CharMeckVotes.org

Eric Davis – School Board District 5 and Chair

Website: www.ericdavisforschoolboard.com

E-mail: eric@ericdavisforschoolboard.com

Phone Number:: 704-651-0217

Facebook Page or URL:: .facebook.com/pages/Eric-Davis/8335000670

Twitter name or URL:: none

Current Occupation:: Senior Vice President Wachovia

Education–Highest Degree:: Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

What District are you running in?: District 5

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

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:
I am a native Charlottean and product of CMS and Lincoln County Schools. I graduated 9th in the Class of 1983 from the United States Military Academy and served nearly 6 years as an Airborne Ranger Combat Engineer Officer. For 11 years, I led an engineering business consisting of 400 employees across both Carolinas. With my wife of 25 years, I am a CMS parent.

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three):
I am a member and Deacon of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, a Director of Sustainable North Carolina, and a Professional Engineer in North Carolina.

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:
I served as Chair of the City’s Privatization/Competition Advisory Committee and created millions of dollars in savings through managed competition. I then chaired CMS’ Bond Oversight Committee resulting in a $21mm savings from the 6 schools that opened this fall. As Co Chair of the Superintendant’s Standards Review Committee, I led the work that created long term sustainable efficiencies in school construction while maintaining a positive learning environment.

What makes you the most qualified candidate?
I am fortunate to have an education from one of this nation’s finest leadership academies, to have a set of demanding leadership experiences in my military, business, and public service career, and to have the desire to do whatever it takes to successfully lead our school system.

What do you believe is the single most important investment the school district can make to improve student achievement?
I consider “improving student achievement” to include all students such as high achievers, unprepared children, and those in between. I believe that CMS must invest in elevating Parental Engagement to raise the achievement of all students. Public education is a contract between parents and CMS. To elevate student achievement regardless of the student’s background, CMS BOE must lead in a way that earns parents’ trust, confidence and commitment. I will work with parents to create effective solutions to our most challenging issues that detract from student achievement to include increased mentoring and volunteering for students who do not have a stable parent in their life.

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?
The most important goal is creating Highly Effective Leaders. Effective leaders raise the performance of those around them and they build team work and confidence to overcome the challenges that we face. CMS needs effective leaders at all levels starting with the BOE and continuing to principals and to the classroom. Effective leaders are essential in order to achieve the rest of the strategic goals. To achieve the goal of highly effective leaders, I commit to lead by example, to treat fellow BOE members, Dr Gorman, and his staff with the same respect and dignity that I want to be treated, and to expect of others only what I am willing to do myself.

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?
The first step in engagement that I have already taken is to listen to District 5 parents and students and to respond to their concerns. To leverage the talents of District 5 parents and students, I will create a Board of Advisors made up of PTA and SLT leaders to come together in a regular forum. This would improve communication with CMS, enable parents to contribute their ideas and solutions, and to hold CMS, including me, accountable to the voters in District 5.