James Barrett is running for re-election this year with six years of experience on the school board under his belt and currently serves as the board’s chair. If re-elected, he will be the only board member with more than two years of experience. “That experience gives me the ability to effectively drive needed change in our district,” Barrett said. Barrett’s main goals if re- elected are to “close achievement gaps, improve instruction and ensure transparency, especially in our budgeting.”
Joal Hall Broun, a resident of the Chapel Hill Area for 23 years and mother of two, is running for re-election to the school board this year, in order to “recruit, retain and support quality teachers and school leadership.” She feels that her prior experience on the board will be an asset in continuing to build on the district’s foundation. Broun wants to focus on “providing access to resources for historically disadvantaged students and appropriate offerings for students who may pursue vocational and non-traditional careers.”
Ryan Brummond is a former Special Forces officer in the Army. He wants to focus on improving logistics in the district including improving facilities, zoning and busing. “Any time four different elementary school buses show up to the same street corner, there is something that needs to be improved,” he said. Brummond think his perspective as a young working parent will be an asset to the board and he wants to “give back to our community in a meaningful way,” Brummond said.
Calvin Deutshbein is a Ph.D. student in computer science at the University of North Carolina. “What sets me apart from my fellow candidates in the recency and prominence of my experience as a student,” Deutshbein said. He was motivated to run for the position due to “concerns over equity and over the absence of student perspectives in the conversation around it.” He wants to ensure that our schools are setting a diverse group of students up for success after graduation.
Amy Fowler has had three children go through CHCCS and has worked with the schools through the Parent Teacher Association and the CHCCS Special Needs Advisory Council. She wants to ensure the district is supporting teachers “with adequate income, effective leadership, and the necessary support staff.” She also wants to focus on closing the achievement gap and “chang- ing the culture to a growth mindset, one that believes all students can achieve” she said.
Kim Talikoff currently teaches at Estes Hills Elementary School. She wants to focus on teacher recruitment and retention. “Evidence repeatedly shows that high-quality teachers are the single most important factor in student success,” Talikoff said. In addition she plans to address the achievement gap by making sure all students receive the proper education and support that is right for them. “All of our students need access to challenging curricula, as well as encouragement and support to take their next learning steps.”
Mary Ann Wolf has worked with school districts in all 50 states over the past 20 years. “I think we can improve in consistency with curriculum, support and coaching for educators, and in our vision for teaching and learning,” Wolf said. She wants to address the equity issue starting with the youngest children in the district. “The investment in early childhood education and also in K-3 reading will pay dividends in the long-term,” she said.
