Rock Hill is my home. It’s the community that I love. As a volunteer in our schools and as a parent and foster parent, I’ve had a front row seat to the educational process in our schools. The world is ever changing, and I’m worried about it.  It will be my duty to not only ensure that our children have the best educational opportunities, but that they are prepared for life. I’m not only interested in producing academically proficient students, but good citizens who know the meaning of respect, discipline, and that have the drive to be successful in whatever avenue they pursue.

I am a father of 4 children currently in District 3. I’m also a huge advocate for public schools and want to help them compete in the competitive landscape of charter schools and soon, school vouchers. My final reason is being a voice for the teachers. Rock Hill Schools, has endlessly poured money into ineffective programs and a top-heavy District Office. I would like to see those wasted dollars pumped back into the school buildings for our teachers and students (where the rubber hits the road).

I have 3 children in Rock Hill Schools, we need more working parents on the School Board with children that are actually attending our schools. I will be the voice of the working parent. I would like to see transparency with the budget and really engage with the teachers to see how we can make Rock Hill Schools the best they can be. I believe we can improve on listening and most importantly implementing strategies and ideas from our teachers. I know our Rock Hill Community is strong and we want our students to succeed and be successful, productive members of our community.  Investing in the students is the only way to ensure our future. Please visit my website- www.carelockcares.com for my contact information.

I’ve had the honor of representing District 5 on the Rock Hill School Board for the past 8 years. I am committed to fostering a supportive environment where equality meets opportunity, and every student is able to thrive and reach their full potential. My commitment to the betterment of our schools and community drives my passion for re-election.

As a school board member, my top priorities include ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education, fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment, and promoting effective communication between the board and the community. I have shown commitment to advocating for necessary resources to enhance our schools and empower our teachers. Additionally, I work to engage parents and community members in working to create a collaborative approach to education. Only by working together, can we build a brighter future for our students.

As Edward Everett said, “Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”

I am always willing to listen to educators, parents, students and community members. I believe that when we work together, all students win. If you truly want to improve our schools, then show up for them…. get involved, volunteer, mentor a neighbor, ask teachers what they need. Parents, make sure that your child understands the importance of an education, how to behave in class, how to be respectful of others. It is only by working together and putting children first that we are going to improve our communities. I’m asking for your vote on November 5th so that I continue doing my part.

I want to make a difference for every in our children’s lives. As a born and raised rock native I have been the recipient of rock Hill public schools. I attended Lesslie elementary Castle Heights Middle school and Rock Hill high.  I’ve had four children as part of the Hill school system for the past 18 years, I have a vested interest.  As an Advocate for children and families for the past 30 years.  I want to bring my  experience and skills and passion for helping others into a community that love and care about.

Years ago, when the school district was faced with school closures, my son was heading to kindergarten and we were zoned for one of the schools that closed. I felt then, there were decisions being made that may have needed more consideration of the needs of this community. As a parent of two children currently in 4th and 2nd grade, I feel that I can be an advocate for our children as well as our staff and community for many years to come. As an individual that works in this community, I understand the importance of tapping into what Rock Hill needs. Our community is different from other parts of the county and we must have Rock Hill focused solutions for Rock Hill Schools. I believe that we must collaborate with teachers to tap into their needs beyond a paycheck. Finally, we have to make sure we are connecting and communicating with all stakeholders in this community before decisions are made. I want to be a school board member because I have a personal stake in the future of Rock Hill Schools. I believe in the greatness of this town and want to do my part to contribute to it.

Being a native of RH, I attended and graduated from the RH Schools. I have raised six children who all attended and graduated from RH Schools. Three of those children are still in the education field as adults. I am the husband of a teacher and the father of a coach within the RH School System. It is important to me that our schools provide the educational foundation to all students to afford them the greatest opportunity to be successful in life after school. When the RH schools are producing successful and competent career and college ready students, we are growing our community for the future. This community is my past, my home, and my future. It’s important to me!

