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Two File for School Board

Posted on: Friday, 24 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Isaac Groves, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

Feb. 24--A newcomer and an incumbent filed to run for seats on the Burlington-Alamance School Board Thursday. Heather Sorrell, 38, has never run for nor held public office and she has never worked for the school system. Sorrell does, however, operate an after-school program called kidZart, which gives her the chance to talk to children, parents, teachers and school administrators. During a phone interview with the din of children behind her, Sorrell said schools in Alamance County are not doing the job she, as a parent, wants them to do. "We've got one high school that is doing real well and others that are lagging behind," Sorrell said. Sorrell said the system has a lot of great teachers and administrators, but a bad mindset. "I think a lot of the people in our school system have gotten so adversarial," Sorrell said. "There's not a lot of team in the teamwork." Sorrell said there are conflicts between parents and teachers and teachers and administrators. It has left teachers feeling like they cannot make waves and created a school system that isn't always putting the mission of preparing kids for adult life first. "There needs to be more give and take and conversation in a straightforward manner," Sorrell said. Mary Alice Hinshaw, 59, is going for her third term on the school board. She said was not sure she was going to run until Thursday, but she said she got excited about the things the school system is doing. "We're a great school system and we're getting better every year," Hinshaw said. HINSHAW SAID SHE has the same three goals she has had from the beginning of her time on the school board: to keep student achievement the system's top priority, to make sure school funds are used for that priority, and improve public confidence in the schools. Hinshaw said the system has a number of projects in the works or on the way to bring up grades. Project High Hopes, aimed at bringing up lower-than-average test scores and bring down higher-thanaverage drop-out rates in county high schools should bear fruit soon, Hinshaw said. She said the board is creating a similar program for middle schools. Hinshaw said people will feel better about the schools system as they see Alamance County students doing better and see the school board following through on its promises. Contact Isaac Groves at 506-3078 or isaac_groves@link.freedom.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

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Source: Times-News

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