Candidate: Judy Musgrave
District: Cumberland County Board of Education
Why do you feel like you are qualified to run for the Board of Eduation?
I am capable and qualified to run for an at-large seat on the Board of Education. I have worked in the eduation arena for 40+ years and have worked specifically in the Cumberland County school system for 28 of those years. During this period I served in many capacities and have taught or worked with teachers from all grade bands from K – University level. I bring a plethora of knowledge, skills, and abilities to the table. Some of my credentials and experiences are listed below:
- Retired Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Specialist for Cumberland County Schools, Grades 6 – 12
- Former Jr. High & High School Mathematics/Science Teacher
- Former Instructional Curriculum Facilitator (ICF) and “Educator in the Field” for Cumberland County Schools Reform
- Former workshop Facilitator/Presenter for the School of Education at Fayetteville State University
- Former Mathematics Assistance Team Reviewer for the NC Department of Public Instruction
- Former Adjunct Professor in the School of Education (Elementary Department, K – 6) at Fayetteville State University
I am an award winning teacher and advocate for students and have realized much success during my tenure.
How do you envision Cumberland County Schools in 10 years?
In ten years, I envision the Cumberland County School System as on where tremendous success is being realized by all students. This new Cumberland County School System recognizes each child as important and capable of making substantial contributions to society. Students are totally prepared to attend the college or university of their choice and are not just able to meet the academic requirements to matriculate into the schools, but will be able to compete with students from other counties, states and countries. I see a strong educational system built by empowering and transforming lives. Students are global citizens and are very knowledgeable of global cultures. Teachers will feel valued, respected and appreciated for their dedicated service. Parents will realize that they are the first and most important teachers for their children and will require nothing less than greatness from them. This will be a shining example of the total village working together for the good of all children.
What is the number one challenge facing the Cumberland County school system?
There are a few areas which would warrant improvement or that pose challenges for the Cumberland County School Board of Education; however, I think that the greatest of these is the challenge to close the achievement gap and provide a quality educational program which educates ALL children. There needs to be an intentional focus to decrease the number of students placed in in-school suspension, suspension from school, and the exceptional childrens’ program. There must be a deliberate process implemented to help grow ALL students academically and socially.
How do you propose to fix the challenge?
I believe that there are workable solutions to this huge challenge if and only when the home, school, and community work in concert to find those solutions. With deeper, greater and stronger communication, connections and collaboration among parents, guardians and the school community, we can find alternative means to keep students in the classrooms and not in in-school suspension or out of school suspensions. There should be mandatory redirection classes targeting students with poor social skills and low self-esteem. The School Board could set new policies in curriculum to help encourage the facilitation of discussion on learning styles, real world connections and applications in teaching content standards. This becomes very important in having teachers add meaning and emotion to content and pedagogy so that each student can move information to his/her long term memory. It would also be valuable for all who are involved in the CCS education arena to know the culture of the students, parents and community to empower everyone to help bring about the best education possible for ALL students.
What new ideas/concepts can you bring to the office you are seeking?
During the 40+ years of my teaching career, I have amassed a broad base and plethora of knowledge, skills, strategies, and ideas which I can bring to the office which I am seeking. Some which are listed below:
- An understanding of curriculum alignment
- A valuable knowledge of Common Core and it application
- A strong knowledge of the “Essential Elements of Instructions”
- Applications of the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy
- The creation of a potpourri of manipulatives and creative thinking and reasoning skills activities
- A knowledge of Learning Styles and how students and adults learn
- A knowledge of Curriculum Development to bring about an understanding of 21st Century Skills and
- A knowledge of teaching methods and pedagogy to enhance the abilities of students on all grade levels, which could help in closing the Achievement Gap to ensure all students learn and realize success.
