Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Rowan Free Press: Barbara, Could you tell our readers about yourself and your background?
Barbara Owen: I’m a lifelong resident of Rowan County having grown up in the Kannapolis area. My childhood was chaotic and at the age of 13 my younger sister Elizabeth and I were removed by the state from the custody of my father and step-mother and placed at Nazareth Children’s Home. I lived there until the age of 17 when I married my husband Robby. Afterwards, I went on to finish high school and earn an administrative assistant certificate at King’s College. Robby and I are the proud parents of two sons, Trent and Zachary. We welcomed our first grandchild, Natalie, last year. Robby is an electrician at Schult Homes for the past 17 years, and I am employed at Old Dominion Freight Line in Thomasville as a Data Entry Specialist for the past 12 years. Having grown up without a stable home life, my husband Robby and I have always made a stable family life the number one priority for our own children. We love family outdoor activities such as traveling, hiking and camping. We share our home in Salisbury with three dogs – Petie, a 12-year old American Bulldog, Nippy (AKA Missy) a 7-year old Pekingese, and Turbo a 2-year old Chihuahua.
Rowan Free Press: What motivates to run for a seat on the school board?
Barbara Owen: Education played a key role in my life. As a child, school provided an atmosphere of stability and safety and was the way to escape the dysfunction of my home life. Later as a teenager, after I was removed from my home, the administrators at Nazareth stressed the vital importance of acquiring a good education. Their encouragement motivated me to want better myself and to take advantage of the opportunities I was provided. Even though I married at 17, I still had aspirations of going to college – and was eventually able to do so even with a small child at home. We hear so many clichés concerning education and how everything possible must be done “for the children.” Well, I was that child and now as an adult it’s time for me to give back to my community. I know the best way I can do this is by serving on the Board of Education.
Rowan Free Press: What seat will you be a candidate for?
Barbara Owen: I will be running for the West Rowan Seat. I’ve been a part of the West Rowan district for over 20 years and have a major interest in its success. My older son, Trent, graduated from West Rowan in 2012. My younger son, Zachary, is currently an 8th grader at West Rowan Middle School. Because of my strong personal connection with this school and the surrounding community, I believe I can best represent the West Rowan district on the School Board.
Rowan Free Press: What are your thoughts about the current school system? Where it could improve. What do you like about it?
Barbara Owen: Were it not for the opportunities I was given through our educational system, I would hate to think what my life would be like today. I don’t see the problem with our current school system necessarily as one of funding. Our school system is just overwhelmed with so many overwhelming challenges. The schools are a reflection of the choices made by our local community. Teachers have so many burdens placed upon them daily in the classroom. I think the best thing we can do as a school board is wisely allocate funding to achieve the best results.
Rowan Free Press: Any thoughts you have about the school system’s difficulties with locating a Central Office? Currently 504 North Main St. is a front runner. If you had a choice, where might you place the Central Office if location is not secured by the end of 2014?
Barbara Owen: Placing the Central Office anywhere downtown doesn’t seem like a wise due to the limited parking, traffic congestion, and taxpayer cost. This issue will probably be settled by the time I am on the Board, but if it’s not, I would, definitely want to explore other options.
Rowan Free Press: What are the school systems 3 largest issues and how might you address them?
Barbara Owen: The 3 largest issues facing our school system are:
1. Wise allocation of funding. We need to assess what programs and policies are working and make sure of their continuance and expansion. We also must eliminate wasting resources.
2. We need to get back to the basics. A school’s primary role is to educate. From my work with tutoring local students, I met middle school students in our community who are functionally illiterate. What sort of future will an illiterate child have? How can we allow this to happen our school system?
3. The main issue boils down to responsibility for every component of the system from educators to families and to individual students. When I was a student I did my best to meet my responsibilities and achieve my goals. I had great teachers who went above and beyond their duties to help me in my endeavors. This sense of responsibility must be stressed and encouraged throughout our community. Education isn’t just the responsibility of teachers. Parents and students have to take responsibility for their part in the process.
Rowan Free Press: What would you want to accomplish if elected?
Barbara Owen: As a school board member I will be responsible for representing the citizens of West Rowan. I believe too many parents feel intimidated or disconnected when it comes to their child’s education. This leaves them out-of-touch in the day-to-day goings on in the classroom – until problems arise. I see myself as the parent liaison on the school board to help bridge that gap often existing between parents and the school system.
Rowan Free Press: Any thoughts about school safety, school board transparency, excessive closed sessions?
Barbara Owen: Each time horrible acts of violence affect a school such as Columbine or Sandy Hook, our local school system tried to strengthen efforts to ensure that it does not happen here. Sadly, we can only prepare for what might happen based what occurred elsewhere. We’re never 100% confident what we did will be enough. What works in one school system–may not work elsewhere.
Transparency must be based on a “need to know” basis. The first persons the schools must be transparent with are parents. When parents meet their responsibilities and are confident that the school administration and teachers are honestly communicating with them, students will receive the greatest benefits.
Closed-door sessions will be necessary from time to time due to the nature of the topic being discussed. However, when the public sees these sessions as “excessive” a sense of distrust develops. It will be my job as West Rowan’s representative to openly and honestly communicate with my fellow citizens so they experience trust.
Rowan Free Press: What would you do to lift the school systems current poor composite scores on the State’s READY report?
Barbara Owen: Our school system’s current composite scores on the State’s READY report evidence the widening gap between the high and low achievers in our local system. The students who do well in our system are not being challenged or presented with the opportunities they require. The students who are struggling continue to fall further behind. We need to evaluate our programs and get feedback from individual teachers in order to assess what programs and techniques are working and what needs to be eliminated. I believe the resources are there, we are just not making the best use of them.
Rowan Free Press: What would you suggest about building a better connection with the Rowan County Commissioners?
Barbara Owen: It would benefit the entire county if our School Board and County Commissioners had a better working relationship. Given the current makeup of the school system this does not seem possible. When people are locked into opposing positions and are hampered by personality conflicts, it’s going to be difficult to work together. I am new to politics and have no ties or alliances with anyone on either board, therefore my only loyalty is to the facts and evidence and my only responsibility would be to the parents, teachers, and students of the West Rowan district.
Rowan Free Press: In closing, is there anything more you would add?
Barbara Owen: I would like to thank the teachers and coaches of the Rowan-Salisbury Schools who taught my own children. As the mother of a special needs child, I saw my son Zachary benefit from the educational opportunities and sports programs made available to him through the school system. My older son, Trent, graduated from the West Rowan school district and has grown into a successful young man with a family of his own now. In the next few years as my granddaughter Natalie begins her education in this same system so I want to do my part to ensure that she, too, is being provided the best educational opportunities available.
I would appreciate your support for my candidacy.
Rowan Free Press: Thank you Barbara. Best of luck during your campaign.
Barbara Owen: Thank you Steve.
