The Dominion Post Editorial Board met with candidates for Preston County’s Board of Education Tuesday. We spoke with Debra Felton, Michael Hovatter, Robert “Mac” McCrum and Shelley Miller. Beth Noss was not able to join us.
There are three seats open: one each in District 1, District 2 and District 3. However, no one is running for District 1. McCrum, Miller and Noss are running for the seat in District 2. Felton and Hovatter are competing for the District 3 seat.
It is apparent that all the candidates we interviewed are passionate about education and Preston County’s children. Felton, McCrum and Miller are all former educators and/or still work in the school system. Felton and McCrum still actively substitute teach, even though both are technically retired, and Miller was a substitute teacher early in her career and later an academic coach. Hovatter is a product of Preston County schools, and his eldest child went through the public school system, though his two youngest are currently in private school.
They all acknowledged that Preston County schools have amazing, hard-working teachers; there just aren’t enough of them. That shortage extends beyond the classroom: There are chronic shortages of substitutes, bus drivers, custodial and kitchen staff and even administrative personnel.
Overall, they shared many of the same concerns and are pursuing many of the same goals. For our endorsement, it came down to the small differences between them.
For District 2, we think either McCrum or Miller would be a good choice based on our interview.
McCrum previously spent 13 years on the Preston BOE, and he knows the ins-and-outs of the school system as a former teacher, former principal, former BOE member and current substitute teacher. He brings an exceptional amount of institutional knowledge to the table, and he understands what is within a school board’s direct control vs. what is determined by the state Legislature (like teacher salaries and benefits). For example, he knew there was already a process in place for challenging books in classrooms or school libraries. But he also knows challenges currently face Preston schools because he’s still in them as a substitute.
Miller is young, is a product of Preston County schools and has worked in and around education her whole career. She understands the school system, but comes to the table with fresh eyes and a new perspective. We appreciate that she has the courage to admit that she doesn’t have all the answers to solve all of Preston schools’ problems, but she has the drive to collaborate and find solutions. We like that she’s not just concerned about shortages, budgets and test scores: She’s focused on the well-being of the whole child, in and out of school.
For District 3, we recommend Felton, who has been an educator in Preston County for many years and also still actively substitute teaches. Like McCrum, she knows the school system’s past and present, and she can use that knowledge to help guide Preston County schools’ future. She also understands that there are some students in Preston County who have all the opportunities in the world and some who have very little, and she wants to advocate for the latter to make sure they can thrive in school and beyond.
We wish all the candidates the best of luck, and we look forward to seeing what the new Preston County Board of Education members accomplish in the future.