I want to serve on the school board because I believe in the power of education to transform lives and build stronger communities. As a public school educator and a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how the right resources, policies, and support can make all the difference for our students. I’m not just running for a seat—I’m running to be a voice for every child, teacher, and parent in our district. I will fight for safe schools, academic growth, and responsible decision-making because our future depends on it. I’m ready to stand up and advocate for the changes we need. Your vote can help me make a difference.

I am running for school board because I believe in the public school system and I want to see our schools thrive, not only for my four children, but for all Rock Hill students and our community. I have been fortunate to serve on the Rock Hill school board for the last eight months and I am eager to continue the work that we are doing to better our schools.

I want to continue serving to give parents a voice in their child’s education. I want to help protect, retain and recruit good teachers. I want to hold the district accountable for the budget and put the money back into the classrooms. Lastly, I want to continue to strengthen our security within Rock Hill schools by maintaining a strong relationship with the Rock Hill Police Department and the York County Sheriffs office, and lean on their guidance and expertise to keep our schools as safe as possible. I also hope we can restore discipline and accountability within all of our schools to ensure the safety of all students.

I would be honored to have your vote on November 5^th and am excited about the future of our schools and the children that they serve.

 I want to applaud our students for using their voice and speaking up on issues, such as dress code, that impact them directly. It is my understanding that dress codes (other than middle school uniform standards) are at the discretion and interpretation of each individual principal, not district policy. I will be more than willing to facilitate and personally attend meetings and discussions between our students and their school’s administration to address concerns and possible amendments to this policy.

The dress code is actually not a school board policy or a function of the board, but I support students advocating for themselves to the high school principals who are the ones making the decision and would be happy to help set up meetings.

I would like to first survey high schoolers, high school teachers and administrators. Our role is to create an environment where students can learn so if the teachers feel a more lenient policy would still be conducive to a productive learning environment then I would be open to revisited. 

I have been asking the district to revisit dress codes for years, especially in our middle schools. Dress codes are set by the schools, and the principals of the school levels have to agree. I am thankful that our middle schools finally agreed to relax their dress codes a bit. Being required to wear their shirts tucked-in was causing body image issues with some parents.

The best way to bring about change is to get involved with your school improvement councils and student government. I will say, I do believe in standards of dress. The biggest issue in getting changes made to the dress code is that there are always people who will try to push the boundaries of what is acceptable. I have no problem with someone’s shoulders showing, if their dress or blouse is sleeveless. I would have an issue with a student wearing a halter top or extremely short shorts to school.

I agree that the dress code is outdated. Yes, I will ask to revisit the policy. That’s being said, I do think that all students should dress in a way that promotes a positive educational setting.

I agree that the notion that shoulders can be a distraction is outdated. My fear is that when we create notions that wearing certain types of clothing causes issues amongst our children, we inadvertently over-sexualize our girls and stigmatize our boys as hypersexual beings. As fashion goes, there are a myriad of ways to wear clothing that can be respectful to the school environment and not “cause distractions”. I think it is important that families teach the importance of being respectful to each other regardless of the types of clothes their peers’ wear.

I believe that revisiting the policy should be a consideration of the board as well as finding ways to implement emphasizing the importance of respect for others and personal choices and space.

Though I understand the importance of looking ones best, the premise of the question is it’s not distracting to anyone. Assuming that is a true statement, appropriate dress is determined by the space. You wear dress, suit, or tux to a formal function, not a football uniform. And likewise, a football player wears a uniform with pads and helmet to a game, not a tux. Is there a universal agreement on what would be acceptable? Though I think all policies should be reviewed periodically, I don’t see that as something that I would ask to be revisited presently. The truth is teachers want to teach and not be fashion police.

Currently discretion to formulate reasonable dress codes is left to the administration. I don’t believe that what a student wears should define them as a distraction or affect how they are treated and respected as a human being. Dress codes should empower students to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. Clothing choices are personal and play a significant role in mindset and self-expression. While maintaining a respectful environment is important, I fully support revisiting outdated policies to ensure that we are not perpetuating harmful narratives about clothing and respect. Let’s focus on what truly matters—learning and mutual respect.

Dress code policies are in place to minimize distractions during the school day so that students can do what they are there to do - learn. By changing these policies and loosening the rules, we would be creating more work on the teachers and administration to enforce a new dress code. I believe in the old saying “If you give an inch, they’ll take a mile”; therefore I do not think we need to revisit the policies unless the administration feels that it is necessary.

