What do you see as the role of a member of the Board of Education?
The role of a BOE member is to work with the other members and our superintendent in making decisions that are in the best interest of our students and faculty. Also, to ensure every taxpayer dollar spent is done in the interest of improving the Jones County education system.
What would be your top priorities as a board member?
The Jones County school system mission statement is “Success for ALL through academic Achievement, responsible Behavior and an engaged Community.” I want to see our academic achievement increase by focusing on teaching and learning and not just test scores. I want to increase family and community engagement between all stakeholders. I want to foster community involvement by holding town hall meetings where the community can voice their ideas and concerns for our school system. I would also like our Board of Education to spend more funds locally. As the most significant tax-funded employer in Jones County, the Board of Education needs to prioritize using local sources as much as possible. This will help put the money spent back into our community and not in Bibb, Baldwin, or some other location. Lastly, I want our Board of Education, Board of Commissioners, and City Council to form a better working relationship to help support our community.
3. In your opinion, what is going right in Jones County Schools?
We have caring and passionate educators, families, churches, and local business partners that are invested in the success of all our Jones County students. Four out of seven of our schools saw gains in content mastery in 2023. Our graduation rate is 88.9%, above the state average of 84.9%. Many of our elementary and middle schools provide opportunities for students to excel in academic clubs, athletics, and fine arts. Our college and career pathways are seeing great success in welding, healthcare, and audiovisual. Our JROTC has grown and is giving the cadets the leadership tools and responsibilities they will use throughout their lives and careers. We have a great number of positive things happening in our school system, and we want to continue growing in all areas within our school system.
What is your motivation to run to represent District 2 on the Board of Education?
I am motivated to run to play a small part in making the Jones County School system one of the best systems in Georgia. To do this, we need community involvement and input from parents, businesses, and local organizations, working together to create safe, modern learning environments for our students and teachers.
Board training is required for school board members, and, as a Board of Distinction, Jones County members attend additional classes. Would attending the Georgia School Board Association conferences and classes be a problem?
This question is always asked: are we saying only a retired or self-employed person can be on the Board of Education? The training required is planned out many months in advance, and if needed, I can use vacation time from my job to satisfy the training days, just as any person with a full-time job should be able to do.
The Jones County School System has received millions in federal dollars over the past few years to help with recovery from the pandemic. As a board member, how would you help the transition to a future without those funds?
First and foremost, determine what expenses are necessary and what are not. Question the spending, ask what value the students and teachers get from it, and ask to see the results from prior expenditures on the same item. Was value added or taken, or were the results stagnant? Require department heads to present the reasoning behind spending in a board meeting a month or so before the superintendent presents it as a consideration to be voted on.
How would you support teachers in this climate of accountability?
I thought there was always a “climate of accountability.” I will support all educators, administrators, and teachers to the best of my ability by being available to listen to concerns and help advocate change where change is needed.
However, I feel that social media contributes to a false sense of accountability for educators. At any given time, we can go on Facebook and see someone blasting one or more of our schools, but only with their side of the story. Proper accountability comes from living up to the trust and responsibility one has as an educator.
Is it possible to maintain federal and state mandated standards without losing the focus on teaching?
Of course, it is; many of our system’s teachers do this daily. We need to ensure our department heads and those in charge of the curriculum see this.
Let’s not look online and pick something that will cost us tens of thousands or more. Let’s take what our more successful teachers do in their classrooms and turn it into a process for all our schools. Why must we look outside when the answer is in our system?
What would you like voters to know about you before casting their ballots?
I am a 30-plus-year resident of Jones County; my wife is a teacher at Jones County High School, my son is a sophomore at the high school, and my grandson is in first grade at Turnerwoods.
Our success as a school system is essential to me as a husband, parent, and grandparent. As a Board member, I will always put our students and teachers first when making decisions. I am employed full-time by Progressive Insurance as a Senior Software Analyst.
