Your Questions Answered

---

I’m running for the Buncombe County school board because our children deserve better educational outcomes and stronger support systems than they’re currently receiving. 

My background as a technical project manager has equipped me with the skills to bring about effective change. I believe we need a results-focused approach to truly improve our schools, ensuring that our kids graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

Over the course of my opponent's twelve-year tenure, there has been little to no improvement in critical areas such as reading, math, and science proficiency. This stagnation is simply unacceptable. While the incumbent’s website highlights that graduation rates have improved, it raises a key question: how can students be graduating if they are not proficient in these core subjects?

I will bring fresh ideas and a results-driven approach to improve our schools. My goal is to ensure that students are not just graduating, but doing so with the skills and knowledge they need for success. I know improvement is possible, and I am determined to make Buncombe County schools better for every child.

I have over 27 years of experience solving big problems. I am excellent at working with others to find solutions that make things work efficiently. I am skilled at implementing solutions for major banks across the globe and monitoring those implementations to ensure that the expected outcomes are achieved. I want to use these skills to benefit our schools.

I will communicate with teachers, parents, and students to identify what's not working. Then, I'll work with experts and other stakeholders to develop smart plans to improve reading, math, and science scores, ensuring more students graduate and are ready for college or careers.

I will work with school staff and parents to create fair rules and help students follow them. I want schools to be safe and welcoming for everyone. I believe teachers, students, and parents all want the same thing.

I believe in transparency about how taxpayer money is spent on and by schools. I want to ensure it's used effectively to support students and teachers.

I think fair compensation is important, but the significant pay raises the board gave itself during the pandemic didn't lead to any improvements for anyone except the board members. I want board members to be accountable for their performance. The 2021 raise boosted the school board chair's monthly compensation from $350 to $1,300 and increased board members' monthly stipend from $250 to $1,100. That's a pay bump of 340%. Wow!

Learn More

I will hold town hall meetings, send newsletters, and use social media to stay in touch with everyone. I want to listen to your ideas and work together to improve our schools. I will keep office hours that include time for speaking with you by phone, in person, or by email.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK:  While several board members have backgrounds in education, it's equally important to bring in diverse experiences and skillsets to offer fresh perspectives and solutions. My background as a technical project manager allows me to focus on problem-solving, budgeting, and accountability—critical areas that complement the educational expertise already present on the board. By diversifying the board, we can approach the challenges facing our schools from multiple angles and find more effective solutions to improve student outcomes.

Learn more about the current board:  https://hces.buncombeschools.org/o/bcs/page/meet-the-board

Despite the current board member's long tenure, schools haven't shown much improvement. I believe new ideas and fresh perspectives are necessary to advance our schools.

I am committed to listening to all opinions and making decisions that reflect the diverse views and needs of our community. We won’t always agree on every issue, but it's vital that every voice is heard. As a member of the school board, I will encourage open discussion and healthy debate, ensuring that I don’t just follow the crowd or vote with the majority without considering all perspectives.

Unlike the incumbent, I refuse to turn a deaf ear to those with whom I may disagree. It’s essential that anyone in elected office listens to the voices of their constituents. Do you feel the incumbent does that? I believe our board needs leaders who genuinely engage with the community, not just those who vote in lockstep with others.

More Information:   https://www.change.org/p/buncombe-county-schools-removal-resignation-of-amy-churchill

Even More Information:  https://wlos.com/news/local/frustrated-parents-call-for-resignation-of-buncombe-county-school-board-member

I am glad you asked! Unlike the incumbent, I have not served in political office 12 years. I do not have a political machine or any political contacts. Please visit our volunteer page for ideas on how you can help us get elected and start working to make a difference. Please bring us your ideas and experiences to help us form a winning team of enthusiastic volunteers.

Wondering if you can vote for the District 4 seat on the Buncombe County Schools Board of Education in the upcoming elections? Check out the linked flyer!  If you vote at one of the seven precincts listed at the top of the flyer, you are within School District 4 and YES, you can vote for me in this election!

However, if you vote in one of the four precincts listed at the bottom of the flyer, you live in a “split precinct.” This means your precinct includes parts of two school districts due to the way the districts were drawn. If you live in one of these split precincts, you’re eligible to vote for either the District 4 seat or the District 3 seat - not both. Don't worry: your ballot will only include races in which you may vote.

Note: The District 3 seat is not up for election this year. The only school board seats on the ballot this fall are the District 1, 2, and 4 seats, along with the At-Large seat.  

Your vote is crucial, so be sure to check the flyer and make your plan to vote. Let’s work together to make a positive impact on our schools! 🙌

I’m committed to transparency and open communication throughout my campaign. I recently completed the League of Women Voters' questionnaire, and they sent me a confirmation email acknowledging my responses.  While the League plans to publish my answers on VOTE411.org  in mid-September, voters don’t have to wait! I'm making those responses available right here. You can view a copy of their email here and see my full responses now. I encourage all voters to review it to better understand my positions and commitment to improving Buncombe County Schools. 

As part of my commitment to transparency and accountability, I’ve prepared a detailed analysis of Buncombe County Schools' performance from 2015 to 2023. This report compares key academic and disciplinary metrics over the years, based on publicly available NC School Report Cards Data.

The findings are clear: while there has been some progress, proficiency rates in reading, math, and science have declined, and disciplinary incidents have risen significantly. This reinforces the need for stronger accountability and targeted solutions to address the growing challenges in our schools.

I encourage you to review the report and learn more about why I believe we need a fresh, solutions-oriented approach to improve the quality of education for every child in Buncombe County.