As a weekly volunteer in our Rock Hill Schools and a professional Facilities Manager, I fully realize the importance of maintaining and improving our infrastructure. A comprehensive maintenance plan in addition to regular structural integrity surveys must be a priority. A specific need that I see in the Seat 1 Area schools is the upgrading of security features. All of our schools deserve the same quality technology to ensure safety, such as classroom swipe entry access.  We need to build a priority list for our needs, beginning with infrastructure and security and start implementing repairs and upgrades based on severity.

We need to focus on efficiency and making sure that we have safe and secure buildings that provides a good learning environment for our students and staff. We have too much focus on administration at the District office, the focus needs to be on the classroom and providing a competitive education for our students including dual enrollment, great athletic facilities and expansion of ATC.

I would first want to make sure the current facilities are up to code and safe for the students, teachers and administrators. If they are not, the renovations/upgrades will need to be prioritized and I would love to see our local work force given first right to bid on projects. I'm also interested to see if a partnership could be made with the Applied Technology Center, where projects could be performed for a grade. That's a win-win, the student gets experience and the work can be performed at a minimal cost to the School District.

Unfortunately for us, we have a lot of aging buildings. One of our district’s greatest needs is to rebuild Sullivan Middle School, which was once the original Rock Hill High School. It was built in 1959. The district pours a lot of money and time into schools that need to be replaced. Our caretakers do such a good job keeping our buildings looking good that most folks don’t see the internal problems, such as worn out and inefficient plumbing.

Teachers shouldn’t have to worry about sewage leaking into their classrooms. The district is working on an updated facilities plan. I will work to make sure that we show our problems to our community to gain support for long overdue renovations and replacements. When we are afraid to show our flaws, outsiders think that we just want to replace tradition with something new and shiny.

Even before I was on the school board, I’ve been advocating for renovated bathrooms at all of our schools. I’m sure that our facilities team hates it when I visit schools, because I come back complaining about the conditions of our bathrooms. We all know the importance of washing our hands, so why do we still not have adequate soap dispensers and paper towels (or at least multiple high-power dryers) in every bathroom?

Better Security, across-the-board metal detectors at all schools. Enhanced security measures at stadium events. I have witnessed firsthand a multitude of fights among students, among parents with coaches, and among adults I think that better crowd control and a focus on the crowd safety could be enhanced. As for how to get support for these improvements, I think that we should partner with local businesses to invest back into our schools and seek out grants and foundations to help assist with capacity building.

I currently serve on the School Improvement Council at Cherry Park and have the opportunity to get student feedback on what they feel will make the school better. Interestingly enough, the students often cite: bathrooms! Having an opportunity to reflect on their responses, I realize that the simple improvement of bathrooms will make THEM feel SAFE. I think it’s important that as the board moves forward on decisions for our facilities, we work on improvements that our students and parents feel we need first, in order to make our students quality of education improve. It is inevitable that we will have to replace schools but we need to make sure that we get community input on how that is done so that the board can ensure we are good stewards of their dollars.

As a member of the 2018 equity committee, I visited the three high schools and found that repairs updating are needed.  Though the committee was focused on the high schools, I am confident that more repairs and updating are needed at other schools as the buildings continue to age. The challenge that our district faces is where to get the money. Unlike our federal government, we do not have the ability to print money; therefore, we would have to secure funds via bonds. As I stated last night, the population within zip codes 29730 and 29732 is approximately 115,000 or 47,000 households. The Rock Hill School District has approximately 17,000 students. If there was one student per household that would mean at best that there is 64% of households with no children in our schools who would be voting to approve such a bond.

In my opinion, we must be a good steward of the money in-trusted to us presently. Once we demonstrate that we are using our/their money wisely that would provide us with a positive argument for a bond. 

The most important improvement we need in our schools and facilities is ensuring that students are safe. That means investing in practical upgrades like better security, improved transportation safety, and well-maintained facilities—not necessarily new school buildings. I plan to work closely with transportation and facilities management to identify the most critical areas that need attention. By focusing on safety and efficiency, we can make smart decisions that benefit students without unnecessary spending. I’m committed to supporting improvements that make parents and voters feel confident and secure in our schools.

