The board interviewed eight applicants for the position and ultimately elected Ed Secrest to replace Teresa Williams, who vacated the board to relocate to Charlotte.
Chairwoman Valerie Foushee said the school board chose Secrest because he was a qualified candidate who worked with the community. "He has an extensive background with tutoring, he worked with young children, and he was active in his community and in his church," she said.
Secrest was the chairman of the School Governance Council at Seawell Elementary in Chapel Hill last year, and board member Maryanne Rosenman said that is how he will contribute. "The SGC is concerned with the governance of a school, and we're concerned with the governance of a district," she said.
Minority student achievement is a major task the school board will address next year, and Rosenman said Secrest is concerned about the issue. "He has volunteer experience as a mentor for minority families," she said, referring to Secrest's experience mentoring intercity students in the Philadelphia area.
Secrest said he has plans to enhance minority student achievement next year, such as tutoring and after-school programs. "It all comes back to implementing the plan and making the plan real for teachers and students," he said.
School board member Nick Didow nominated Secrest first. All six board members subsequently voted for Secrest, which eliminated the need for any further nominations.
"I'm excited. I'm going to work hard to try and make things happen," Secrest said. "I want to contribute to being a positive influence in the school system."
The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.
