Candidate: Rudy Tatum
District: Cumberland County Board of Education
Why do you feel like you are qualified to run for the Board of Education?
I feel I am qualified to run for the Board of Education because I have more than thirty five years of experience as an educator in the Cumberland County School System. My experiences range from pre-kindergarten to the central office, as a teacher, instructional specialist, central office director, parent facilitator and principal. I have served in high schools, a middle school and elementary schools. A major focus of my career has been on keeping schools safe, student success, positive working conditions, team leadership and community relations.
It has been my honor to serve as the principal of two school teams that earned the National Blue Ribbon Award, Eastover-Central and Pauline Jones now relocated to Walker-Spivey School. The award is for the highest level of achievement of schools in America. Also, the Pauline Jones team was recognized internationally for student achievement and community involvement and Eastover-Central was recognized for having the highest ratings in all categories of teacher working conditions in our state.
I believe that experience and proven high results are important when selecting personnel that can help develop a world-class school system or any other high performing organization. Great communities have great schools. Our children and parents deserve no less than the best.
How do you envision Cumberland County schools in 10 years?
I envision Cumberland County schools as being a world-class school system in 10 years.
What is the number one challenge facing the Cumberland County school system?
Our number one challenge is creating a unified effort to develop a world-class school system for our children.
How do you propose to fix the challenge?
We can fix the challenge by rising to a cause beyond ourselves, having high expectations for ourselves, our colleagues and our students and practicing positive personal characteristics. We would listen to our parents, students, supporters and teachers who will guide us to excellence.
What new ideas/concepts can you bring to the office you are seeking?
My ideas/concepts have been supported by educators for many years but often are not fully implemented. The focus should be on maintaining safe and orderly school environments, building the capacity of team leadership within each school, recruiting and retaining high caliber school teams, developing policies that help teachers prioritize teaching and learning and allotting more time for teachers to challenge all students.
