Asheboro City School Board candidates respond to candidate survey
ASHEBORO – Municipal elections in Randolph County begin this week with early voting with election day on Nov. 2. The contest for Asheboro City School Board has seven candidates vying for four seats. Voters are allowed to select their top four candidates on the ballot.
North State Journal circulated a survey to all of the candidates with the same questions. Each candidate was given the same amount of space to respond to each question. Their responses are below.
Adam Hurley
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City School Board
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) High School Diploma
What is your occupation? Heating and Air
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Equity & Inclusion
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I am vehemently opposed to the adoption or move toward critical race theory
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
I have held various leadership roles and am ready to stand up for parents.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I’m opposed to any government body requiring the Covid vaccine.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? We need to focus on improving learning for our students.
Why are you running for office? Because we need bold leaders who will stand for what’s right.
Kathryn Thill
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) BA Psychology, Lenoir Rhyne University
What is your occupation? Licensed Real Estate Agent
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Educator Retention & Recruitment, & its long-term impact on student success.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? CRT is not meant for K-12 classrooms, ACS has no plan to adopt this.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
I’m committed to transparency, honesty & advocacy for students & families.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? Vaccines should be a conversation between families and their pediatrician, not the school board.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? My goal is to think creatively to engage our great community in supporting our district! Asheboro has so many wonderful businesses and individuals, I’d like to see how we can work together to support (& recruit) educators, and provide dynamic learning opportunities for our students. These opportunities will be more important than ever, as our teachers work diligently to cover lost ground due to Covid. Students across the country are further behind than ever before, and our teachers will need as much support as we can give them as they work tirelessly to engage and enhance the learning of our children.
Why are you running for office? I want to be a voice for our families, students, and educators.
Baxter Hammer
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) BS Business and Accounting Elon University
What is your occupation? Plant Controller with The Timken Company
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? No answer.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? No answer.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
No answer.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? No answer.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? No answer.
Why are you running for office? No answer.
Hailey Trollinger Lee
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City School Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) Asheboro High School.
Kneaded Energy School of Massage (LBMT)
What is your occupation? I am a stay-at-home mom and work as a substitute teacher.
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Staff dev./retention. Teachers are the key asset to our students’ education.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I do not support the teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My passion and concern for our teachers, students and the next generation.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I do not support any government mandate that takes away parent choice.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? I am not seeking office with a focus to necessarily change. My focus will be to work alongside the other board members to make sure ACS continues to focus on our teachers, students and families. Working together to ensure the highest quality of education for our students.
Why are you running for office? To serve our community. To advocate for all teachers, parents and students.
Beth Knott
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) “North Carolina State University- BS- Zoology
University of North Carolina -Greensboro- MA, Audiology
University of Florida-Doctor of Audiology
Randolph Community College- Integrative Health Coaching Certification
What is your occupation? Integrative Health Coach
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? School calendar flexibility. Calendar needs be set by the local district.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I support our statement released by Asheboro City Schools. See website.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
Asheboro native, current ACS parent, incumbent experience
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? My decisions are based data presented. This data is not available yet.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? My role as a school board member is to be an advocate for students, educators and staff. Every decision I make I must first ask “Is this what’s best for our students? ” That is a value I will never wavier from regardless of the decision at hand.
Why are you running for office? To continue the work we set forth to accomplish in Asheboro City Schools.
Todd Dulaney
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) Sinclair Community College, Associate Degree
Wright State University, Bachelor’s Degree
What is your occupation? Executive editor, Our State magazine
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Education. The success of our community depends on our schools.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I want a seat at the table when the board of education discusses it.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My day job is to celebrate NC; I will do the same for our great schools.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I follow laws, even the ones I disagree with, and so do my children.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? Increased transparency, communication, and community involvement.
Why are you running for office? To ensure my child, and all ACS students, have the best education possible.
Bob Williams
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) AHS, High Point University, UNC-CH LAW School
What is your occupation? Retired lawyer
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Educating children for our future
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? All history should be taught without any shame placed any child’s ancestors
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My education, experience, and connections with Asheboro as a native here.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? For their health they should receive shots required by schools.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? Higher level of funding and more resources for teachers.
Why are you running for office? To help teachers educate children to succeed in life and work.
