1.  What has been your involvement with the community and school district? Describe your leadership and volunteerism in the community. Did you or your children attend school in the district? Have you volunteered in or been employed by the school district?
I grew up in Marshall County, and graduated from Sand Flat High School in 1980. I pastor in the area. During Covid-19, I volunteered and worked several different food distribution locations. I currently serve on the PTSA Board at HW BYERS as vice president where we raise money and gift each senior a computer at graduation. I attend many extra curricular activities and support the students.

2.  Why do you want to serve on your school board?  
I want to ensure fair equity among all the schools and students in Marshall County. I want to help take the schools to the next level.

3.  Students from low-income households often need additional resources to achieve academic success. What should your school district do to ensure that all students are successful?
Provide internet services to all students. Provide a healthy breakfast. Provide after school tutoring. Make home visits when students miss school. Create programs to get parents more involved.

4.  What strategies would you support to create a safer school environment?  What can your school district do to address cyberbullying, mental health, and physical safety?
More school Resource Officers. Regular Hall monitors to assist the teachers. Stronger entrance and exit doors and windows. Monitor social media platforms more closely to combat cyberbullying. Allow each school to hire social workers based on student enrollment.

5.  What do you see as the most pressing infrastructure needs facing your district?
There is an influx of growth in the county. The housing market is booming. There isn’t enough space in the current buildings to accommodate the growth. Marshall needs two more schools.

6.  Mississippi school districts are funded by a mix of federal, state, and local funds. The state contributes to local school districts through the new Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF). The MSFF is intended to fund teacher salaries, retirement and benefits, transportation costs, facility maintenance, utilities, special education, and other programs. What role will you play in advocating for full funding of MSFF for your district?
I support the current funding structure.

7.  Vouchers for private school tuition divert public funds away from public schools and toward unaccountable private schools. Do you agree that tax dollars should be used for only public schools and not for non-public schools? Why or why not?
I fully agree that tax dollars should be used for public schools only. I think that private schools should be funded by families of their students.

8. In Mississippi, academic standards are set by the Mississippi Department of Education and local districts choose curricula from an MDE-approved list. Do you trust educators in your district to teach using their professional judgment and training or should teaching be further regulated by school board policy or law? If you believe teaching should be further regulated, how so?
I believe in accountability without continually taking away the teachers’ professional judgment.

9. Mississippi is experiencing a severe teacher shortage. What strategies will you support to recruit and retain high-quality educators?  
I support a hiring bonus for new hires. I support a recruiting bonus for current teachers who recommend someone. I support a pay increase for all teachers. I support more family leave.