Tony Rose – ABSS School Board Candidate
My Goal:
I am running for an open seat on the School Board in the election this November. My goal is to serve our community by being an advocate and voice for our teachers and parents. I believe that this will enhance the teaching and learning experience of students in our schools.
I believe that the most important part of the educational experience for our young citizens is what takes place in the classroom: teaching and learning. I believe that those in our community who have the best opportunity to help our young people succeed are those closest to them at home and in the classroom: parents and teachers. If elected, it will be my goal to support policies that empower our parents and teachers to be successful in their endeavor to educate our young people for tomorrow’s challenging world.
My Perspective:
I grew up in an educational environment, and have been involved in education for most of my life. My mother Virginia was an elementary school teacher for 35 years, 31 of which were spent at Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary. My father Glenn taught high school math for six years, and then trained local school bus drivers in the Alamance-Burlington School System for 26 years. Growing up in this environment has given me a unique perspective on the Alamance-Burlington School System.
My wife and I are both “natives” of Alamance County. We attended Elon Elementary, Western Middle, and Western Alamance High Schools. We were both in the band, and I also played piano and sang in the chorus. I took college preparatory classes while in high school, because my parents believed higher education was very important. I am thankful for many ABSS teachers who had an influence on my education and life. I take pride in being an alumnus of the Alamance-Burlington School System, and in seeing the success of our current students. All students in our school system deserve to have a great educational experience.
My Qualifications:
After I graduated from college, my career began with the Silicon Valley based Amdahl Corporation, located in Sunnyvale California. In 1993, I returned to North Carolina and began working for Integon Insurance Company and McGladrey & Pullen Accounting Firm, after which I became a consultant in the computer and networking field. For the past 11 years, I have been an assistant director of Information and Systems Technology at Elon University. My twenty years of experience as an IT professional will bring a needed technological perspective to the school board.
My wife Audrey and I have been married for 18 years, and we have two daughters. Our youngest daughter is in kindergarten at Elon Elementary School, and our oldest daughter is in the seventh grade at Western Middle School. We are members of Agape Baptist Church in Mebane, where I play the piano and teach the teen Sunday school class. I believe being a current parent of children in the Alamance-Burlington School System and working with teens in the community motivates me to work hard to ensure our schools offer the best educational experience possible.
My Beliefs:
I believe a high-quality and well-rounded education is of vital importance for young people in this generation. Students need to be challenged and given opportunities to pursue excellence. Teachers need to be given the resources and freedom to teach in a manner that provides such challenges to students.
While I believe in conservative values and fiscal responsibility, I also believe the teaching and learning experience is enhanced by competitively attracting and keeping quality teachers, increasing the use of technology in the classroom, and providing safe and comfortable classroom environments.
I am encouraged by the positive cooperation between the Board of Education and the County Commissioners in recent years. I believe in working to continue these efforts in order to increase resources for our schools in fiscally responsible ways. If elected, I will listen to teachers, parents, and members of the community in order to be able to support policies which will enhance teaching and learning in our schools.
