CharMeckVotes.org

Rhonda Lennon – School Board District 1

Website: www.rhondalennonforschoolboard.com

E-mail: rhonda@rhondalennon.com

Phone Number:: 704-564-3382

Facebook Page or URL:: rhonda.lennon

Twitter name or URL:: rhondalennon

Current Occupation:: Realtor and Emergency Room Nurse

Education–Highest Degree:: BA Business Administration from UNCC

What District are you running in? District 1

Did/do you have children attending public school in the CMS system? Yes

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:
I have lived in Mecklenburg County for 31 years (19 in District 1) and am a CMS graduate with three children now in CMS Schools. I have a B.A. in Business from UNCC and lengthy work experience with Fortune 500 Companies. I have been involved in many civic and school groups with my focus on children and children’s issues. With the formation of FUME (Families United for North Mecklenburg Education) in 2003, I raised my involvement to a new level with my positive grassroots advocacy to successfully relieve overcrowding in suburban schools. I am the only candidate who has actively worked for and succeeded in getting several new schools built and improving public education in District 1. I have served on numerous committees (including CCBAC and SBSC) and have worked closely with county staff on budget issues.

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three):
1. Families United for North Mecklenburg Education (FUME) – founder
2. Huntersville School Advisory Committee (appointed by Town Board)
3. North Mecklenburg High School and Huntersville Elementary School PTA

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:
1. Founder and Leader of FUME: a successful grassroots public school advocacy group that got several new schools built in District 1
2. NC PTA Oak Leaf Award Winner for Outstanding Individual Volunteer
3. Service on Governor Martin’s School Building Solutions Committee, Dr Gorman’s School Standards Review Committee and Board of Education appointee to the Citizen’s Capital Budget Advisory Committee

What makes you the most qualified candidate?
I am a passionate supporter of public education in Mecklenburg County. I am a 31 year Mecklenburg resident who graduated from CMS and all three of my children attend CMS schools. Even as a working mom, I have been able to spend hours volunteering in my children’s schools. In 2003 I took my advocacy to a new level with the formation of Families United for North Mecklenburg Education (FUME). My goal with FUME was to be a positive voice for change and to establish collaborative working relationships with the school board, CMS staff and county staff to address the crisis of suburban overcrowding. I have been successful in getting new schools built and improving public education in District 1. I was also awarded the NC PTA Oak Leaf award for outstanding individual volunteer in 2004.
In addition to FUME, I have served on numerous school and budget related committees, including the Citizens’ Capital Budget Advisory Committee and Governor Martin’s School Building Solutions Committee. I also have a BA in Business from UNCC and work experience with several Fortune 500 companies. Our citizens need a voice on the school board with a solid business background and experience in budgeting. My involvement and the relationships I have established give me much needed experience on dealing with the budget concerns CMS is now facing and be an effective member of the school board.

What do you believe is the single most important investment the school district can make to improve student achievement?
Hiring and retaining the most highly effective, extensively prepared teachers possible who understand that EVERY child can learn and achieve.

Seven recommended goals in the CMS strategic plan 2014 are: Highly Effective Educators, Highly Effective Leaders, Performance Management, Developing Digital Citizens, Environmental Sustainability, Support Services for Positive Choices and Parent & Community Connections. Which of these is the most important to you and how would your leadership ensure that goal is met?
Performance Management: CMS must develop an effective model to assess all staff and all programs. I would push for a strategic analysis of all programs based on standard business practices of evaluating for efficacy and cost effectiveness. Using this type of performance based model would aid in preparing a more transparent budget.
We now track student performance on factors outside the student’s and family’s control like race, gender and family income. I would like to also correlate student performance to factors that the student and family can control, such as absenteeism, conduct, and homework completion.

How can residents in your district (including parents, students and others) be engaged in the work of elevating student achievement? What will you do to support their efforts?
1. Students need to come to the school house prepared and ready to learn. They need to do their homework and follow the rules of the school.
2. Parents need to be involved and make sure their students attend school, do their homework and have appropriate conduct. They need to have open communication with the teachers.
3. Residents can get involved by volunteering in the schools. Schools need volunteers in the early years to help with reading and offer individualized tutoring. We need strong business leaders to mentor students and develop co-op programs for older students to help them explore career paths.
4. Community leaders (Chamber, Rotary, etc.) and elected officials (town boards, city council, etc.) need to work collaboratively to keep schools and student success as a focus.
5. I will be involved and visible in my district, offering a level of responsiveness that the residents deserve. I use all current technology and am highly accessible. I will be committed to visiting every school and attending at least 1 PTA function in every school each year. In addition I plan to have routine “Coffee Talks” in the University City, Mountain Island and the 3 northern towns to give citizens an informal time to talk to me about their issues.