Pitt County Board of Education District 1

Your current job and title?

Police Officer

What is your highest level of education?

Master’s degree.

If you're elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?

My top priority is to engage with the community to make sure the Pitt County School Board is doing their part so students can grow in a real-world context. I am going to do my best to make sure our kids are provided with the tools they need to be successful.

If you're elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?

When I am elected, I will provide different avenues that my constituents can reach out to me as well as have quarterly meetings to hear their thoughts and concerns.

Why should voters choose you for the position you're running for?

Voters should choose me because I am a member of this community, I live in this community, and I can bring a voice to the school board that is not heard because of other people's personal political agendas.

Which three things about you do you most want voters to know?

I want the voters to know I am innovative, I listen, and I care for our kids deeply.

Is there anything else about you that you wish to tell voters?

When I am elected, I am going to bring new ideas to the Pitt County School Board to make the lives of our teachers, our parents, and especially our children better. Pitt County Schools will be the guiding light for the entire state.

Your current job and title?

I am currently in my 25th year as a School Psychologist within a nearby public education school system. I work collaboratively with other school staff, parents, and community to help meet the needs of students in the areas of academics, behavior, adaptive, mental health, and social emotional learning. During the span of my career, I have served preschool, elementary, middle, high, early college, and alternative settings.

What is your highest level of education?

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1995 and my master’s and Certificate of Advanced (Specialist) degrees in School Psychology in 1999 at East Carolina University.

If you're elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?

If I am re-elected, some of my top priorities are continuing to address student learning gaps and other needs resulting from the pandemic and continuing to increase the local supplement to aid with recruitment and retention of school staff.

If you're elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?

We often receive several modes of communication at a broad systems level from parents, staff, and community members regarding input, suggestions, and concerns with which we respond. Additionally, at times, we provide surveys to parents and staff for particular topics where decisions may be made. There are also yearly community conversations and a report that is produced from those conversations in which feedback is provided in several areas. There is a teacher advisory council, who is part of our voting community, that provides feedback to the superintendent. Visiting schools and attending forums and events are other avenues of obtaining feedback from constituents.

Why should voters choose you for the position you're running for?

I believe voters should re-elect me because I come with board experience, I strongly believe in serving, welcoming, and including all of our students and supporting our school staff, and I bring a committed work ethic to the board in serving our school community. I have served one year as the Vice Chair and am currently serving as the Chair of the policy committee. I actively obtain continuing training provided for school board members.

Which three things about you do you most want voters to know?

I am a Pitt County native, product of Pitt County Schools, and am a proud mother of three school-age children that attend Pitt County Schools. I serve the board with my experience as a student here, a parental point of view, and a point of view of currently working within the public education system.

Is there anything else about you that you wish to tell voters?

If I am re-elected, I will continue to come to board work sessions and board meetings prepared and engaged; continue my commitment to best meet the unique, individual needs of all students, as well as parents and school community; remain supportive of our school staff; and remain committed to fostering growth and excellence in Pitt County Schools.