Woodbridge School Board election: Meet the candidates
The Woodbridge School Board election this year is for one at-large seat currently held by Board President Paul Breeding, who is not seeking reelection.
Election information
When: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 10
Where:
- Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, 400 S. Governors Ave., Greenwood
- Woodbridge Middle School, 307 S. Laws St., Bridgeville
We sent each candidate a few questions about why they want to be on the school board and what they feel are important issues in the district.
Corey Grammer
Why do you want to be on the school board?
The last two years of COVID have turned everyone's lives upside down, and like a lot of parents (I'm a father of three) that dealt with mandates/protocols and remote learning, I became frustrated and ultimately sad for what became my kids "new normal" atmosphere. I patiently waited until the vaccine became readily available to any adult who wanted to get it. At that time I spoke at open school board meetings to fight for a return to normal … if not for everyone else (such as faculty/staff) then at least for kids. The combination of vaccine readiness and the very low threat level this virus has towards kids compelled me to speak out and fight for my children. Therefore, naturally as I saw an opening to become a member of the school board I decided to pursue it. So that's what motivated me to this point now.
As for the future I hope to bring a unique perspective to the existing board simply by being from my generation (‘85-’95). We are the "in between" generation of the industrial age but also right before technology took over. The benefit to my generation is we are proficient in technology, however we weren't born into this new functioning modernized way of society. Which means we still understand the value of tradition, heritage, and a real sense of community without being trapped behind screens. Yet we can balance the implementation of technology, exemplifying my generation as "the bridge" between two very different ways of being raised in our century (balancing the questions and demands of older board members and school staff vs. younger staff). I honestly hope to use that to help provide insight and ultimately impact students in better preparing them for becoming a self accountable contributing member of society.
What experience do you have that you think would help you on the board?
Outside of graduating from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in geography, I have managed a corporate retail Verizon team of 30 personnel in achieving second in the nation in overall production. I have also successfully completed the United States Army Airborne course and earned jump wings while in ROTC. I am currently a board member of Woodbridge Little League and hope to further serve our community if elected to the school board. Although being a member of the school board is a new and different challenge, I intend on utilizing the same hard work, managerial skills, team building experiences, and flexibility to adapt and succeed in building a stronger future for our home community.
What do you think are the most important issues in the district?
Personally, I am most curious about the agenda. I am focused on how the agenda is set as in who determines what issues the school board is voting on. I'm aware the question refers to which issues on the actual agenda I find most important. However my point being, those who control the agenda are the ones ultimately influencing the direction of our school system. To answer your question directly, I find school curriculum, transparency of what's being taught, and parental rights as the most important issues. Additionally, I want to have clear and open dialogue between parents and teachers in order to find a balance of parental concerns and teaching professionals with a focus on what's best for the students’ future.
Why do you want to be on the school board?
Our current school board is a fine group of dedicated individuals. They have a desire to serve their community and its schools. However, the board is lacking an educator’s perspective. It is my hope that I can bring that viewpoint to the table.
What experience do you have that you think would help you on the board?
I recently retired after 35 years of service to education in Delaware, 23 of those in the classroom. While teaching I served in numerous roles beyond the classroom including department chair, advisor to a number of student organizations, and a mentor to new teachers. I earned National Board certification and in 2004 was honored to be named Delaware’s Teacher of the Year. I am a graduate of Woodbridge High School, was a teacher in the Woodbridge School District, and am the parent of two Woodbridge graduates.
My last 12 years were at the Delaware Department of Education working with the Career & Technical Education work group. I supervised the Family and Consumer Sciences programs, spearheaded the development of the Teacher Academy Program of Study, led the Middle Grades Matter Initiative, and served as state advisor to two student organizations.
Thanks to the vast array of experiences, I believe I have a unique perspective to understand educational issues from not only a parent perspective, but a classroom teacher, a community member, and from the state level.
What do you think are the most important issues in the district?
The most critical issue facing our district centers on catching kids up from the effects of the pandemic. That includes addressing teacher burnout and returning joy to the teaching and learning equation.
As we exit COVID restrictions we must be more intentional about ensuring that every child has the knowledge and skills necessary to advance and be successful. This will not be easy and will require additional time and resources, but the price of inaction will be far greater. The tremendous increase in mental health issues among the student population cries out as sufficient evidence that we must respond.
Coupled with that is ensuring that our teachers feel valued and appreciated. The educational community has been under great pressure, on many fronts, due to the pandemic. In response, teachers are leaving the profession at alarming rates, meaning that less than qualified individuals are teaching our children. We must correct this trend.
Read about other school board candidates:
Andrew Sharp
Andrew Sharp
Andrew Sharp
Andrew Sharp