Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

I'm a fierce believer in the transformative power of public education, and I'm running to make sure that all South Carolinian students have access to the education they need to become successful community leaders, business owners, and citizens of this great state. Currently, our school system is badly broken. We sit 43rd in education according to US News' national ranking, with just 38% of residents holding college degrees. Teachers are leaving our schools (and in some cases, the profession entirely) in droves because of low pay and poor classroom conditions. Our kids aren't getting the professional attention & expertise they need to develop as students and citizens, and are graduating late or not at all. We know these challenges are particularly acute in low-income communities and communities of color.

Many view education in South Carolina as a moral issue, as do I. But it's also an economic one that affects you even if you don't have children in our public school system. Studies have repeatedly shown that low graduation rates correspond to higher economic costs borne by society, in the form of lost tax revenues, assistance programs, and healthcare costs. As a small business owner, I also know employers need access to high-quality labor. If our schools can't provide it, employers will hire from out-of-state (depriving South Carolina of economic benefit), or may decide to leave.

We must properly fund, maintain, and improve our public education system. As a soon-to-be parent and a small business owner, I feel both moral and economic imperatives to improve our district's (and our state's) approach to education.

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