Superintendent of Jackson County Schools for 4 years, has spent 33 years with Jackson County Schools.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Master’s Degree in Education, Education Specialist Degree, Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, Education Specialist Degree in Educational Administration — all from Western Carolina University

Family: Husband, James; two daughters, Crissy and Robin; two grandchildren, Natalie and Remington

We Asked:
1: How did you become interested in your profession and what brought you to your current job?
2: What do you like most about your job?
3: What do you like least about your job?
4: What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
5: What is your favorite leisure time activity?
6: What is the last book you’ve read/movie you’ve seen/music you’ve heard that inspired you?
7: Tell us about a person or organization in Jackson County whose work you admire?
8: What keeps you living in Jackson County?
9: Where is your favorite place in Jackson County?
10: What is your hope for the future of Jackson County?

1: I have always loved teaching. The classroom is a wonderful place; there is more control there than any other place in the educational system. My love for “school” is what motivated me to move into administration. I felt that by being in administration I could make a difference for more kids than just the ones in my classroom. My work as superintendent is accomplished through the work of others. I find it rewarding to celebrate our successes collectively and to nurture our “school family.” Our motto, “the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little ‘extra’,” is definitely an acknowledgement of the “extras” the people of this system provide each day. The desire to help others to make a positive difference, to create a safe environment where people can grow and develop are just some of the things that led me to the classroom. These are the same forces that brought me to the superintendency; only now they are on a broader scale and apply to the adults as well as the students.

2: One of the best parts of my job is visiting schools and interacting with students and staff. I once had a t-shirt that said, “Kids are my business.” When I am close to “my business,” I observe so many positive things happening: a child beginning to read, a young adult presenting a senior project, a competent teacher guiding a classroom or an individual student. Seeing the dedicated individuals who cook the meals, clean the buildings, drive the buses, and staff the offices always makes me proud. The people I work with are one of the best parts of my job; the kids we all work for is the other best part.

3: One of the most challenging parts of my job is the demand on my time to stay current on issues, trends, and mandates. State and federal laws, as well as court decisions have a direct impact on schools. Allocating limited resources is also a challenge. There are many needed resources in a school system, yet there is not enough money to fund all of them. Prioritizing what will be funded is always a challenge: do you fund a school nurse or a drop-out prevention person; do you buy new software or hire an assistant?

4: “Don’t fix the blame; fix the problem” is one of the best pieces of advice I have gotten. This allows me to channel my energy into a productive path rather than engaging in personal attacks. There will always be obstacles to overcome, challenges to be met, and the best way I know to approach these situations is to fix the problem, not the blame.

5: One of my favorite leisure time activities is hiking in the Smokies with my husband. Not only do I love the beauty of the mountains, but I consider it a special treasure to find the remains of an old home place, a fence, spring, or other evidence that these places have not always been a wilderness. Sometimes we have located old cemeteries, many well marked and still cared for, a memorial to those hardy people who made their home in the mountains.

6: I find the song “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack to be inspirational in its message, which seems almost to be in the form of a blessing. One line, “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,” reminds me of the beauty of creation, the miracle of life, and the joy of learning. Another line says, “May you never take one single breath for granted,” which reminds me that each moment is to be treasured for the gift it is. The melody of the song, the strength of the singer’s voice, and the words make this song inspirational. Its meaning is clear; you have a choice in life – you can “sit it out or dance.” This song makes me want to DANCE!

7: I admire the work of our veterans’ groups. We owe so much to the men and women who have given years of their lives serving our country and preserving our freedoms. I had the opportunity to begin working closely with these groups while I was principal at Fairview School. The veterans’ groups are close friends of our schools, educating our students about the meaning of their service and our freedoms in addition to serving as positive role models for them.

8: My roots, history, and connections keep me living in Jackson County. These mountains have been home to my family for generations. As a matter of fact, I live on land that was owned by my family before Jackson County became a county. Scarlotte O’Hara was attached to the red earth of Tara; I am attached to the black, loamy soil of Fisher Creek. The people of Jackson County work together to make this place special. I like being a part of the community; I like knowing my neighbors and sharing our history.

9: One of my favorite places in Jackson County is the Roscoe Poteet Park in Sylva. When I was principal of Fairview School, students were involved in designing the new park, and as a faculty, we volunteered our labor to help with the construction. It is a favorite place for my grandchildren; they love to play there. The picnic shelter has been a great place for birthday parties and summer celebration get-togethers. It is a wonderful place; it is close; it is fun; and, if you look carefully, you can find part of the fence with your name on it. Building the park was as much fun as playing at the park.

10: My hope for Jackson County is that it will continue to grow in a responsible way, and that there will be opportunities for people to make a prosperous living in a manner that does not harm the environment. I hope all the citizens of Jackson County have access to modern, up-to-date health care, and that connectivity to the Internet will become a utility like electricity or phone service. I hope our young graduates will be responsible citizens who keep themselves informed and make wise decisions for our county.