District 2 School Board Platform
School Board Qualifications
- Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in Agricultural Education, Clemson University
- Doctorate (PhD) from NC State University; Doctoral research on teacher retention
- Six years secondary education experience at Aiken High School
- National Teacher Turn the Key Award (NAAE)
- National Outstanding Teacher of the Year (NAAE)
- Model of Innovation and Excellence FFA Awards
- President, SC Association of Career and Technical Education (2015)
- Executive Board member of SC Association of School Administrators
- Youth development as SC $-H Assistant Director with Clemson Extension
- Currently work in industry connecting students to workforce opportunities
Our public schools belong to the people. The School District of Oconee County is funded primarily in 3 parts: County Taxes, State funding, and Federal funding.
Therefore, the schools are only as strong as the support of the informed community on how our dollars are allocated through the district. To continue to engage support from our citizens, we must inform them of certain decisions and hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability as elected officials for the betterment of the students and teachers in our County.
When elected,- I will promote fiscal accountability in our School District as a large portion of funding comes from our County taxpayers.
- I will support equipping our teachers for their classroom needs to encourage an environment where they feel supported. I will do this by ensuring dollars are spent accordingly instead of allowing dollars to be spent elsewhere.
- I will support a capital improvement plan that is transparent to citizens in all corners of our County. Our students deserve to receive the best education in school buildings that are safe, healthy and utilize innovative learning environments.
- I will encourage stronger, more innovative levels of engagement and communications with our parents in order to strengthen our district / school / home relationships.
- Promote opportunities for more relevant industry based Career and Technical Education opportunities for our high school students by ensuring we are implementing new curriculum and industry certifications. Only 10% of our enrolled Career and Technical Education students are earning industry credentials.
- Develop relationships and partnerships with the business and industry communities to provide more career-based exposure, training and skill development opportunities for students. Only 7.6% of our Senior students are graduating with a Work Based Learning experience. Work Based Learning experiences are pivotal in ensuring students are highly skilled and Career Ready for today’s workforce.
- Provide open, transparent communication through an “open door or phone call away” policy. Thoughts, feelings and motives can be easily misinterpreted, and we can often miscommunicate over text-message or email. Publicly elected officials make decisions that are up for public scrutiny but I also believe building open, face-to-face relationships with our citizens (parents, teachers and businesses) is imperative for the betterment of our students, teachers and parents in Oconee County.
It will be a privilege and an honor to serve you, the citizens, parents and students of the School District of Oconee County – District 2.