Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Position/philosophy statement
Pender County Board of Education District 2
Current Occupation
Retired real estate broker/investor
Age (optional)
71
Campaign Phone
9703894400
I am the best candidate for this office because I have previously been a Board of Education member in a growth county similar to Pender County where I was the co-chairman of a $56million approved bond election that built a new high school, new middle school and new elementary schools. I have personal first hand experience planning for growth and building new schools. I am a certified high school soccer referee for 20 years and come in weekly contact with school athletes and coaches. Having been a a Pender County election judge I have great confidence in the voters, and as a conservative Christian I have great faith in in our God-directed mission to educate, not indoctrinate our students. I put parents first.
A school board member must be a leader with good listening skills; and that means listening to parents, teachers and students. Teachers and students deserve order, respect and accountability - I will hold the Superintendent responsible for enforcing discipline standards. A common sense approach to decision making has three P's: 1. Public input from parents, 2. Policy decisions based on public priorities and 3. Payment based on options provided by the Superintendent. A school board member must be transparent and provide constant communication with parents and teachers. Finally, integrity is a key component of solid leadership from the school board members.
1. Parental Involvement: Pender County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. I want all parents to be more involved with decisions made affecting their kids regarding curriculum, student achievement and school safety. Education takes place in our schools and at home - parents should be leading both. 2. Plan for Growth: having previously been a school board member that approved a voter bond election and built new schools, I have first hand experience in planning for the future growth expected in Pender County. I will create a 15 year written plan to build new schools. 3. Academic Achievement: We need to focus our curriculum on the 3 R's by teaching the basics along with critical thinking skills, not critical race theory.
We need to hire and pay the most qualified teachers based on merit. Teachers are drastically under paid and in order to hire and retain the best teachers, we need to provide an atmosphere in Pender Schools where learning is the priority and compensation is attached to student academic performance. We need to find the resources locally, regionally and nationally to increase pay for our teachers and have them make a long term commitment to student academic performance. I would also encourage parents to explore the best learning alternatives for their kids through charter schools, religious schools and home schooling and have the money follow those kids.
The Pre-K program is important for many working families, gifted and talented students and special needs students. It should not be a catch-all for the state bureaucracy and teachers unions to indoctrinate our kids. Rather, a need-satisfaction approach can provide certain at-risk groups the extra exposure and attention they need to learn.
My Goals:
* More parental involvement and participation in schools and school board meetings.
* Focus on academic achievement - no CRT, DEI in curriculum - emphasize the 3 R's - make Pender County schools the North Carolina gold standard.
* Public safety in schools, on buses and on campus - SRO officers in every school - only 2 unlocked doors, front door and back door, each with armed security guard. Security cameras connected to police. Signage saying these schools are protected by armed security.
* Bus transportation improved discipline and safety - increase bus driver pay, parental input on bus routes and schedules, bus security cameras connected to police.
* Teacher hiring and pay based on merit.
* Visit all Pender County schools monthly.
* Monthly school board meetings held in the schools.
* Put God back in schools.
I am my own man - not beholden to any special interest groups. I make decisions based on knowledge and integrity by putting students and parents first.
