Position/philosophy statement
My educational philosophy is grounded in faith, hope, and resilience. As an African-American man raised by a single mother, my mother instilled in me faith, hope, and resilience. I believe everyone can learn and experience success.
Current Occupation
Pastor
Age (optional)
60
Campaign Phone
3363996374
I have an educational background. I received a Bachelors in Education from WSSU in 1988 and Masters in Education from Wake Forest University in 1999, I taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade. I also worked as a curriculum coordinator. I served on the school board from 2014-2018 and rejoin the board in 2022. My wife is a retired teacher and both of my kids who are now young adults graduated from the WSFSC-Schools. My son is a college graduate and completed his Masters degree. My daughter is a Junior in college and will be graduating soon. Education and a program called Upward Bound have been the tools that helped me move from government housing to where I am today.
The school board member's key responsibilities revolve around setting a vision for the district. They approve policies, oversee budgets, and hire or evaluate the superintendent. They represent the community's values while ensuring student achievement stays at the forefront. School board members are all about leadership, accountability, and making decisions align with long-term goals.
The critical needs for the district is ensuring financial stability while prioritizing staff, essential programs, and facility maintenance within state and local funding. Plus, restoring trust in our district.
Continue and strengthen teacher residency program and continue partnering with local universities.
Pre-k is a crucial foundation. It is an investment in the future that could help ensure academic success. It will help all children start school ready to learn, reinforce family involvement, and support long-term educational outcomes. It is a strategic start.
My dream of serving on the school board is to empower children who share life experiences similar to mine through thoughtful policies, strategic budgeting, and decisions that create opportunities.
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Position/philosophy statement
I believe in transparency, accountability, integrity and excellence. I believe every student is capable of achieving that, and that every employee should do all they can to instill those values in our students.
Current Occupation
Retired
Age (optional)
70
Campaign Phone
336-314-1314
I have thirty-six years of experience in local government accounting software, including budgeting, purchasing, payables and payroll. That is the same fund accounting used by school districts in NC.
During that time, I served one local government customer as their contract accountant and created their annual budget for 2012-13.
In 2015, I stepped away from IT and served a one-year internship to become a middle or high school math teacher. I taught high school math for one year, then served as a sub, a tutor, and a before- and after-school worker in several Title 1 schools in the district.
I have attended most of the board meetings since 2017, and have kept abreast of the issues facing the district.
The most important responsibility of a board member is their fiduciary responsibility. It is the responsibility of the board to establish the budget, then to keep a watchful eye on the finances of the district throughout the year to make sure that spending stays within that budget.
Another responsibility is the oversight of contracts. The board should be aware of every contract in effect in the district, whether or not the amount of the contract requires board approval. The board should also be aware of the terms of those contracts and whether they are set to automatically renew.
Another important role of the board is to establish the culture of the district through policy. This includes curriculum, attendance and behavior policy.
The most important needs in WSFCS are transparency and accountability. The board needs to prioritize establishing realistic goals, making every transaction toward those goals easily available to the public, and holding all stakeholders accountable for achieving those goals.
We need to examine current staffing, following a year of devastating cuts, and establish a level of staffing that serves the needs of all our students, while remaining fiscally responsible.
We need to examine programs and contracts and make sure they are beneficial toward achieving the district's goals.
We need to stop making excuses for students not being at grade level proficiency and do what ever it takes to hold every students and teacher accountable to that end.
I believe there are two primary impediments to recruiting and retaining qualified teachers.
First is the low employee morale following the cutting of 350 jobs just after the 2025-26 school year started. Teachers and support staff were shifted around to fill vacancies and asked to take on new roles with no time to prepare.
Second is the longstanding tolerance of unacceptable behavior. Teachers are expected to deal with much of the daily behavior issues within their classroom, with no support from administration. That is unreasonable and unacceptable. Teachers and students should not feel unsafe in their classroom, or be traumatized, on a daily basis, by disruptive behavior. Admin should remove disruptive students and call parents.
Pre-K is very important, especially given the number of chronically low-performing schools in WSFCS. We have more D and F schools than any district in NC, including districts with three times as many schools. We have students who enter kindergarten having never been read to. They do not know their letters or their numbers. It is impossible to expect K-2 teachers to have those students at grade level by third grade without giving them some support before they enter kindergarten.
We need to find the funding and staffing to provide Pre-K for every child in Forsyth Co. It is the only way to begin to close that gap.
I am a strong believer in transparency and accountability.
Every piece of data in the district needs to be easily accessible to the public. In that way the public can hold the district accountable. Without data, there is no way to know whether the district is spending appropriately and succeeding in educating our children, which is, after all, our only job.
Every person in the district from the youngest pre-k to the superintendent and the board members need to be held accountable for their behavior and for doing their job.
For students, their job is to achieve the very highest level of education possible for them. For staff, their job is to do their very best to help every student achieve that.
We need to establish a culture of excellence, wherein everyone gives their best, to be their best, every day.
Position/philosophy statement
Bring 25 years of classroom teaching experience to School Board; practice fiscal accountability with focus on efficient spending directed at fundamentals of Education.
Current Occupation
HS Classroom Educator
Age (optional)
61
Campaign Phone
3367075038
25 years experience Classroom Teaching, retired Guilford Co.
Relationships building with Parents, Students, Teachers, TAs and Admin.
Ensure efficient spending of taxpayer funds for fundamental Education purposes not fringe agendas and ideologies. Promote policies that encourage school personnel morale.
Pay off the debt allowed by the current Incumbent Board, in a way that does no further harm to school personnel necessary to the Classroom Experience.
Restore confidence in the county that WSFC schools provide a safe and effective environment to send our children for an Education
Enforce a Discipline Code that ensures order in the classroom. Eradicate PD that is ideological and promote that which is useful to fundamental Education core.
Long-term: put in place a competitive county salary supplement with other counties relative in size and population
Pre-Kindergarten is Daycare. Taxpayer funds should be utilized in efficient manners that concentrate on the fundamental 3Rs of Education first. Restoring TAs in elementary grades- 1st, 3rd and 5th should be a priority.
My Experiences teaching, coaching and mentoring across 24 years in the public school setting bring a wealth of understanding problems and difficulties faced by teachers and Admin laboring to educate students in this Era. WSFCS board members must again work together as a team to ensure a safe and productive environment for our young people to learn and mature to be productive citizens to Society. With your vote for me, I will endeavor to make that vision a reality.
Position/philosophy statement
Schools should be safe places for all students to be educated to the best of their abilities.
Current Occupation
President pf the Garett Torney Foundation
I am running for the school board because, as a father, I care deeply about the future our children will inherit. I believe every child deserves a safe, structured school environment with high academic expectations and meaningful support. I value educators and staff and believe their voices should inform policy decisions. I bring a thoughtful, data informed approach focused on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and long term stability. I want to help ensure our schools earn public trust and prepare students for success in school and in life.
The most important responsibilities of a school board member are governance, oversight, and accountability. Board members must set clear policy, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and ensure district operations are transparent, lawful, and fiscally responsible. They must represent the public interest by listening to families, staff, and the community, and by using accurate data to guide decisions. Above all, school board members are responsible for creating conditions where students can learn safely and succeed.
The district’s most critical needs are responsible use of funds, stronger academic support, and better services for students with behavioral challenges. I would prioritize reviewing existing contracts to identify waste and bring appropriate services back into the school system so we can control hiring, quality of work, and accountability. I believe we should reconsider major capital projects and focus resources on restoring EC teachers, adopting a literacy-based instructional model, and updating the Code of Conduct. I also support developing Main Street Academy as a long-term alternative learning option to better serve students who need structured behavioral support.
We cannot promise raises or supplemental pay without a clear understanding of the district’s financial obligations, including unresolved debt and ongoing fiscal risks. Instead, we must focus on creating schools where teachers feel safe, supported, and able to teach. Recent incidents involving weapons, violence, and assaults on staff show that discipline and school safety must be addressed urgently. I would prioritize strengthening the Code of Conduct, reducing non-instructional burdens on teachers, and ensuring schools are orderly environments. Teachers are more likely to stay when they feel protected, respected, and able to focus on students.
High-quality pre-kindergarten programs can play an important role in preparing children for school, particularly in building early literacy, social skills, and routines for learning. I believe Pre-Kindergarten investments should be evidence-based, focused on quality, and coordinated with existing providers to avoid duplication and inefficiency. As a school board member, I would prioritize programs that show measurable benefits for students while ensuring funding decisions are sustainable and do not compromise K through 12 needs. Early learning should strengthen long-term outcomes for children and the community.
I am running for school board because children deserve schools that are safe, supportive, and focused on learning, and parents deserve a district they can trust. As a parent, I understand how deeply families care about their children’s education, safety, and future. I believe schools work best when classrooms are orderly, teachers are supported, and resources are spent wisely. My focus is on strong literacy instruction, clear behavior expectations, and services that meet students where they are, including those who need extra academic or behavioral support. I value transparency, fiscal responsibility, and listening to families. Every decision should be guided by one question: Does this help children learn, grow, and feel safe at school?
Position/philosophy statement
Public school mom and CPA with 35+ years of experience hoping to provide accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility.
Current Occupation
CPA, Consultant
Campaign Phone
336-402-5646
As a CPA for more than 35 years, I have the skills and experience to make sure that our school district is financially sound. My experience provides me with an understanding of budgets, financial operations and proper accounting internal controls, policies and procedures. My experience will help me identify financial red flags and I will raise my hand to get to the bottom of the financial issues. Currently, WS/FCS’ financial office is in transition after the well-publicized financial mismanagement. If elected, I would work with the Superintendent and financial leadership to ensure the financial integrity of the financial information and help design meaningful financial reports.
School board members are responsible for the school district's vision, goals and policies. They hire, evaluate and support the Superintendent. They are responsible for overseeing the school district's budget and financial operations. School board members should create and monitor systems and processes while ensuring progress and accountability. They are stewards of the public's trust while being an advocate for students. The school board is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the school district through their decisions, systems, processes and policies.
As a result of the financial crisis, our school district is facing low morale, teacher turnover, safety issues, lower student enrollment and performance issues. In addition, the public lacks trust in our school board. Trends show an increase in EC and economically disadvantaged students in our schools. The financial office must apply for and receive all federal (IDEA, Title I, etc.,) and state grants available for resources and staff to ensure these students' success. For safety, I would advocate for weapon detecting devices in all middle and high schools. For morale and turnover, we need to make sure that our educators feel valued and respected. We need to show appreciation for their dedication.
We need to do better in attracting and retaining qualified educators. Approximately 67% of WS/FCS’ budget is for instructional services. While money is always a factor in hiring and rewarding qualified educators, other factors such as collaboration, leadership, safety, advancement, support, resources, inclusion, parent support and respect also contribute to making teachers feel valued. We need to a better job supporting, acknowledging and rewarding our amazing educators.
I'm an advocate for the WS/FCS preschool program. Parent's must decide whether the program is right for their child. Many children benefit from the program's structure and instruction. They also benefit from socialization, inclusion and discovery. The program provides an easier transition to kindergarten and encourages communication and cooperation between parents and the school.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Current Occupation
WSFCS Board of Education
Campaign Phone
336-407-1266
As a 23 year Veteran Educator of WSFCS I bring the experience and expertise to make a positive impact on our district. I was a classroom teacher, Reading Specialist and an Instructional Facilitator. I hold an M.Ed. in Literacy (K-12) and Post Master's North Carolina Principal Licensure. My main goal will be to improve the Literacy Proficiency rate of our students. I will also focus on Safe Schools, providing our students with physical and psychological safety to ensure a positive learning environment.
As a school board member my main responsibility is to shape the districts budget by evaluating the superintendents proposal, prioritizing funding for our educational goals and formally adopting a budget for submission to our County Commissioners. The BOE aligns spending with student performance needs. The BOE acts as the governing body for a school district and is responsible for setting district policies, establishing long term visions and overseeing fiscal management.
Budget and Finance - we have addressed and rectified a significant budget deficit and have had to make staff cuts and massive budget restructuring. The EC Program has taken major cuts. Operational funding for essential classroom materials were cut but are being replenished. Most importantly we have a new and awesome Superintendent, Dr. Phipps, and together we will rebuild the trust with our community.
This requires a multi faceted approach focused on competitive compensation, supportive working environments, and structured mentoring. Effective strategies include early hiring, creating "Grow Your Own" programs, fostering positive, collaborative school culture and providing on going Professional Development
Pre -K prepares children for school by fostering essential social, emotional, and motor skills through structured play and instruction. It enhances school readiness. Key benefits include improved independence, social skills and log term academic success.
I want to continue on the WSFCS Board of Education to improve our schools, enhance student outcomes, and to give back to the community. I want to support the Literacy Curriculum and to advocate for student needs and ensure a quality education for all.
Position/philosophy statement
Proven, strong leadership must lead the WSFCS back to relevancy. Experience in finance, logistics, real transparency, logistics and board service is critical in restoring confidence in the system.
Current Occupation
US Army retired, senior corporate management retired
Campaign Phone
813-892-7301
I am a West Point graduate with more than 25 years of Army leadership experience. I have led soldiers at all levels of commands, I was responsible for the lives of these men and women as well as the maintenance and control of tens millions of dollars worth of taxpayer equipment. The Army taught me fund accounting and finance, which is the same as used in the school system. My second carreer was in the coporate world as a senior executive in CEO/COO/CFO roles. I have worked with budgets similar to the WSFCS and understand the nuances of dealing with multi-divisional organizations. I have had the honor of being a member of public company boards as well as charity boards of directors. I have NO plan ro seek higher office.
The Board must provide strong leadership to the system to restore confidence in system also it must ensure 1) the safety of the students, 2) provide academic facilities, teachers and all necessary assistants to help our students flourish, 3) advocate with the county, state, and legislators to provide sufficient funding to the schools. Currently, North Carolina schools ranks as the 50th state in the nation in per student 4) institute a curriculum that will raise our graduation rate from the bottom to the top of our peers, including Vocational and Technical program curriculum 5) must have a seat at the table of planning, and economic development, since the WSFCS is integral to attracting businesses, 6) must protect the taxpayers
The immediate need for the Board to tackle is 1) clearing the remainder of the $60+ million deficit and implement controls to ensure this never recurs 2) if the electorate does not vote in a board with leadership, finance, accounting, technology, logistics & building maintenance experience, it must recruit committees with that expertise must be recruited to assist the board 3) an independent, outside auditor which reports to the board should be hired immediately, 4) since the financial mismanagement began around 2017, an auditor should begin a forensic audit that identifies: when and why a problem occurred and the responsible person must be held accountable and ongoing procedural audits should begin.
My friends who are teachers say it is challenging but extremely rewarding. Our teachers should be paid a better than market rate since the current reputation of the system is so low. It was caused by the incumbents and previous boards and administrations. Our teachers are an important, driving force to restore faith in the schools. They must have access to the necessary tools, software, safe environment, and have supervisors who support them. We should strive to reduce the teachers' burdensome administrative requirements. Teaching assistants and volunteers are part of what make the teacher's job rewarding and must be embraced at all schools. If the superintendent and staff accomplish this, teachers will want to teach here.
As a grandfather of a five year old granddaughter and a three year old grandson, I see first hand how critical the pre-K programs are in the system. Not only do they give the students the needed learning skills but of greater importance pre-K and Kindergarten teach th children how to socialize and act in a group environment. Manners, social skills, working with others learned in pre-K make the integration into the larger classes easier for the kids and the teachers.
WSFCS has a truancy rate that is one of the worst in the state. Studies show that many kids are bored with traditional courses. They also feel that when they go to school that they are ridiculed by others because of their grades. The result is they don't go to school. A robust "VoTech" program will be part of the solution this problem. Forsyth Tech continues to grow by having programs that offer AA and/or certificate programs in vocations and technical careers that are desperately needed in the USA. The schools that were recently closed could be altered to become centers for "VoTech". Our system should coordinate with Forsyth Tech and industry to build a program that prepare students as for the workforce.
Additionally, summer programs should be offered to help kids who are struggling. Athletes could benefit by reducing course work during during the school year. Also, ESL classes could be offered for adults and kids
Position/philosophy statement
Board of Education
Current Occupation
Risk Operations
Age (optional)
63
Campaign Phone
919-740-7048
Over 30 years in the Audit and Compliance field. The current situation should never have gotten this far with proper oversight.
To serve the interests of all students to allow them a safe environment to learn.
Reducing the outstanding deficit. With this balance hanging over the district, it will be difficult to provide the required services and facilities.
Prioritize the advancement of those that are graded the highest, and provide whatever support we can to allow them to progress.
With the proper budgeting, we need to move our education to this younger population.
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