Catherine Bonds Moore, Cabarrus County Board of Education candidate, answers our questions

Name: Catherine Bonds Moore

Birth date: Oct. 4, 1959

Campaign website or social media page: CatherineBondsMoore.com

Education: Graduate of Cabarrus County Schools. Appalachian State with BS in Education K-9 Math and MA in Counselor Education. MA in School Administration from UNC-Charlotte

Have you run for elected office before?

Yes, I have previous ran for the Cabarrus County School Board.

Please list your highlights of civic involvement.

Severed on the Cabarrus County Schools 2021 Task Force with the purpose of getting our children back to school safely after Covid. Lifelong member of Poplar Tent Presbyterian church and served on the leadership team for 6 years. Have been involved with local politics and have voted in every election.

What are the most important issues in Cabarrus County Schools today, and how would you address them?

Recruiting good qualified teachers is a high priority. Teaching is a hard job with long hours and our teachers need to be treated as professionals. Respect starts at the highest level with board members and superintendent. We need to be sure we are selecting strong leaders and working as a team to keep the best teachers. I will always advocate for teachers and education at the state level.

What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the school board?

We need to be able to trust our leaders and teachers in knowing what is best for our students. I will support programs that have shown to be effective in the classroom settings.

What's your opinion of the school system's redistricting plan approved earlier this year? And what, if anything would you have done differently?

Since working in the CCS system for 35 years, we have just shifted kids as new schools were being built and it was time to do a county-wide redistricting plan. We needed to get families closer to their home schools and hopefully they will not get moved again. I would not have agreed on closing Beverly Hills Elementary School.

What is your plan to address the achievement gap in Cabarrus County?

I will listen carefully to the superintendent and other cabinet leaders as they give us data reports on the progress of how our children are achieving. I will certainly support whatever is needed to help our students grow academically.

What role, if any, would your political affiliation play in your decision making process for the school district?

I will base my decisions on what is best for our children.

What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on November's ballot?

I have dedicated my entire career to advocating for children. I have 35 years experience in education as a teacher and school counselor which would be very valuable as a board member. I have now started my own business, Moore Advocacy for Children, in Concord to help guide parents in advocating for their children with learning difficulties. I served as School Improvement Team Chair for ten years and understand the difference between federal, state and local funding.