Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Guilford County Schools school board District 2 in North Carolina— Amanda Cook (D) and Crissy Pratt (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
The Guilford County Schools Board of Education consists of nine members elected to four-year terms. Eight members are elected by district and one member is elected at large. According to the Guilford County Schools website, the board members “establish policies that govern our school system, including its curriculum, facilities, financial resources and personnel.“
Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Cook:
“Standardized testing has to go. The mental, emotional, and physical toll it takes on teacher and students is not paying off in any way. I believe we need to evaluate our allotment model in Guilford County. Our current model allows inequality among schools to offer courses which students are interested in taking or that might better prepare them for the future.”
Pratt:
“I am passionate about educating students. It has been my life’s work, in every job that I have held. I believe in allowing every student to reach their full potential and to grow and learn. However, I am very concerned by what appears to be a lowered bar of standards in GCS. Our test scores have been trending downward for years, even pre-Covid. We have allowed distractions to take the focus away from what school is all about – education.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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