Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Clovis News-Journal has contacted candidates in contested school board races in Curry County with a series of questions on their qualifications, goals and challenges for the four-year terms they seek.
Allen Wade Edwards and Leona Powell are each running in the Position 1 race for the Grady Municipal Schools board. Both candidates were asked the same questions.
Allen Wade Edwards
Age: 50
Occupation: Curry County Road Department
Q: Why do you want to serve on the school board?
A: I want to serve on the school board for the students. Every decision we make should reflect back on providing all the students a fair shot to achieve an education that will help them make it in the real world. I also have much pride in the school as I am a former graduate of Grady High School and would like to see our school continue to succeed.
Q: What do you think you bring that is unique to the board, whether it's experience, education or perspective?
A: I have served on the board for the past four years and have enjoyed the experience. I can't just think of anything that I have that is “unique.” As I mentioned above, I have enjoyed my time on the board and am running again for the students. Without the children, we would not have a school. I am willing to attend professional development such as the law conference and legislative sessions to stay current on educational issues and to share a voice for what is best for Grady Schools.
Q: What's the best thing about the school district, in your mind?
A: Grady has a very strong academic program. Our school report card in 2014 revealed an A in high school, a B in middle school, and an A in elementary. The staff is very strong and works well with one another. The teachers and staff are all truly passionate about the students and their learning in both academics and becoming responsible citizens with morals and values. Another positive aspect to Grady Schools is the community. The community supports the school in a variety of ways and should be recognized for this.
Q: What needs to improve in the district?
A: What I would like to see in the district is more elective courses. I would like to see students participate in classes such as home economics, woodworking, photography, and classes such as computer design. These are good trades to have when graduating. We have very talented community members that would be an asset to our students if we could offer mini courses in the above areas.
Q: Do you think New Mexico is moving in the right direction with Common Core? Why or why not?
A: This question may be a bit out of my comfort zone. I have heard negative talk about Common Core from media sites and to be honest, I really do not know a whole lot about it except that it is a new set of standards that many other states are using. I do believe it is good to have a common curriculum across the state and with other states. However, I will say that the testing expected of students is excessive and teachers should not have to feel the stress of test scores determining their jobs. Educators have a love for teaching and therefore should be relaxed enough in their classrooms to provide students an education that will help them develop their strengths to become successful after graduation.
Leona Powell
Age: 41
Occupation: Village Clerk of Grady
Q: Why do you want to serve on the school board?
A: I would like to give back to the community and school.
Q: What do you think you bring that is unique to the board, whether it's experience, education or perspective?
A: I have prior experience at a school district for 9.5 years.
Q: What’s the best thing about the school district, in your mind?
A: The size of the classroom is a great asset. One to one contact of teachers to students helps both the student and teacher know where the student's weakness and strengths are.
Q: What needs to improve in the district?
A: Communication between students, teachers, parents, administration and staff needs to be improved.
Q: Do you think New Mexico is moving in the right direction with Common Core? Why or why not?
A: Common Core Curriculum does not seem to have relevant life skills to the student’s lives. Not all students learn at the same pace and do not learn the same information that is presented at the current time by the teachers and then some teachers do not have time to reteach the lost information due to the pace of the modules to be prepared for the PARCC test.
— Compiled by staff writer Kevin Wilson
