Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Beginning my career in public service on the Macon County Board of Education, I am a strong advocate for public education. It is our responsibility as state leaders to provide our teachers with the tools necessary for them to perform in the classroom.

Common core needs to be replaced. It was a good sounding idea that 46 governors endorsed several years ago. It is a cookie-cutter Federal plan that assumes one size fits all. NC can do better, and we will.

Teachers in NC deserve to have their pay adjusted to competitive levels. We currently are not competitive with most neighboring states in overall teacher compensation. Since being elected to the General Assembly, we have worked to increase teacher pay and benefits, and we have been successful, but ther is more work we can do. We don't need to blame the Democrats or Republicans, or continue to play that game. It just needs to be fixed, and NC can do that with the increased revenues that the State is experiencing through business and sales tax growth.

I believe all children should have access to a quality education and teacher pay should continue to be increased to a competitive level. I believes NC can put more money into the classroom and that teachers should not have to spend their personal funds for classroom material.

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