Position/philosophy statement
Focused on Students - Guided by Conservative Values. A Leader Who Listens. I believe in the power of education to change lives!
Current Occupation
School Board Member and Accountant
Age (optional)
50
Campaign Phone
920-372-3300
I’m your Carteret County School Board member. I’m running for re-election to keep a strong, conservative voice at the table.
I’m a mom of four boys and an accountant. I’ve volunteered in our schools and for countless youth sports. I bring both a parent’s and financial perspective to the Board—two viewpoints that matter when decisions affect children and taxpayers.
I’m a leader who listens.
I don’t walk into decisions with my mind already made up. I seek input from educators, experts, and our parent advisory committees. I listen carefully, ask questions, and vote intentionally.
I will continue to advocate for more supplemental pay for our educators, bus drivers, and coaches. I support meaningful parental involvement.
Education has power!
I take my role as a school board member seriously. We provide governance over the Carteret County Public School System. Our responsibilities include setting policy, overseeing the district’s budget, and ensuring a safe, effective learning environment for all students. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent. We hold monthly meetings in accordance with open meetings laws and provide opportunities for public comment.
Candidate has not yet responded.
In short, increase pay and offer scholarship.
Our teachers are highly qualified professionals, and the fact that our schools consistently rank among the top in the state is clear evidence of their excellence and dedication. I have advocated for increased county supplemental pay and will continue to do so. Showing teachers that their expertise is valued by listening to their input and considering their suggestions for classroom needs and educational improvements also helps retain educators.
To attract new teachers, we offer the Big Rock Teaching Fellows Scholarship and the Homegrown Teachers Initiative. These programs provide local students the opportunity to earn a teaching degree and encourage them to return home to teach in our schools.
I absolutely support Pre-Kindergarten programs.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Position/philosophy statement
I am committed to helping all students reach their full potential and to strengthening our recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers.
Current Occupation
Substitute Teacher
Age (optional)
48
I have devoted myself to serving our community since moving to Carteret County in 2009. I've helped teach Sunday School and served as Chair of the Childcare Committee at Swansboro United Methodist Church, served on the PTO Board at White Oak Elementary School for 9 years, the Parent Advisory Council, Athletics Boosters, and Band Boosters at Croatan High School, and have worked as a substitute teacher in the Carteret County School System since 2016. During this time I have also served on HOA and various community outreach and fundraising committees and supported my husband’s dental practice as an administrative assistant. I've worked diligently with families, community groups and businesses to meet the needs of our students and teachers.
School board members must be able to collaborate to determine how best to meet the needs of all students across the county in a fiscally responsible way that keeps our schools safe. They need to approve the annual school budget and advocate for funding from state and local resources to afford necessary staffing, maintenance of existing school facilities and buses while planning for population growth . They must write policies that best serve students and can be clearly implemented while aligning with state requirements. They ensure the instructional programs in our schools match North Carolina standards, evaluate student performance and how well they are prepared for college and careers upon graduation.
Our school district needs a state budget to be delivered punctually to enable responsible planning and spending. We need increased funding and teacher support at the state level to recruit and retain quality educators and bus drivers.
I believe by promoting and supporting programs such as the Big Rock Foundation's teaching fellows scholarship would encourage local students to enter the field of education and return here to teach. I would persistently advocate for higher teacher pay and more teachers to be hired to reduce class size. Additionally, I would support hiring a school nurse for each elementary school to improve safety and reduce stress on classroom teachers.
I believe a Pre-Kindergarten program is essential for helping children transition from the home environment to a structured learning environment. Standards for Kindergarten continue to increase and children need a strong foundation be to educationally & emotionally prepared. I would support a state funded Pre-Kindergarten program for all children in our district.
As a mother of three children who have attended Carteret County Schools and participated in music, athletics, and club activities, I know how hard our teachers work to grow our students into thoughtful, well-rounded, and responsible citizens. That is why I began volunteering and teaching in our schools. I wanted to be part of this positive environment and help make a difference in the lives of students and their families. I've realized no teacher or parent can do this alone and our schools need the support from the local community and funding from the state for our teachers and students to have the resources they need to succeed. I hope to earn your vote.
