Retired educator announces plans to run for Hall BOE

GAINESVILLE - Dr. Traci Lawson McBride, a retired Hall County Schools educator,
has announced plans to run for the Hall County School Board, Post 2 (South Hall).

Having been both a teacher and administrator, Dr. McBride says she already has a depth of knowledge in the workings of the Board of Education and believes that her background as a Johnson High School graduate, English teacher at both Johnson and West Hall High Schools, and administrator at West Hall High School will serve her well in making thoughtful decisions for the system in the future.

"While I have worked with the school system for many years, I believe that the board members have become complacent in their understanding and response to one of the current driving forces in education, the Common Core Standards. Common Core provides less rigorous standards to be taught to our students while allowing more and more federal government intrusion into our classrooms."

She says since these standards were written by non-educators, they are lacking in a sensible scope and sequence and are less rigorous than the Georgia Performance Standards.

Dr. McBride, a Republican, says she agrees that many good things have happened in the district over the past few years, such as more programs of choice and charter schools, providing high school courses for middle schoolers, online courses as alternatives for students, and expanded AP and IB programs; however, teachers, sshe added, are struggling due to larger class sizes, more and more work in designing/learning a new curriculum, salary pay cuts, and higher healthcare premiums.

She says she would call for a repeal of the Common Core Standards AND F fiscal responsibility and transparency, and building better relationships with the taxpayers, parents, educators, and business leaders.

"Our children are our most valuable assets, and our schools should showcase and enrich each child's unique abilities, offering to support those abilities and provide the education necessary for them to reach their dreams and potential."

Dr. McBride lives in Braselton with her husband Gary, son Alex, and dog Duchess.

Currently she is an adjunct English instructor at Lanier Technical College in Winder and at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville.

More information about Dr. McBride's campaign can be found on her website,
traciforhallboe.com (in development).

Two other candidates have announced plans to run for the post - incumbent Brian Sloan and Mark Pettitt, both also Republicans.