About > Why I’m Running
My mom gave birth to nine boys in a row, followed by two girls. I was number seven. We grew up in apartment complexes in the inner-city of Chicago and my mom and dad separated when I was five. Even though my older brothers helped out, times were tough and we always made an effort to shield the younger children from the harsh realities of our working class existence. I never thought of our family as being poor or our schools as being substandard. I still feel that I attended schools that were old but I realize they were well-maintained and provided me with a decent education.
My first experience with diversity in school occurred after I gained admission to one of two special “technical” high schools in Chicago (more than an hour’s travel by public transportation from my house). I never had the intention of being a teacher. I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer, only because it sounded impressive. When I became interested in being a teacher, most of my family and friends laughed and did everything they could to discourage me. The lone voice that fueled my resolve belonged to my mom. She was thrilled that I wanted to go to college—unlike my father who felt that getting a job was more important. Undeterred, my mom quickly sent me off to the University of Illinois with the following statement: “If a teacher is what you want to be, that’s fine. Just be a good one.”
That’s my motivation for seeking this position.
I want every child to be whatever she/he wants to be and to be good at it. I want to be the state’s Top Teacher and be the catalyst that fuels the dreams of every student in South Carolina – a poster-child for infinite possibilities.
