Campaign Issues
1. Back-to-Basics Approach to Education
When it comes to academic excellence, I believe we must focus on a "Back-to-Basics" approach. The foundation of all future learning relies on mastering the essentials: reading, writing, and mathematics.
While many of our students excel, data shows a critical "sliding scale" in reading proficiency by the third grade. Up until third grade, students are learning to read; after third grade, they are reading to learn. Students who fall behind at this crucial stage often struggle across all subjects as they progress.
By catching reading difficulties early in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, we can prevent the achievement gap from widening in middle school. Alongside reading, we must aggressively address and improve math proficiency across all grade levels.
My Action Plan for Academic Success:
Rigorous Early Intervention: Identifying and supporting struggling students in K-2 before they fall behind.
Enhanced Reading Programs: Utilizing proven, evidence-based literacy instruction in every elementary classroom.
Literacy and Math Specialists: Placing dedicated experts in schools where they can provide targeted, small-group support to students who need it most.
Afterschool Tutoring: Providing accessible, structured academic help outside of regular school hours.
Rewards for Student Improvement: Celebrating growth and hard work to build student confidence and motivation.
Better Communication with Families: Giving parents regular, clear updates and actionable tools to support learning at home.
A Positive Learning Environment: Fostering classrooms that minimize distractions and celebrate academic achievement.
"If a child can't read proficiently by the third grade, every other subject becomes a mountain to climb. By investing heavily in early literacy and foundational math, we aren't just improving test scores—we are setting our children up for a lifetime of success."
2. Teacher Retention and Support
A significant gap in student achievement is often directly linked to high teacher turnover. When our schools lose experienced educators, student consistency suffers, and our classrooms lose vital leadership. To ensure long-term academic excellence, Horry County Schools must focus on recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers.
Horry County Schools has recently taken positive steps by increasing teacher salaries, making our compensation more competitive nationally. This is a great move in the right direction. However, competitive pay is only part of the equation. We must also improve the day-to-day working environment for our educators.
I am committed to implementing solutions that support our teachers, reduce burnout, and keep our best talent in Horry County classrooms.
My Plan for Teacher Retention and Support:
Reducing Administrative Burnout: Streamlining paperwork and non-instructional requirements so teachers can focus on what they love and do best—educating children.
Veteran Teacher Mentorships: Implementing robust mentorship programs that incentivize experienced, veteran educators to stay and guide newer teachers, creating a more stable and supportive school culture.
Dedicated Behavior and Learning Specialists: Adding specialized support staff to handle classroom disruptions and intensive behavioral needs, ensuring teachers can maintain an environment where everyone can learn.
Strong Board Support: Fostering a culture where the Board of Education actively listens to, values, and stands behind our frontline educators.
"Our teachers are the backbone of our education system. By pairing competitive pay with a supportive, distraction-free working environment, we can cut turnover, preserve institutional knowledge, and give our students the stable foundations they need to thrive."
3. Closing College and Career Readiness Gap
There is often a significant gap in how we prepare students who are tracked for four-year universities versus those who may be better suited for technical careers. For too long, the traditional narrative has suggested that a four-year degree is the only path to a prosperous future.
I firmly believe that success should not be defined solely by a college acceptance letter.
Our economy and our community thrive on skilled professionals. As a small business owner and licensed professional right here in Horry County, I know firsthand the immense value of vocational training and the high demand for skilled expertise. We must elevate and expand these programs so that every student—regardless of their post-graduation plans—is equipped to build a successful, independent life.
My Plan to Bridge the Career Gap:
Expand Career and Technical Education (CTE): Champion the growth of vocational training across Horry County Schools. I will fight to ensure students have robust access to industry certifications in the skilled trades, healthcare, and technology before they ever cross the graduation stage.
Strengthen Local Business Partnerships: Build active, strong pipelines between our schools and the local business community. By creating more hands-on internship and apprenticeship opportunities, we can give students real-world "bridge" experiences that transition directly into high-paying, local careers.
Enhance Specialized Academies: Support and maximize the reach of our specialized programs, ensuring that facilities like the Academy for Technology and Academics (ATA) have the resources needed to train the next generation of our workforce.
"Every student deserves a clear path to financial independence and purpose. By investing heavily in technical education and real-world apprenticeships, we respect the diverse talents of our students and build a stronger, more resilient local economy."
Building Bridges with the Community
Effective communication is the glue that holds a school district together. In a district as large and diverse as Horry County, we must move away from "one-way" broadcasting and toward a "two-way" partnership model.
If elected, I will focus on four distinct pillars to bridge the gaps between the Board of Education, administration, our hard-working staff, and our families.
1. Board & Public: Active Accountability
The Board should not be a distant body that only interacts with the community from a dais once a month.
"Board on the Road" Town Halls: I advocate for taking Board conversations out into our unique communities, hosting mobile town halls across the county so parents and taxpayers can voice their needs locally.
Post-Meeting Briefs: Instead of expecting busy parents to read through pages of dry meeting minutes, the Board should send out clear, concise email or web briefs explaining major votes and why they matter to our families.
2. Board & Teachers: Direct, Safe Feedback Loops
To fix problems in our schools, the Board must hear the unvarnished truth from the front lines.
The Teacher Cabinet: Establish a dedicated advisory cabinet of local teachers to meet directly with the Board, ensuring educator feedback actively shapes our policy decisions.
Anonymous Feedback Channel: Create a secure, anonymous feedback loop where teachers can safely report structural issues, administrative burdens, or safety concerns without fear of professional retaliation.
3. Schools & Families: Proactive Partnerships
Communication with parents shouldn't only happen when something goes wrong. We need to actively build trust and celebrate student growth.
"Good News" Milestones: Implement a system where teachers and schools can easily send quick, positive text alerts to parents when a child reaches an academic milestone, demonstrates leadership, or shows great improvement.
4. Board & Administration: Clear Boundaries
To run an efficient, multi-million-dollar school district, everyone must know their role.
Defining Roles: Establish explicit boundaries between the strategic policy-making role of the Board of Education and the day-to-day operational management of the Superintendent.
Visible Leadership: I will actively conduct regular site visits—eating lunch in school cafeterias and walking the halls—to speak directly with frontline staff and understand the realities on the ground.
"True communication is a two-way street. By opening up safe channels for our teachers, going out into our neighborhoods, and keeping parents informed with proactive updates, we can turn Horry County Schools into a model of transparency and collaborative success."