There are two candidates for Pender County’s Board of Education, District 1. Democrat Rochelle Whiteside, an incumbent, is facing a challenge from Republican Cindy Faulk Fontana. WHQR has more on the challenger.
Fontana started as a teacher and worked up to principal in the Pender County school system. In retirement she runs a restaurant in Burgaw with her husband.
She says the district has to do a better job of listening.
“So it's listening to our directors, its listening to our teachers and then it's providing them with what they need. And don't forget about professional development. You just can't throw a program in there and say, ‘okay, take off and go with it.’ We've got to make sure we're giving them what they need.”
She says she’ll go to battle for what she believes in, but understands the need for compromise.
“Also, my job as a board of education member is to fight for our schools and that is what I will do, but I also know that everything can't be black and white. Some of the areas are just gray and we have to look at that and accept it and go from there.”
Early voting is underway. Election Day is November 6th.