Roger Harris
Roger Harris is a retired educator from Cleveland County Schools, seeking a second term on the Board of Education. Harris taught high school social studies for 21 years before being promoted to principal. In 1988 Harris was named Cleveland County Schools Teacher of the Year for his excellence in teaching. Twenty years later Harris was selected as Cleveland County Schools Principal of the Year. Roger Harris retired as principal of Crest High after 33 years of service to Cleveland County Schools in 2010 and was elected to the Board of Education in 2011.
Roger Harris has always been extremely involved in his church and church activities. He has served as a Sunday School teacher in an adult class for almost 30 years. He is a deacon, church moderator, and has served on virtually every church committee at one time or another. The Harris' are members of Poplar Springs Baptist.
Harris contributes to the community with service on a number of Boards of Directors, including Communities in Schools, the Educational Foundation, and the United Way of Cleveland County. He is active in the Shelby Civitan Club, currently serving as President-Elect. The Civitan Club is a service organization with special emphasis on children and students with special needs. He is a volunteer with Special Olympics. In addition, Harris is the President of Cleveland County Retired School Personnel with members from all areas of the county.
Roger Harris has been married to his wife, Nadine, for 39 years. Mrs. Harris recently retired as a nurse from Kings Mountain Hospital with 35 years service. They have two grown children and five grandchildren.)
1. Why are you running for school board?
Service on the Board of Education is a tremendous honor and responsibility. Cleveland County Schools has over 15,000 students in 29 schools and each one of them deserves to learn in a safe environment with excellent teachers to become happy and productive adults. I have been especially pleased with the progress that Cleveland County Schools have made during the last four years. We have made student learning our highest priority, and that has been reflected in the data. Our high school drop-out rate is at an all time low while graduation is at an all time high. In 2009 we graduated only 66% of those who entered 9th grade. That is now up to 86%. We have improved communication with parents and the community. Parents can now use their home computers to access their child's grades and attendance and not have to wait on report cards. Our campuses are as safe as they can be and we are addressing the needs of students in all grades. Cleveland County Schools was one of only 7 in all of NC recognized as an Advanced Placement Honor District. Both West Elementary and North Elementary received national recognition in 2015. While we have accomplished much, there is still much to do. I would like the honor of another term on the Board of Education to finish the good things that we have started. A number of our schools in Cleveland County have serious building needs and we need to take on some big projects. The special needs children at North Shelby School deserve a brand new school. We have started that project and I hope to have the opportunity to see that new school through to completion. Our graduation rate may never be 100% but it can and should be over 90%. We have made great progress but more needs to be done. I am very grateful for the opportunity that the citizens of Cleveland County have given me to serve on the Board of Education, and I ask for your support to continue the good work and to finish the job that we have started together.
2. What are the big issues the school board will face in the next four years?
First, Cleveland County Schools needs to continue to focus on high student performance and set the expectation that all schools will be successful. We need to challenge students to stay engaged and to participate in higher-level course work to prepare themselves for life after high school. It is my expectation that all of our schools will meet or exceed expected growth each year.
Second, we continue to face the challenge of recruiting the best teachers from NC and the region to our classrooms. Technology and classroom tools are important, but the single greatest factor in determining the success of a student in the classroom is the teacher. A "Smart Board" can never replace a smart teacher. Unfortunately, state budgets have been very challenging the last few years. While first year teachers have seen impressive growth in salaries, many teachers have seen stagnant paychecks for a long time. Other states, including SC, have been much more aggressive in establishing working conditions that attract good teachers. Cleveland County Schools have worked in this challenging economic environment and we have had a lot of success, but there is much left to do.
Third, we have a number of capital building projects that we need to address. Our current Board has identified the highest priority is a new North Shelby School and the addition of auditoriums for Burns High and Crest High. We also need to, as quickly as financially possible, address the Holland & Nanny Buildings at Bethware Elementary. In addition, Grover Elementary has buildings that are in desperate need of renovations. And new classroom additions are needed at Kings Mountain High School. Finally Burns High, Kings Mountain High, and Crest High need major renovations to their football stadium press boxes, restrooms, and concession stands.
3. What are we doing right in the Cleveland County Schools? What are we doing wrong?
Our graduation rate is at an all time high, but more needs to be done. A high school diploma is only a starting point in today's world. Our students need to graduate high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to become competitive. And, in order to be successful in high school we have to make sure that students are making adequate progress and meeting expected growth each year.
Technology is both a blessing and a curse. Our teachers are effectively using technology to present amazing lessons. And our students are as comfortable with a computer and a smart phone as their parents were with a TV remote when they were schoolchildren. But with the technology comes a dark side that schools are being challenged to address. Some students are taking inappropriate photographs of themselves and distributing them via the Internet to friends without seeming to understand the danger and lifelong consequences of such poor decisions. Facebook and other social media, which has the potential for much good, is sometimes used to bully and intimidate weaker peers. The technology is sometimes used to cheat in school. Students, who almost always know more about the technology than their parents, can easily hide messages and photographs from even a vigilant parent. There is a particularly menacing networking app called Yik Yak that is especially cruel. Yik Yak has it all: cyber bullying, explicit sexual content, exposure to explicit information about drugs and alcohol, rumors and gossip. It can quickly create major disruptions in the school environment. Our schools and parents are going to struggle in the coming years to protect our children from the dark side of technology while at the same time embracing the wonder, knowledge, and power of technology.
Finally, we need to continue to build on the good school system that we have in Cleveland County. Most parents and children are pleased with the quality of instruction they receive in our schools. Most of our parents feel that our schools are safe and secure and they expect us to continue to keep them that way. We have quality teachers, administrators, and support staff in our schools and there is an expectation that we continue to seek the best for our children.
It has been my honor to serve the citizens and students of Cleveland County as a member of the Board of Education for the last four years. I humbly request your vote in the November 3 election to continue the good things that we have been doing and to meet the challenges of the future. Thank you, and may God bless you and your family.