Position/philosophy statement
Baer for Dare County Board of Education-A voice for Parents, A Champion for Students and A Partner to Teachers
Current Occupation
Real Estate Broker
Age (optional)
49
Campaign Phone
2522166647
I bring strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills from my professional background, along with a parent’s perspective and a commitment to transparency, safety, and student success. By far not a politician — but definitely a Mama Baer. I’m a parent first, focused on safe schools, strong academics, and doing what’s right for kids.
To set the vision and policies that guide the district, while listening to parents, supporting educators, and holding leadership accountable.
Safe campuses and strong teacher compensation are essential to student success.
Retaining great teachers starts with fair compensation, manageable workloads, and strong administrative support.
Pre-K builds the foundation for reading, math, and social skills, setting children up for long-term success
Hi, I’m Christie Baer — proud parent and community advocate in the Dare County Schools. I believe every child in our beautiful Outer Banks deserves a safe, inspiring, and equitable education. With a deep commitment to our families, I’m running for the Board of Education to bring your voice to the table, push for stronger safety and communication practices, and ensure our children thrive — whether they’re heading to college, trades, or starting a life here in Dare County. Let’s build schools that reflect the dreams of our community, and not just the plans of the past.
Teacher Support
Pay teachers competitively, respect their expertise, and give them the tools they need to help our children succeed.
Position/philosophy statement
I taught in Dare County Schools for twenty years, and I want to put my experience to work for the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and citizens of Dare County.
Current Occupation
Retired Teacher
Age (optional)
62
Campaign Phone
2524238849
Campaign Youtube URL
I spent twenty-five years in the classroom, twenty of those as a teacher at MHS. I have served as wrestling coach, assistant theater director, Department Chair, a member of the School Improvement Team and of the AVID Team, and I sponsored four clubs. I was Manteo High School and then Dare County Teacher of the Year for 2010-2011.
Since retiring, I have been volunteering for the Dare Education Foundation, and I am now the Chair of the Programs Committee, awarding grants to teachers and scholarships to students. I will be substitute teaching for DCS in the spring.
I have also been a banker, a plumber, a retail manager, and a waiter. I have been a tradesman and a businessman, blue collar and white collar, and I know the value of all work.
First, ensuring an environment that is safe and conducive to learning. Second, making sure that there is a certified and skilled teacher in every classroom, and that those teachers have the materials, support, and continued training that they need to be effective. Third, that the schools are geared toward preparing students to be productive citizens and that they have the skills and knowledge to continue after graduation to college or other training or to enter the workforce. Finally, to listen to students, teachers, administrators, parents, and business and community leaders to ensure that schools are responsive to the needs of our community.
One critical need in the district is for affordable housing for teachers. The Dare Education Foundation already provides affordable housing to teachers, and as a board member, I will be in a unique position to work with both organizations to address the housing shortage more effectively.
The school board is already working to improve safety in our schools, and I would support the continuation and extension of the existing plans within the existing budget.
I would also work to bring Career and Technical Education the same attention that college preparation has with the new Early College. I would work with COA and local businesses to make sure that students who want to enter trades get equivalent preparation and opportunities.
Again, I am on the Executive Committee of the Dare Education Foundation, and I could work as a liaison between DEF and the Board of Education to help coordinate our efforts to continue to provide affordable housing to teachers.
I strongly believe in empowering building-level teachers and administrators to make decisions regarding curriculum, discipline, allocation of funds, and other issues in the day-to-day management of a school. When school personnel feel empowered, they are more likely to be effective and thereby to find satisfaction in their work.
I would also encourage our county commissioners to continue their history of generosity to Dare County Schools and to do as much as possible to enhance the local teacher supplement.
The losses during COVID showed us how vital early training in reading skills is to later success. There are so many more distractions from traditional education now that encouraging positive habits as early as possible can only help to improve kids' academic performance.
I know that no matter what my plans and expectations might be, the world has a habit of surprising us all, and that I must expect the unexpected. There is no way to prepare for everything, but a calm mind, a steady hand, intelligence, and experience to draw on can help me face whatever does come down the pike next.
I have been blessed with a great wife and a great life in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I appreciate the opportunities that retirement have given me to give back to the community, as I believe that serving others is the highest calling. I loved the decades I spent as a teacher in Dare County, and I find the the work I do for the Dare Education Foundation greatly rewarding. I now hope to continue my service to the community as a member of the Dare County Board of Education in District 1.
Thank you for your time reading my profile, and I would very much appreciate your vote.
Current Occupation
Substitute Teacher
Age (optional)
41
I have been a Special Education teacher for 13 years. Since moving to Dare County, I have worked as a day-to-day substitute and in long-term positions. I have been involved in the PTO at the elementary school and am currently working with the middle school PTO. I also help coach various youth sports through our recreation department. I am in MES often and feel as though I understand the day-to-day process. I believe that being a teacher and coach, I make connections with the community and could help build a stronger connection between community members and the school board.
Knowing what is actually going on in the schools, finding out if programs being implemented are making a positive impact, and building stronger relationships between the board and building-level employees.
While teacher pay and housing are important, those depend on additional funding. Without new funding, I would prioritize teacher empowerment. Programs come and go trying to "fix" student learning, often forcing one-size-fits-all solutions on teachers. I feel this moves classrooms away from differentiated instruction for our diverse learners. When we see a teacher making great progress with students, why force them to change? If a teacher's practices are working, we should empower them to adopt new strategies as they see fit, not force them to follow the latest trend. Use data to identify teachers who need support and help them develop new strategies. Once teachers have the tools for success, trust them to use those tools
Giving teachers a voice and a safe place to give their input. It's important that we listen to the teachers and instructional assistants who are in the classroom day in and day out, because who knows the students and their needs better?
I think having the Pre-K option for parents is a true asset and gives students a jumpstart on their educational journey. Pre-K programs provide an opportunity to identify and close learning gaps before students start Kindergarten, giving every child their best opportunity for success. Starting early makes a real difference in helping students build the foundation they need.
I love teaching, coaching, and volunteering in my community! I love watching kids figure it out and seeing those big "ahhh" moments. I love making connections and showing kids I am here for them - in academics and sports. That's why I'm running for school board. I want to bring that same support to our teachers and staff. The people closest to our students - teachers, instructional assistants, and coaches - know what our kids need. My priority is giving them a voice and empowering them to do what works. I've seen what happens when we trust teachers instead of forcing cookie-cutter programs. When teachers feel supported, students thrive. I am in our schools regularly through substitute work, PTO, and coaching. I know our community and our kids. I want to strengthen the connection between community and school board so we make decisions based on what's happening in classrooms, not what looks good on paper. Our kids deserve a board that listens and trusts the people doing the work.
