Hemminger touts volunteer experience

After only nine months on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education, Pam Hemminger wants to extend her stay.

She is one of four candidates in the upcoming election vying for three open spots on the board.

Hemminger joined the board last December, after member Valerie Foushee was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners -a seat that Hemminger also sought but to which she was not elected.

She described her experience joining the board late as "a steep learning curve."

"It is a whole different perspective than just being a volunteer in the schools," she said.

Volunteering is something in which Hemminger is well-versed. She is chairwoman of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission, and has served as president of Ephesus Elementary's Parent-Teacher Association. She also has volunteered with the Phillips Middle School Booster Club and numerous other community organizations.

Hemminger said she thinks her extensive volunteer experience will be an advantage in the race because people will be able to see a track record of her accomplishments.

Her desire to improve the school system starts at home with her four children, who are all in the district's schools. "I feel like I could contribute because I have a vested interest in all the levels of education - kids in elementary, middle and high school," she said.

Hemminger believes that her ability to listen and incorporate other people's ideas sets her apart from other candidates.

"I am known to be a good listener and someone who makes decisions based on input, not my own conception of an idea," she said. "I like listening to different viewpoints."

If re-elected to the board, Hemminger believes that open lines of communication will help the board achieve its goal of closing the minority student achievement gap.

"I am really pushing to hear from the students themselves about what's working and what's not," Hemminger said.

"We also need to keep constantly touching base with our principals and our equity base, especially at the high schools, to make sure they are doing everything they can to achieve those goals."

Hemminger said she is committed to the board's goal of improving classroom conditions.

Each school in the district is in the process of designing a new scheduling system to allow for more grade-level meetings for teachers, and Hemminger said the board needs to support the effort.

She also said that providing additional training for teachers would help the board meet its objective.

Hemminger hopes that the fact that she has been on the board for such a short time will not impact the support for her re-election.

"I love this school district because they are committed to educating every child," Hemminger said. "I love the diversity."

 

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