Every school has different needs and I believe we should prioritize small improvements, while putting a plan in place for the larger projects. Something is better than nothing. We can examine our budget and determine what improvements we can make to keep our school environments safe and up to code. As a school board member, we can also help negotiate building contracts similar to what we are doing now with the new Sunset Park elementary.

I have not served as a substitute teacher. However, I have been a volunteer in our Rock Hill Schools for over 11 years. I have volunteered as a School Improvement Council President, with our Back the Pack Program, served as a mentor and lunch buddy for our elementary students weekly, delivered grants to our teachers, participated in The Educator for a Day program, the host of RHSD’s Student Celebration each Spring, member of various school booster clubs, a volunteer with our Student Mental Health Advisory Committee,  an advocate for our student athletes on the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee, and a local radio broadcaster for our High School football games on Friday nights. I have the utmost respect for our teachers and give them every ounce of gratitude for helping our students succeed. So, I am currently active in our Rock Hill Schools and I have no intention of slowing down if elected.

I actually have helped out as a substitute teacher at South Pointe, and have been part of a lot of shadowing events including teacher for a day and principal for a day. I also support our school district by creating a non-profit foundation with my wife (100% RHS), pouring in funds from my own personal business and also gathering resources to help students and teacher. In addition, I work every day to establish community relationships and partnerships with Rock Hill Schools.

 I have not served as a Substitute teacher but I am very active in the schools. I am on the School Improvement Council at Ebenezer Ave Elementary and Saluda Trail Middle. I am also on the PTO of Saluda Trail Middle School. I am active in the Rock Hill Community as well as a volunteer at my church, Elevation-Riverwalk.

I served all grade levels as a substitute teacher for two years in Rock Hill Schools. As a Family Educator with the district’s ParentSmart program, I spent time in classrooms, especially our exceptional needs and early education classrooms. For two years, I also provided substance abuse and life skills education throughout Rock Hill and Ft. Mills schools, spending an hour each week for 10 weeks in 5^th and 8^th grade classrooms. As a board member, I spend time in our schools visiting, volunteering, and attending events. If you don’t see what teachers and students are dealing with, then you can’t expect to know what their needs really or how your decisions will impact them. Every classroom at every school is different, which is why legislators should be required to spend time in schools.

When I take on a responsibility, I give it my all. A school board trustee -isn’t a meeting a month position. If you’re going to be an effective leader, then you need to be prepared to visit schools, attend performances and open houses, meet with parents, teachers and staff, and to build bridges between the district and the community. I took a reduction in my paid work hours, so that I could devote more time to Rock Hill Schools, shortly after being elected.

As an early childhood Education Director, I’ve had the experience to step into Head start classrooms to assist when needed. As a mom of students within the district for the past 18 years I have volunteered in the classrooms on the PTA boards on the school improvement council councils, I have served as a Class Mom Assisted as a chaperone on school field trips, I’ve assisted as band mom and football mom for years .As a board member,  I would continue to help volunteer in the community as I always have, and assist as needed.

I have had the opportunity to serve as a substitute teacher before; I served as a substitute in Myrtle Beach at Socastee High School. I believe, being a substitute is a great way to take a look into an educator’s day. It gives one the opportunity to first, serve students and provide relief for our teachers that need to be out of the office; secondly, it is also a great way to help those that are considering a career in education, an opportunity to understand the needs of a school. I currently serve at Cherry Park on the School Improvement Council, PTO and also serve in my children’s classrooms as a volunteer when an opportunity is offered. I enjoy being around the students and seeing them in a school environment. If elected, I will continue to serve as a volunteer and I am personally excited about the opportunity to spend even more time with all of our students in the district. As an elementary school parent, I look forward to learning even more about our middle and high schools around the district!

Though I would be willing to serve as a substitute that is not possible at this time as I have a full-time job. However, I have talked recently with an individual who does substitute, and he shared that he was substituting in a different district because they paid 30% more per day. Therefore, I would recommend that we review what we are presently paying our substitutes to be more competitive.

