Put Children First Again

I was born and raised in Forsyth County, attended Old Richmond Elementary and graduated from North Forsyth. My first job out of college was an Education Aide at RJ Reynolds High School. My “dream” job as a kid was to be a school bus driver – like my big brother Bill – drove a school bus for 3 years. I am the youngest of 10 children, all graduates of public schools. This fall, my wife of 44 years and I will have two grandchildren in the WSFCS.

I am a US Army veteran, a retired college professor, and former Speaker Pro Tem of the NC State House of Representatives where I served as Education Committee Chair and sponsored School Choice legislation including the Charter School bill.

I believe parents are the first teachers. I believe every child can learn, socioeconomic and cultural background notwithstanding. I believe Parental Choice and not Zip Code should prevail in student school assignment. I believe money should follow the student. I believe CRT is a pernicious ‘theory’ and neither it nor it’s insidious ideological relatives should have any place in the public school classroom. I believe the WSFCS Board should consider single member Board districts for the election of Board members in order to enhance communication with parents, bring governance of schools closer to the taxpaying voter, and simplify the voting process. The current 4-2-3 method of election is antiquated, cumbersome, ineffective and inefficient.

Accountability and transparency should be the hallmarks of school board policy and functional operation.

Education is in my blood. I was raised by a single mom in government housing. Mom only had an 8th grade education, but she constantly emphasized the importance of graduating from high school and going to college. So I followed that path and graduated from high school, earned a Bachelors from WInston-Salem State University, a Masters in education from Wake Forest University and then spent 14 years teaching in the local public school system. Education has served as one of the tools that helped me fulfill my dreams.

I have had the opportunity to teach 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades at Kernersville Middle, Paisley Middle, Moore Elementary, and Atkins Middle Schools. I have also served as a curriculum coordinator and most recently, I was a member of the Board of Education from 2014 – 2018. I currently serve on the Board of Trustees at Winston-Salem State University. My wife recently retired after 31 years as a teacher and both of our children graduated form the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. So, yes, Education is in my blood.

I currently serve as a pastor in a local church because I love people. Having worked in the school system and on the school board, I know the importance of representing parents to ensure that they children receive the best possible education and working with teachers to ensure that they have the resource they need to teach.