Joetta MacMiller, candidate for Durham school board
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Candidates for Durham County School Board, Consolidated District B
Candidates in the nonpartisan Durham County School Board race will be elected to four district seats and two consolidated district seats, based on where they live in the county. Consolidated District B candidates are incumbent Frederick Ravin and challengers Joetta Macmiller and Millicent Rogers. Get to know the candidates in our 2022 Voter Guide.
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Name: Joetta MacMiller
Email: joetta@betterboardbetterschools.com
Political Party: Non-partisan
Date of birth: 65
Campaign website: betterboardbetterschools.com/joettamacmiller
Occupation and employer: Insurance agent
Education: High school graduate
Have you run for elected office before? No.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I volunteer regularly with local organizations such as Ruritan, Rotary and Lions clubs.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? All personal friends
What are your top three priorities for Durham Public Schools?
To increase our academics, to make sure our kids feel safe and to responding to parents’ concerns.
What does DPS do well? In what areas does it need to improve?
We do have some excellent teachers, but we are losing them. We need to be able to recruit more quality teachers. We need to listen to why our teachers are leaving and make the necessary changes (if possible) to prevent losing any more.
What about your life experience makes you the best person for the school board?
I am a determined individual, and I do not give up for something I believe in. I will put that same dedication and determination into helping our schools become recognized as the best in the state
How should the school board evaluate the superintendent and make that process more transparent?
This can be made more transparent by allowing parents and citizens back into the school board meetings and actually responding to parents concerns. Currently parents are asking questions and expressing their concerns with no answers or communication being given.
Should anti-racism education be taught in the schools. and is DPS doing an adequate job teaching Black history?
Black history is a part of history. I believe that all history should be taught without prejudice. We need to learn history to keep from repeating it.
What strategies would you advocate to raise the academic achievement of Black boys in the school system?
There are policies and programs out there for all of our students. We just need to go after them. We need to have plans in place for each student and to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity. The school board is failing our Black and brown students, and that needs to stop!
How can DPS reverse enrollment losses and de facto segregation in its schools?
By allowing parental choice in schools to be able to give their child the opportunity for education in a different environment.
How can DPS better support teachers and other staff and reduce turnover?
We need to listen to why teachers are leaving in droves, and I mean ‘really listen’, and do something to rectify the reasons that are being given for leaving. We have some great teachers, but they are experiencing burnout and having to wear way too many hats
Describe one idea you would like the school board to consider even though it might not be universally popular.
I would like to see PE back in our schools on a daily basis. We keep being told that we are nation of overweight people. Exercise and fun are great stress reducers. It also teaches our children how to be a part of a team and work together. We played floor hockey, basketball, flag football, dodgeball, etc.
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 1:42 PM with the headline "Joetta MacMiller, candidate for Durham school board."