By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A current member of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees will challenge incumbent Bryce Beard for the Salisbury are seat on the Board of Education.
Quentin Woodward Jr., 65, filed for the open spot Wednesday.
“Although there are unique and different issues and challenges that the two boards face, I understand and can relate to secondary education concerns and how they affect the progression to higher education,” he said.
Woodward said being a product of the Rowan-Salisbury School System and volunteering as a mentor to students at Hanford Dole and Koontz elementary schools prompted him to run for office.
“Through Communities in Schools I have acquired knowledge of some of the unique and special needs of our students,” he said.
Woodward said if elected he’d like to find unique ways to deal with budget woes.
“I see the budget deficit as an opportunity to be creative and innovative, to explore the best alternatives and options to ensure that students and teachers’ needs are being funded properly.”
Technology expansion is another priority for Woodward, who would like the board to seek out partnerships to ensure technology is infused in as many classrooms as possible.
Woodward said with a background in federal law enforcement, he wants to make sure both students and staff are adhering to the district’s code of conduct.
“I want to ensure that we do all we can to take the necessary steps to ensure bullying does not occur or is minimized to the maximum extent possible,’ he said.
If elected, Woodward said he plans to be both visible and approachable within the community.
“There are five schools in the Salisbury area and I would make it a priority to get out to the schools and visit teachers, classrooms and special programs just to get a better feel of what’s going on in the schools,” he said. “That’s important.”
In the meantime, Woodward said he’ll be attending board meetings to keep up with the issues.
Fellow incumbents Dr. Jim Emerson and Linda Freeze are also being challenged by newcomers.
Dr. Lynn Marsh is up against Freeze for the southeast seat and Michael Lambe will take on Emerson for the east area spot.
Filing continues through Aug. 17. The filing fee is $5.

Quentin Woodward Jr. 
Age: 65
Address: 1017 Locke St., Salisbury 
Phone: 704-213-9172
Occupation: Retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, after 20 years. He also worked as a school suspension supervisor prior to becoming a warden at Effingham County Prison in Georgia. Woodward is a  Vietnam-era U.S. Navy veteran. 
Education: Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University, graduate studies at Fayetteville State University 
Previous elected office: None
Community involvement: Volunteer for Communities in Schools of Rowan County, member of the Rowan County Sports Hall of Fame committee, Closing the Gap volunteer committee member, after school tutor for Park Avenue Redevelopment Corporation, Gethsemane Baptist Church, member of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees, Project Safe commuting intervention team, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity