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Position/philosophy statement
I will ensure that you will have a S-E-A-T and a VOICE at the table concerning the education of our children and youth in Safety, Equity, Advocacy and Transparency
Current Occupation
Retired WSFCS Mathematics Teacher
Age (optional)
66
Campaign Phone
3366823941
I am a triple threat. I graduated (1977) from the WSFCS, I am a former parent of a graduate (2017) of the WSFCS and I taught as a Highly Qualified Mathematics Teacher (2002-2021) in the WSFCS. Additionally, my mother and two of my Aunts worked and retired from our system. I have served in the trenches for nineteen years after working as an engineer for 20 years in both the private and public sector. I entered the profession as a lateral entry teacher so I have experience and skills which is an asset to the board. I continue to serve and volunteer in our community through my church, civic and social organizations.
The most important responsibilities of a school board member is being fully present, engaged and knowledgeable of our Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Schools. This includes reading all board materials while researching local, national and international trends. It is imperative that a member visits schools, attends extra curricular activities and listens to students, staff, parents and the community.
There are four critical needs I see that our school district is facing.
1. Fiscal stability, oversight and management
2. Equity in our classrooms and schools (teacher-student ratio, funding, qualified veteran staff, etc.)
3. Safety
4. Increasing academic achievement for all student subgroups.
As a district we need to lobby our legislators for increased funding on a state level so that we can meet the needs of our growing EC (exceptional children) population, the need for increased funding per student, the need for increased pay for certified and non-certified staff and lastly funding for mental health assessments and treatments.
We must increase pay for certified and non-certified staff first and foremost. Secondly, we must provide our teachers with much needed access to supplies and materials and we must obtain and value their input in the selection of programs and initiatives. We have to ensure that our teachers have a dedicated ‘untouchable’ planning period for all grade levels. We must provide additional pay and additional planning for veteran teachers, staff and leaders who work in our “lower performing” schools so that we ensure that our most qualified staff work in these schools.
Pre-k is fundamental to the educational health of all students especially students from economically challenged households. Many times, parents in these households are working multiple jobs and some have limited education themselves so their children do not have the same exposure as children from more prominent households. Exposure to new and unfamiliar things is life changing within itself. If a child lives, sleeps, eats in the same environment day in and day out and is never exposed to different things, activities, ideas, or thoughts they remain stagnant and their creativity and learning is stunted.
There are initiatives that I have fought for during my current SEAT at the WSFCS Board of Education that have gone unfulfilled. I would love an opportunity to see these initiatives fulfilled. One such initiative is setting up a one-on-one mentorship with a rising first grade student with a member of our community that will follow that student until the end of their third grade year to see the impact of consistency and exposure to new and unfamiliar things affects educational potential. Additionally, I would love to reassess our Magnet programming so that it can be the catalyst to a better successful and viable school system. Lastly, I would love each of our schools be high performing and look like the community in which we strive to live.
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Position/philosophy statement
I’m running for the WS/FCS School Board because our children deserve better. As a longtime Winston Salem resident, substitute teacher, tutor, and community advocate, I’ve seen too many students and families fall through the cracks while the district
Current Occupation
Community Advocate with Experiment in Self Reliance (ESR), Coalition for Equity in Public Education, Coalition for Accountability and Transparency, Housing Justice, e
I bring years of direct experience in WS/FCS as a substitute teacher, tutor, and longtime community advocate. My background in education and business gives me a strong understanding of both classroom needs and responsible financial oversight. I’ve served on committees focused on poverty, housing, education, and empowerment, giving me a broad view of how community challenges impact our schools. I’m skilled in policy, budgeting, and communication, and I’m committed to accountable, student centered leadership.
I think a strong school board member sets clear priorities, holds the superintendent accountable, and keeps the district focused on student success. Core responsibilities include setting policy, approving and overseeing the budget, ensuring transparency, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, and engaging the community. The board must champion safe schools, strong instruction, and responsible use of public funds while making decisions that reflect the needs of students, families, and educators.
Our budget and spending priorities. District 1 has the largest percentage of Title 1 schools. Our district’s most critical needs are early literacy, strong classroom staffing, safe and well‑maintained schools, and fully supported EC services. I would prioritize state and local funding toward what directly impacts student learning, high‑quality teachers, intervention and tutoring, school safety, and resources for our highest‑need Title I schools. Every dollar must be aligned to student outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and the programs that help children learn and thrive.
To recruit and retain qualified teachers, WS/FCS must make staffing a true priority and not an afterthought. I am committed to ensuring that the positions that directly support students and classrooms are protected and funded in the superintendent’s proposed budget. We cannot make meaningful progress on literacy, EC compliance, school safety, or academic recovery if we fail to support the people who do the work every day. I would focus on competitive compensation and benefits, protected planning time, manageable workloads, and strong school‑based support, safe, well‑run schools with consistent leadership and clear expectation.
Preschool is an essential foundation for everything that follows. Early learning builds the literacy, language, and social‑emotional skills that set children up for success in kindergarten and beyond. In a district with the largest percentage of Title I schools in Forsyth County, investing in early childhood education is one of the most effective ways to close gaps before they widen. Our 3rd
graders are struggling to read. Ensuring smooth transitions into kindergarten must be core district priorities. When we support children early, and support the educators who teach them we improve outcomes across the entire K–12 system. Early learning isn’t optional, it’s a critical part of building the strong, equitable schools.
I think we must modernize our school zones in WS/FC. Modernizing our school zones is essential to creating real equity in WS/FCS. Our current zones no longer reflect how our community has grown or where families live today. As a result, some schools are overcrowded while others are underpopulated, and too many students face long bus rides or inconsistent access to strong programs. Updating our zones with transparency, community input, and a focus on student outcomes allows us to: balance enrollment, strengthen neighborhood schools, improve efficiency, and expand opportunity.
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Position/philosophy statement
Educate the Whole Child…Transform the Whole Community.
Current Occupation
Educator
Age (optional)
55
Campaign Phone
3369341794
As an educator with over 34 years of teaching experience in a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools classroom, I lead from inside the workplace,not from the outside looking in.My lived experience make me a strong candidate for the School Board because I understand firsthand how board decisions directly impact children, families, educators, and the broader community.
As an educator, mother, and community leader shaped by service and loss, I listen deeply, ask necessary questions, and center children in every decision.The skills I bring include classroom-grounded leadership, trauma-informed practices, strong knowledge of school policy and procedure, student-impact decision-making, and the ability to speak up strategically, and effectively.
The most important responsibility of a school board member is to put children first in every decision. This includes developing, implementing, and upholding the policies and procedures that guide the district’s work. A board member provides responsible oversight of public funds and hires, supports, and holds the superintendent accountable.
School board members must ensure policies are carried out with integrity, consistency, and accountability. Listening to children, families, educators, and the community with compassion builds trust. Ultimately, a school board member serves as a bridge between schools and the community to ensure every decision reflects equity, transparency, and a genuine love for children.
Our district’s most critical needs include student mental health support,educator retention, safe schools,and equitable access to resources for all scholars.Within available state and local funding, I would prioritize investments that directly impact students in the classroom.This includes full-time nurses, guidance counselors, behavior interventionists,family engagement coordinators,school psychologists,and social workers; strong instructional and exceptional children supports; targeted academic interventions; and equitably resourced learning environments regardless of zip code.
Funding decisions should be guided by student needs,data and the voices of educators and families to ensure resources are used where they make the greatest impact!
To recruit and retain qualified teachers, we must improve working conditions, protect planning time, and provide meaningful support for educators’ mental and emotional wellness. Educators need leadership that listens with compassion and understands the realities of the classroom.
Compensation matters, including recognizing and fairly compensating educators who earn advanced degrees such as a master’s degree. Retention also requires strong mentorship, opportunities for professional growth, and consistency in leadership. When educators feel trusted, supported, and fairly compensated, they stay—and children flourish
Pre-K and kindergarten is the foundation of a child’s entire educational journey. These early years are where little minds are shaped, hearts are nurtured, and confidence begins to grow. This is where children learn routines, build relationships, and develop a love for learning while their social, emotional, and mental well-being are supported with care and compassion.
Pre-K and kindergarten is where the partnership with schools and families are formed, honoring parents and families as their child’s first teacher. Pre-K and kindergarten teachers understand that leading with love is contagious,and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
The loss of my daughter, Makieya Rae’ Smith, changed the course of my life and led me to this journey of service. Her passing deepened my commitment to protecting children and strengthening our schools. I prepared for this work through NCLCV Boards and Commissions training, graduating in 2023,and attended candidate training in New Orleans.
As a philanthropist awarding a deserving high school female student “The Makieya Rae’ Smith Scholarship”,working with Rae’s of Light Girls Empowerment Group at North Forsyth High School , and through founding “Mothers of Angels” a bereavement support group for mothers who have lost a child or children …exemplifies my commitment and dedication towards building and investing in our scholars and our community!
As a parent, educator, philanthropist and community leader this is my call to serve as a member of the W-S/FCS Board of Education!