As a current public school educator, my commitment to serving the school community goes beyond a board seat. I understand firsthand the needs of our schools and would continue to support them in ways that fit within my teaching career. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, or participating in school events, I’m eager to get into the schools to help out where I can. I’ll prioritize engaging with students and teachers, and if elected, I plan to start visiting schools to serve shortly after taking office.

I am grateful for all of those who serve as substitutes within our schools, but I cannot be a substitute teacher at this time in my life. I have a full-time job that will not allow me to do so. Having four young children in the Rock Hill public schools opens up many opportunities to serve and volunteer in different capacities though and I am always willing to do so when time allows. As a school board member, I have had the privilege of visiting schools and getting a glimpse into the educator’s day. I have visited South Pointe High School, Cherry Park Elementary, Dutchman Creek Middle, Independence Elementary and Oakdale Elementary, and these visits have been invaluable.  

Also, I work in the medical industry and have recently been strengthening the relationship between Piedmont Medical Center and Rock Hill Schools.  We have a Medical Robotic Symposium coming up and Rock Hill Schools have been invited to attend. I will be there teaching and hopefully inspiring the next generation of engineers to pick up where we left off!

Finally, I take the time to work with recent Rock Hill graduates at the hospital when I see Sterile Processing Students, Radiology Tech Students and Surgical Tech Students.

I have looked at each calendar and they all have their pros and cons. I do not believe that the State Department of Education has approved four day weeks yet as an option. We must have our community’s feedback on this before any decision is made. We are here to serve the entire community and our calendar must be tailored to meet their needs. Some of my concerns are instructional time and the effect these calendars will have on working and single parents as it pertains to work schedules, child care issues, and the logistics for our school staff.

Before we even consider a 4 day calendar it needs to be an option through the department of education, I think we need more information on all the options. I think a four day calendar could be great for our teachers, and for parents if we can offer child care and resources to make it feasible for working parents.  It allows a day each week when teachers can plan their instruction and also gives them time to grade projects and papers without having to take home tons of extra work.  This extra day would give students extra time to visit colleges and technical schools during high school.

I support the modified calendar with the caveat of wanting to know if additional help/tutoring will be offered for students that are falling behind and/or have lower test scores that need the additional small group help and intervention.

I’m willing to support the proposed modified year-round calendar. I would prefer for the district to move two of the days during Thanksgiving week to allow students to start in August, giving families one extra weekend in July. Talking with teachers and families in other districts that are already doing this, they have seen positive results with being able to provide additional learning opportunities for students who need extra help. 
I want assurances that our district will helping to meet the needs of families who need childcare options. I want to know how meals will be handled during these intercessions. During the summer, students are able to receive free lunches, so will we be able to provide meals during the intercessions? How will extracurricular activities such as sports and arts programs be affected? Our facilities crew was working around the clock to get schools ready with this year’s shortened summer. How will our facilities crew be able to get needed maintenance done within a shorter timeframe?

I see how all options could work, and I think that a community assessment could help in assisting with making the best determination for our district. I asked My own children for their feedback, and they all landed on a Traditional calendar because they enjoy the much-needed summer breaks for students and teachers.

I grew up going to school on a traditional calendar. As a child, I was able to go to summer camps sponsored by either local community organizations or churches; as a teenager, I was able to get a summer job and have a chance to have money to buy clothes and other things I wanted. I believe that a traditional calendar can support those endeavors for our students. However, I understand there is a need to ensure that all students, especially our younger ones, to have safe places to go during the summer as well as places where they can get academic support to enrich and enhance their learning. That being said, I support the traditional calendar but would also support the modified calendar. I believe the modified calendar would also still give an opportunity for students to go to camp and get summer jobs but it would also give windows of intercessory learning during the breaks so that our students do not have to suffer from a loss of learning. 

I cannot say that I support either presently. I understand and recognize that there are arguments to support both. That said, I would like to hear more from the folks that this would impact the most: parents and teachers.

