Pitt County Board of Education                  District 6

Your current job and title?

Teaching Instructor within the College of Education at East Carolina University

Your highest level of education? Master of Arts inTeaching

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

Teacher Retention. My main focus would be retaining our teachers in our county, specifically our 15+ year veteran teachers. Our teachers are burning out earlier and earlier and we are not providing them adequate acknowledgments through the state pay scale at this current time. As a district representative of Pitt County, I would like to work with other stakeholders to develop benefits for our veteran teachers that will allow those teachers to share their wealth of knowledge with others while also being compensated. I truly believe that we have some of the BEST teachers in the state and it hurts my heart to see so many not able to make it to retirement before needing to change career paths.

With this same thought, I would like to continue to find avenues of ways to create support staff positions that will relieve teachers' additional roles such as nurse, counselor, social worker, etc. The low number of nurses, social workers and school psychologists means that we are sharing these staff members between too many schools and not adequately able to support both the students as well as support the teachers so that they can focus on teaching.

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

I truly believe we need to look at Pitt County as a whole when it comes to supporting our staff, students and community. Although it would be my responsibility to share the needs and aspirations of my district, I believe that what is helpful and meaningful for one district would be helpful and meaningful for all of our districts in Pitt County. As we see success in one area or one school, we need to be sure to capitalize on this and share it with other areas and schools. To make Pitt County Schools one of the top in our state means that we need to work as a team and support each other's ideas and share these with everyone for the good of the school system, its students, the staff, and our community.

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

As a former public school teacher in Pitt County for 12 years and the Pitt County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016, I believe that I have a truly authentic view of what our schools need and what it takes to make students, a classroom, a school and a school district a success! Now, as a teaching instructor at ECU, I take my pre service education students into Pitt County School classrooms and we work directly with administration and teachers to make it a great experience for all. I am still in the hallways of our schools, talking with students, teachers, and admin on a consistent basis.

My husband, a high school science teacher in Pitt County, also provides me additional insight of what is going on within the schools from a teacher's perspective. My children attend schools in Pitt County, where I am an active PTA member, and I believe this supports my lens as a parent within the schools and I can advocate for parent's needs as they assist their students through their education. My family are also active members in the community of District 6. We spend much of our time supporting local business, our children play and we coach in our local recreation program, and we also attend many community events to support our community members in the area.

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

I am a true believer in the public school system and believe that we live in one of the BEST school districts in our state that truly values and wants to ensure our students and staff succeed.

I believe in community and advocating for ALL in order for everyone to feel heard and represented. After spending so many years in the classroom, I acknowledge that all students deserve success whether they are college or career ready.

Students need to be provided all pathways of success post high school and I will advocate for ALL students to ensure that whatever pathway they choose, they are provided support and opportunities through their public education career.

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

I am a full believer of Pitt County Schools and our community!! My goal is to be an ear and a voice for not only my district, but the whole county!