Kay Wright Norman is running for school board seat four, which represents the Western part of the Rowan-Salisbury School System.
Norman, 72, is a retired educator, who has been on the school board for 20 years.
Norman said she is seeking re-election because she loves public schools.
“I am passionate about the education of all children and have a desire to build continuous public support for the schools that have prepared most of our nation’s leaders,” she said. “America’s future depends on providing a great education to all young people in a safe and orderly environment.”
Norman said her priorities are engaging the community in the educational system, providing continuous staff development, incorporating modern tools to meet the needs of today’s children, hiring high quality and creative teachers and supporting the district’s strategic plan and focus on literacy.
“I remain inspired about our future each day I can see students exploring new information or working to solve a problem or writing something from their own thoughts,” she said. “Education is not static. We are changing to keep up as the world changes.”
As a teacher and administrator, Norman learned to be a team builder and a team player — traits she has to implement continuously as a member of the Board of Education.
“I respect differences, value each person and the people we serve. I speak truth to power, make sound judgments and exhaust energy in building the team for the sole purpose of doing what is needed and right for every child and the staff who is ‘in the trenches with them’ every day,” she said.
Norman is the youth music director for her church, Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, the chair for the scholarship committee for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the executive director of Learning Curves, the scholarship and banquet chair for the NAACP, a member of the Livingstone College Alumni Association, Chamber of Commerce member and is avidly involved in the arts and music scene in the community.
Norman has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Livingstone College, and studied further at State University of New York at Buffalo and Albany and Davidson County Community College.
Norman is married to Dr. Bryant Norman Jr., and has three adult children — Stephanie, Eric, and Anthony Norman. All three graduated from West Rowan High School. Norman also has three grandchildren.
Norman faces challenger Travis Allen for seat four. Phil Hardin, Richard Miller, W.F. Owens, Lawrence Helms, Dean Hunter, L.A. Overcash and Jean Kennedy are also running for school board.
Filing for the board ended at noon Friday.