When considering different calendar options, I support a balanced calendar with periodic breaks. Current research shows that more frequent breaks, such as intercession weeks, help students reset and manage stress, which is crucial given the rise in mental health challenges among teens. I also believe that half days can be disruptive to both learning and family schedules. While change can be difficult, we should prioritize what’s best for both students and teachers by creating a schedule that fosters mental well-being and supports educational outcomes.

I support the modified year round schedule. I believe it is the best of both worlds.  This schedule still offers a lengthy summer for students and teachers to enjoy a family vacation or earn money with a summer job. This schedule also provides multiple breaks during the school year, which research has shown helps academically and mentally. As a community, I believe we can work together to determine what calendar style works best for our students.

We must collaborate with our local and state law enforcement agencies to proactively create a threat assessment plan for our schools. They are the safety and security experts and we must defer to their recommendations. I am open to all recommendations to ensure the safety of our schools.

Most importantly we need to continue our great relationships with law enforcement, and as a board we have implemented stricter safety and security policies to make the learning environment safer. I trust the recommendations form law enforcement, and if they were to come to us with a recommendation I would support it. The Board has equipped the district with stricter policies, and it is important that those policies are being followed in every building-- so we need to make sure that we are holding all of our principals and administration in the schools accountable.

I would like to ask the students and parents their safety level now. Our current law enforcement do a fantastic job of protecting the schools now. I don't think metal detectors will make the students feel more at ease but will create an environment that does not set our students up for success. I would be open to changing that opinion if a survey indicates students, teachers and administrators want to take more extreme measures in security.

During my tenure on the board, we have implemented several changes to make our schools safer, such as creating single secure entrances in all of our schools.  We have also added an armed officer or security guard at each school. We have instituted clear bag policies and use metal detectors at large events. We have increased random weapons screenings during the school day. And we have enacted stiffer penalties for fighting and threatening staff.

My participation in our district safety trainings has shown me the dedication of our employees to ensure that "we are the best prepared for situations that we pray, we'll never have to incur." Over the summer, I participated in an active shooter training with RHPD and our security team. Even knowing that it was staged, it was a stressful experience.

As the wife of a retired Rock Hill police lieutenant who was once over RHSD School Resource Officers, I have had many conversations with him regarding school safety and security. Metal detectors can be a useful tool for helping to deter students bringing weapons into schools or events. But metal detectors can also create a false sense of security. Someone determined to do harm, can find a way. 

I believe that we can and should do a better job of monitoring our camera system. We need to support our teachers and students by taking reports of bullying more seriously. Students who threaten or harm other students or teachers should not have the opportunity to disrupt school. We need to increase capacity of our alternative programs so that principals have a place to assign these students.

Yes, metal detectors are part of the solution. I believe that we should increase our random security and back checks. We need to do more preventative screenings. Also, parents need to ensure that they are having conversations with their children about gun safety and access to their firearms. We should also be having conversations about guns, and parents must limit and monitor access to their firearms.

I do appreciate all of the efforts that Rock Hill Schools is doing to ensure that our students are safe. Each time I step into my children’s school, I feel that the students, teachers and staff are in an environment where they are protected and prepared. Additionally, having our resource officers available at each school is an added benefit for protecting our schools. However, I feel what would help make us most safe is ensuring that we are tapping into the mental health needs of our children. Studies show that when a child’s well being or mental health is optimal, they are more likely to perform better at school. I believe that as a district, we need to ensure that we keep mental health resources available to our students. It will help with instances of bullying and other safety issues with children have access to those resources. I do not believe metal detectors are the best solution to keep our students safe. Students should feel like they are coming to school and not going into a jail. However, I do believe it is a community decision to find a solution and will take input from all parties on finding the right solution for our students.

School safety should be the top priority of all candidates. I am not opposed to metal detectors, but I would like to hear the arguments for and against. In most school shooting cases a metal detector would have done little to stop the tragedy, but if it was to save one life wouldn’t it be worth it. However, metal detectors are successful with the deterring items that individuals bring unlawfully to campus. Talking recently with law enforcement, their recommendations is to have mental health professionals train teachers to recognize individuals that may be exhibiting aggressive behaviors. Identifying and helping that individual would be an additional option. But we should also note that there are other factors that create unsafe learning environments, like bullying. We need to support our teachers when they have identified habitual offenders and work to create better alternative options for those habitual offenders.

When it comes to school safety, we must take a balanced and comprehensive approach. Physical measures, like metal detectors, can play a role, but parents deserve a broader plan that includes controlled entry points, emergency protocols, and threat assessments that don’t make schools feel like prisons. Mental health support is crucial in preventing violence, and we need more counselors and programs to address early warning signs. As someone who lost my high school principal to an active shooter, I understand the urgency. I’m committed to researching every solution to ensure safety for all students while promoting a supportive school environment.

The safety of our children is of upmost importance. I believe that we need to avoid complacency and review our protocols regularly. It is imperative that we listen to the professionals and continue to strengthen our relationships with Rock Hill PD and the York County Sheriffs department. 

We are fortunate in Rock Hill to have a strong security team working behind the scenes. I recently visited the “command center” and saw and heard first hand the safety protocols that are in place. As a parent and a school board member, I felt confident in what they are doing and know they will continue to advance safety measures.

In regards to metal detectors, I do not believe that they are part of the immediate solution. The personnel and procedures in place are extremely robust at keeping our students safe. Metal detectors could be part of future protocol, but I believe we should heed the advice of the professionals.  Whatever needs to be done to keep everyone safe!

I value the voice of all. I fit in the “parent box” obviously and respect our parent’s rights when it comes to educating their children. My admiration for our educators knows no bounds and the school district staff is the backbone of our day to day operations. But when it comes to being a voice and an advocate for one of these groups, it’s a no brainer; it’s our students above all. The entire crux of our school system is serving our students and preparing them for life. I strive to give our students every opportunity to be successful.

Parents and teachers, this is our community’s education system. One of the challenges right now is that we have a very top-heavy organization, we need to focus our resources on the school level so that we can attract the best staff.

I am the biggest advocate for our students! I believe teachers became teachers because have a genuine passion and love for their students. If we keep the student's needs first, fostering a productive, learning environment where all our students are being taught and we meet them where they are then our retention rate with teachers will improve. Listening to the teachers and implementing teacher suggestions is the key to student success. 

I believe that I am the biggest advocate first and foremost for our students. They are my why!

The goal of public education is to help all students develop into well-rounded individuals who are prepared to live productive lives and contribute to society. Children are born with unlimited potential and it’s important that they don’t get labeled and put into a box of who they should become. Our society needs artists and plumbers, just as much as we need doctors and lawyers. I talk to every child that I encounter at the museum, at the grocery store, church, you name it and ask about their schools.

Now a child isn’t going to be able to reach their potential alone, we need all of those other people helping. I advocate for our teachers, even marching alongside of them at the statehouse. Parents are a child’s first teacher, and they are a vital part of a child’s educational success.

School board members cannot be singled-focused when it comes to making decisions.

The student the center of the student is the center, and the enrolled recipient of the K-12 public education. As a Social Worker and Counselor, I think if we take the Eco- map approach, the student is the center of educational services- the district employees, the teachers, the parents, are all the stakeholders who surrounds the student, and they all have a voice in assisting that student’s overall success- and are all touchpoints.

I consider to be an advocate for all because I truly believe it takes a village to make success happen for our students. As a parent, I trust that when I send my children to school, they are in an environment in which they are cared for and their well being is paramount. It is important to me that teachers and staff feel valued for the work that they do because I know that when we have happy and secure teachers and staff, we will have happy and successful children. And again, as a parent, I know that ultimately I know what is best for my children, but I know that it takes a team to make it happen. The ultimate goal is student success so advocating for all with yield that result.

The question assumes that one group takes precedence over another, but I think that depends on the topic. In these situations, all voices should be heard. When everyone has a voice, then all parties are able to come to the table and collaborate for the good of our community.

I will always be an advocate for students first because their success is the foundation of everything we do in education. As both an educator and a parent, I bring the perspective of understanding what’s best for students from multiple angles, but at the end of the day, it’s their well-being that drives my decisions. Every student is someone’s child, their pride and joy, and I approach each choice with that in mind. By prioritizing students, we ensure a better future for them and our community.

