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April is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and currently resides in Lincolnton, North Carolina. She attended Davidson-Davie Community College. She is married to Brent Underwood and together they have 7 children.

April currently works as an integrative registered nurse coach at Under Care.

Ballot Pedia

April Underwood's campaign for County Board of Education Member in Catawba County is her first run for public office.

Wants to implement vape detectors in schools.

- Wants to implement vape detectors in schools.

School Facilities & Resources

As of June 14, 2024, April Underwood did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

Supports increasing staff resources to help with teacher retention.

- Supports increasing staff resources to help with teacher retention.

Teachers

Said, "It is time to stand up to those seeking to make harmful, inappropriate material available to our kids and ensure a safe, agenda-free learning experience."

Wants to improve math and reading scores.

Opposes common core, diversity, equity, and inclusion education, social and emotional learning, and education on race and racism.

- Said, "It is time to stand up to those seeking to make harmful, inappropriate material available to our kids and ensure a safe, agenda-free learning experience."
- Wants to improve math and reading scores.
- Supports book bans.
- Opposes common core, diversity, equity, and inclusion education, social and emotional learning, and education on race and racism.

School Curriculum

Wants to prepare high school students for future careers.

- Wants to prepare high school students for future careers.
- Lists ensuring safety as a priority.
- Opposed mask mandates in schools.

Student Wellbeing

April Underwood

As of June 22, 2024, Clayton C. Mullis did not have a website or publicly available contact information in order for us to send them our questionnaire.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, FFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - CATAWBA

Ballotpedia, Clayton C. Mullis

Clayton C. Mullis previously served as a Lincoln County School Board of Education Member for District 2. He ran for Catawba County Board of Education Member in 2022, but did not win. 

As of June 14, 2024, Clayton C. Mullis did not have a website.

Clayton C. Mullis

LinkedIn

David is from Newton, North Carolina, and attended Newton-Conover High School. He holds an associate's degree in medical office management and administration from Catawba Valley Community College. He volunteers at Habitat for Humanity of Catawba County. He has a daughter. He identifies as Christian.

David is a Final Inspector at Lee Industries Incorporated. He previously worked as a craftsman for the Sherrill Furniture Company. 

Ballotpedia, David W. Goforth

David W. Goforth's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first run for public office. 

As of June 14, 2024, David W. Goforth did not have a website or any information online.

David W. Goforth

As of June 22, 2024, Eric M. Scott did not have a website or publicly available contact information in order for us to send them our questionnaire.

As of June 14, 2024, Eric M. Scott did not have a website.

Eric M. Scott

Catawba County Schools, Board of Education

Jeff is from the Happy Valley area. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master's degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is married to his wife, Valerie, with whom he has 2 daughters. 

Jeff currently works as a Dean of Students and Director of Athletics at University Christian High School. He previously worked as a principal, assistant principal, and social studies teacher at Bunker Hill High School. He also worked as a principal at H.M. Arndt Middle School and as an administrator at St. Stephens High School.  

Jeff Taylor currently serves as a member of the Catawba Board of Education. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving his first term. He also serves as chairman of the Governing Board. 

Candidate website

Believes higher quality should be prioritized in school construction and material procurement over finding the lowest-priced options. Said, "Cheaper is rarely better."

Wants to invest in retooling school facilities. 

Believes physical facilities should be well maintained and new facilities added by replacing the oldest first.

Supports ensuring physical facilities are well-maintained. 

Believes every school in Catawba County should have the best facilities and instructional supplies possible, regardless of location or community.

Wants Catawba County to have the "best facilities and instructional supplies..." possible. 

Supports maintaining and increasing funding for co-curricular and extracurricular activities to provide students with a well-rounded educational experience.

Wants to either maintain or increase funding for student co-curricular and extracurricular activities. 

- Wants to invest in retooling school facilities. 
- Supports ensuring physical facilities are well-maintained. 
- Wants Catawba County to have the "best facilities and instructional supplies..." possible. 
- Wants to either maintain or increase funding for student co-curricular and extracurricular activities. 

As of June 14, 2024, Jeff Taylor’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in providing teachers with "high quality, relevant staff development" to keep them updated on best practices. Supports training that respects teachers' time and abilities.

Wants to equip teachers with high-quality and relevant staff development so they can stay up-to-date on the most effective teaching practices. 

Believes in recruiting the highest quality teachers from educational prep programs or other districts. Supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.

Supports recruiting high-quality teachers from prep schools or other school districts. 

The candidate's website says, "Become a “district of destination” for aspiring teachers by developing a reputation among colleges and universities and within the educational community that attracts the best teachers possible."

Wants to establish a reputation for county schools as a "district of destination" among colleges and universities to help recruit high-quality teachers. 

Believes in retaining the best teachers to make Catawba County Schools their career-long home and encouraging them to aspire to leadership within the district. Supports addressing teacher pay, teacher shortages, and teacher training to achieve this goal.

Supports efforts to retain the best-performing teachers for the long term. 

Believes in making a concerted effort to recruit diverse faculty and staff so that every student has teachers who look like them.

Supports establishing a diverse faculty and staff that reflects students' unique backgrounds. 

- Wants to equip teachers with high-quality and relevant staff development so they can stay up-to-date on the most effective teaching practices. 
- Supports recruiting high-quality teachers from prep schools or other school districts. 
- Wants to establish a reputation for county schools as a "district of destination" among colleges and universities to help recruit high-quality teachers. 
- Supports efforts to retain the best-performing teachers for the long term. 
- Supports establishing a diverse faculty and staff that reflects students' unique backgrounds. 

Believes the lack of focus on social studies in schools over the past two decades contributes to political vitriol. Supports emphasizing the importance of being an informed, respectful citizen in the curriculum.

Wants to place a greater emphasis on social studies in the classroom.

Believes funding for arts should be a priority in school curriculums to help students express and enrich themselves, making them more well-rounded.

Believes funding for arts should be viewed as a priority. 

- Wants to place a greater emphasis on social studies in the classroom.
- Believes funding for arts should be viewed as a priority. 

Believes every school should have a "safe and conducive" learning environment. Supports safe schools characterized by effective teaching and learning.

Wants to ensure schools are safe and conducive for teaching and learning. 

Believes in fostering a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students, ensuring every student's individuality is respected and they feel emotionally safe to learn.

Wants to foster a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students so students feel their individuality is respected and their well-being is supported. 

Believes in fostering a school culture that minimizes physical altercations and threats to student and staff safety. Supports creating environments that prioritize safety and well-being for all.

Wants to minimize student and faculty threats and physical altercations.

Believes in securing buildings to protect students from intruders and outside threats.

Supports ensuring student safety and protection from threats are upheld. 

- Wants to ensure schools are safe and conducive for teaching and learning. 
- Wants to foster a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students so students feel their individuality is respected and their well-being is supported. 
- Wants to minimize student and faculty threats and physical altercations.
- Supports ensuring student safety and protection from threats are upheld. 

Jeff Taylor

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

County Board of Education Member

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

County Board of Education Member

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

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