teachers the tools they need to reach every learner. I believe in setting high expectations for all students and building a school community where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.