I am an advocate for the STUDENTS. The primary goal of Rock Hill Schools is to educate students and help them become productive members of society. Just like in my day job at the hospital, the patient is always first and foremost.

In order to best care for our students, we must work with parents, teachers and district employees. We need to communicate with parents to understand the needs of their children. We also need to work with our teachers and district employees to help them educate and serve our students effectively.

Mental Health treatment and support is imperative to our students. I would be open to any suggestions from students, parents, and our district’s mental health staff concerning scheduled breaks in addition to those already scheduled.

I think the most important part is to make sure that every day in school is safe and secure, that’s where we have most control as a school district. Not all kids are safe and secure once they leave our buildings, so it is more important to focus on what is actually happening in the school buildings.

The modified calendar allows for those breaks. Students as well as the teachers will have an opportunity to pause and reset with the modified plan. Statistics show offering multiple breaks leads to a more productive learning environment. It will decrease burn- out with our teachers which will increase retention. This is not a new concept.

I believe that there are a lot more things that we can do that can help students regarding mental health, than a calendar: working to end the stigma of mental health issues and seeking help, helping students develop ways to cope with stress, and to quit putting so much stress on student testing. As a board member of the All on Board Coalition, we help parents and teens come up with healthy alternatives to relieve stress.

I think that all students need a brain break during the school day. - Dr. Schmolze and I have discussed how great it would be for Middle School students to have some type of recess- outdoor activity time- during the school day. In the olden days when I went to school, PE was a part of the curriculum for every grade level. Our students could all use some down time during the day to visit with friends or read for their own enjoyment. We try to jam pack so much into their school day, that they barely have time for lunch.

On a calendar related note: It is important that our high school students are able to take their end of course exams before winter break, so that they don’t have to stress with studying while on vacation.

I’m an advocate for having a maximum of two mental health days a month at the student and Parents discretion. Those days could look like an e-learning day and students will still be responsible for their assignments. Mental health is important. These days would allow parents and students an opportunity outside of school to focus on mental health and what is in the best interest of their child. I feel that parents have been cut off from the conversation. They’ve had their role on their children’s mental health, reduced by the rise of social media and given them time that and space reserved for important possible life saving discussion. Parents should be a bigger part of the discussion about their child’s mental health and giving students mental health days allows for parents to re-enter that discussion with their child outside of the classroom setting.

I believe the modified calendar would allow for breaks where students and staff can refresh academically as well as mentally is a good option. The intercessory breaks/weeks would allow for teachers to enjoy much needed time off and students to take a break from the rigors of school and also help them prepare for testing. I also believe the traditional calendar has benefits as well. The traditional calendar could allow or afford families the opportunity to take vacations together which could strengthen familial relationships which could lend to better mental health for students.

I cannot say that I support either calendar presently. I would be open to hear how a calendar impacts a student’s mental health. In my opinion, the biggest factor that affects a student’s mental health is social media. We all recognize the importance of mental health. However, social media often exasperates negative issues and takes away academic instruction time.  By providing access to mental health professionals and teaching and modeling strong coping mechanisms, students gain knowledge on how to approach many incidents. At the end of the day, we must remember that schools have been charged with preparing our children to be college and career ready, as well as productive citizens. I would like to open more discussion on how the calendar choices affect the students in all areas, not just mental health breaks.

To address the rise in teen mental health issues, research suggests that incorporating periodic breaks throughout the academic year can help reduce stress and improve well-being. A balanced calendar with mid-semester intercession weeks would allow students time to reset, participate in extracurricular activities, or access mental health resources. Shorter, more frequent breaks can prevent burnout and improve focus. Additionally, reducing the length of summer vacation but maintaining periodic mental health days can keep students engaged while providing the downtime they need to support their overall mental health.

Mental Health is real and very dangerous, and we need to take it seriously. Although I do believe in the modified year round calendar which offers frequent breaks for the well being of teachers and students, I do not believe that it is the answer to our mental health crisis.

I had the privilege of taking part in some conversations between Rock Hill Schools and local hospitals.  I was very encouraged with Rock Hill schools stance on mental health and the resources that are offered to our students to stay or get healthy.