Yvette Grant
Background:
First, I am a woman of God who seeks to have God's will, love and power manifest in everything I do. I have been married for 25 years to my husband Michael and we counsel families and individuals through our God's Hands Ministry. I am a mother of four children, two that have graduated from CCS, one who is an EC student at CECHS, and one who is a senior at KMHS. As a parent I have served as volunteer, presenter, mentor, program leader in various school based programs such as Project Teach and KMHS Band. I am also a member of the school improvement team at CECHS. I am a former 7th and 8th grade math and science teacher having taught classes of 35 students. I was employed by CCS as a tutorial facilitator in the AVID program in SMS and SHS. For the past 8 years I have been a parent support group leader where I train parents to be a positive influence in the education of their children. I am a member of the Kings Mountain Woman's Club. I am a retired STEM educated and trained Pediatric Nuclear Medicine Technologist, where I ministered to families, published papers and created new protocols. As a Follower of Christ and community worker I have served in various groups and organizations, such as Sunday School Teacher and volunteer for KM Elite. As a school board member I bring a great deal of experience in many areas that directly impact CCS, including the ability to keep members within a group focused on the needs of our students, teachers and teacher assistants instead of their own personal agendas and conflicts.
1. Why are you running for the school board?
First, my focus as a former teacher and present parent is to give the teachers of Cleveland County a voice. I was appalled when during a town hall meeting in a reply to my question of why more teachers were not present at the meeting, a newly retired teacher stated that teachers were afraid to come and speak out. That simply cannot be allowed to continue. Cleveland County Schools can never hope to achieve excellence if the voice of its front line workers are silenced. The School Board must hear first from classroom personnel then, parents and caregivers then everyone else including the state. What happens daily in the classroom is the true measure of education.
Second, I have a vision for CCS wherein we are elevated to a level of excellence which results in national prominence. We must have a vision in order to complete the goal. I know with the talent and creativity of the Cleveland County community this vision can be realized. I have witnessed this same vision in the Community Math Academy of which I have been a parent support leader since the beginning. This vision is critical to Cleveland County because families will move to an area that has an excellent educational system. With families comes tax revenue and the demand for services such as restaurants, stores, and activities. This is where education meets economic development.
2. What are the big issues the school board will face in the next four years?
a. Common Core - There is nothing common about the students in an American classroom therefore you cannot have cookie cutter education that is effective. Let teachers Teach!
b. Economic Gap - The economic gap is growing as the assumption in many classes is that all students have access to technology. This gap begins at the beginning of each school year with the supply list. There was a time when my family could not afford 2" binders at $7.97 x 8 (as requested by the school) x 4 (number of Children I had to shop for) = $255.04 and that was just the beginning..
c. Vocational vs. Academic focus with the loss of employment opportunities for the young and newly graduated.
d. STEMs education - CCS science fairs where are they? We must also be careful not to let the pendulum swing too far to science and technology while minimizing artistic expression of all types, literature, and vocational training/certification.
3. What are we doing right in CCS?
a. Increasing the graduation rate
b. Creating more opportunities for collaboration with teachers
c. Recognizing the contributions of our Teacher's Assistants
d. Supporting programs aimed at closing the achievement Gap.
4) What are we doing wrong?
a. Not having a safe vehicle for Teachers to make themselves heard.
b. Not having a vision of excellence that goes beyond the state levels of achievement. NC ranked 36th in Math and Science.
i. No science fairs
c. Not addressing the Economic Gap by making the use of technology required for academic achievement
d. Not respecting the input, insight and knowledge of the voting public. Statement from a School Board member in response to the suggestion of a town hall meeting "I don't want to hear complaints" CCS needs more community support not less.