Education
In order for you to understand why I feel an education can change a person’s life, you need to know my personal story. I ran away from an abusive home at the age of ten, and was raised in the Boys & Girls Home in Winnabow until I graduated from high school. After high school I attended college at UNCW, and ultimately received my Masters Degree and Doctorate Degrees from the University of South Carolina and Eastern Carolina University. So, I guess you could say education took me from the welfare rolls to a leadership role.
For me, education isn’t just another talking point on a long list of issues. Education opened doors for me, and it can do the same for anyone who is willing to put in the time an effort to learn. I want to help the children of Brunswick County achieve their dreams.
As a former school administrator, I continually fought against budget cuts and aggressively advocated for teacher salary increases and the addition of guidance counselors at the elementary level. If elected, I intend to be vocal advocate for education in North Carolina.
Teacher Pay
TEACHER PAY
My opponent proudly boasts under the GOP leadership the average teacher salary has risen to $53,000. That figure, as it stands, is actually correct, BUT it includes all of the advanced degree pay still given to veteran teachers that has been taken away from beginning teachers. That average salary also includes another factor my opponent wants credit for, local supplements. He says the facts do not lie; that Republican leadership has been great for teachers. The fact is that cuts to education in the areas of textbooks, staff development and programs to improve classroom instruction, such as, the Teaching Fellows and Teacher Cadets has hurt education in North Carolina.
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Raising teacher pay must remain a top priority. In order to restore respect for the teaching profession, recruit and retain best and most diverse teaching force for our students, N.C. must invest in professional salaries for all teachers. I will work to restore the “hidden” cuts to education and raise teacher salaries.
Improved Infrastructure
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE
Decaying school buildings and lack of up-to-date technology are a reality for students across North Carolina. Schools in poor rural and urban areas tend to have the worst facilities because they lack the local revenue to pay for school upkeep and modernization projects.
As is often the case during economic downturns, the GOP leadership diverted funds from infrastructure to address the budget crisis, delaying repairs and putting off new projects. Instead of finding solutions to this problem, several tax cuts were passed and the infrastructure can was just kicked down the road. The choice to pursue tax cuts that benefit the wealthy is why North Carolina is behind in improving school infrastructure. Tax cuts have costs and those costs manifest over time in decaying School facilities.
Broadband Access
BROADBAND ACCESS
Access to affordable, high quality broadband opens up a lot of possibilities for students in rural areas. In education today, a lot of classes are taught on the internet. Students without
access to the internet are at a serious disadvantage. I support and will work to expand the Broadband Grant Program (HB387) which provides $15 million annually for 10 years, to ensure high speed internet to rural areas of North Carolina.
How does this effect you?
The future of Brunswick County depends on its schools. A well-educated workforce attracts quality jobs. More good jobs mean a higher living standard. A higher living standard means higher real estate values and a bigger tax base. A bigger tax base means better infrastructure and more public services. When our schools excel, we all benefit.