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Candidate Bio

Candidate ​

info​​

 

 


 

​I have lived in Nash County for fourteen years with my husband, Tim.  Tim and I have two daughters, Callie (age 11) and Abby (age 9), who attend Nash Central Middle and Coopers Elementary Schools, respectively.  We have been "consumers" of the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools for the past five years.  I am a lawyer, who practiced with the law firm of Batts, Batts & Bell, LLP in Rocky Mount for eight years.  Almost five years ago, I decided to take a break from the practice of law to be able to focus more on my family.  This decision has allowed me to get more involved in the schools and the community, and to take an active role in the PTO at Coopers Elementary, where I have served as Treasurer (2010-12) and as President (2012-14).  I also teach Business Law as an adjunct faculty member at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

 

 

 

Why I'd Like to Serve on the Board of Education

 

 

 
 

 

With children who attend the public schools and as a frequent volunteer, I have followed the recent legislation affecting our children, our schools and our staff closely, and with concern.  I finally determined that it was time to speak up and get involved.   If I did not speak up, then how could I complain if laws, budgets and policies were passed that negatively affected public education?  Therefore, I have spent a great deal of time over the past year emailing and talking to our State Legislators, our County Commissioners, our School Board, and our School Superintendent about proposed laws, the budget, and policies that affect our children and our schools.  This involvement and advocacy for public education is what led me to the decision to run for the Board of Education. 

 

Here are my goals:

  • Ensure money coming to our system from federal, state and local sources is reaching and benefitting THE CHILDREN.

  • Increase teacher morale.

  • Improve recruitment and retention of highly-qualified teachers.

  • Improve communication between the county commissioners and the school board.

  • Ensure all testing being administered to students is both necessary and beneficial.

 

 

 

 

School Involvement 

 

 
 

 

 My passion for education has led me to become President of the Coopers PTO, a volunteer in the classroom, and a member of the NRMPS Parent Advisory Team.  Some of the accomplishments of the Coopers PTO during my term as President are:

  1. Reimbursing teachers for the purchase of classroom supplies.

  2. Budgeted $5.00 per student of PTO funds to encourage and assist all grade levels to take a field trip.  Field trips at Coopers have increased greatly, giving children learning experiences outside of the classroom.

  3. Created and funded a program to ensure that all children at Coopers are able to purchase at least one book from the school book fair. 

  4. Completed a $100,000.00 community, alumni and school wide fundraiser so that a long-desired air conditioning system can be installed in the gym.  Installation will begin in October & the Coopers children will have an air-conditioned place for their physical education classes when the weather heats up in the spring.

Education
 

 

Juris Doctorate with Honors

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

​2000

 

 

​Masters Degree in Social Work

Florida State University

1991

 

 

Bachelors Degree in Arts

Rochester Institute of Technology

1990

 

 

 

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