Michelle Antoine, candidate for Johnston County Board of Education

Name: Michelle Antoine

Political party: Republican

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 48

Campaign website: michelleantoine.org

Occupation: Advocate, writer, and my best title is mom.

Education: I have a B.A., B.S. and M.S. I have a degree in education, I was licensed to teach 1-9 in Wisconsin and K-12 in California. I taught while I did my graduate work in vocational rehabilitation counseling. I worked doing psychometric and other type testing on individuals with disabilities in a legal forensic capacity and was responsible for document processing of legal, medical, psychological and work records. Given my education, training, and experience I am well prepared for this position.

Have you run for elected office before? Yes, in the 2020 primary for Board of Education in Johnston County.

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Homeowner’s association board member, 2000-2020 with four communities; Citizen Advocates Accountable Government, served as education chair; Boy Scouts of America, served as Cub Scout volunteer; Awana Children’s ministry program, participation, fill-in volunteer; Moms On a Mission for Service (M.O.M.S.), school volunteer and supply donations; White Oak Baptist Church Archer Lodge, develop church policy for care programs for children; volunteer Sunday school; Republican Party volunteer.

Why do you want to serve on the Johnston County Board of Education?

Serving my community and governing to solve problems are key reasons. I have eight children, 5 to 22 years old; education policies and activities make up a large portion of my life. I am concerned about the students learning and the future of our country. Parents need to be heard and schools should never close their doors to children. I’ve written about issues inside our schools, specifically in Johnston County: https://jocoreport.com/bad-grades-johnston-county-schools-in-academic-free-fall/.

What are the Johnston County Public Schools doing well?

They have good operations, the fundamentals are all in place to be a highly successful district. The longstanding talented professionals and staff in this district kept us at the top of the state for years. Key changes will create an atmosphere for success once again.

What would be your three top priorities if elected? Choose one, and explain how you would address it.

I have four and they are all equally important. Accountability, achievement, attainment, authority back to parents. Let’s look at attainment for all students. Children are unique individuals, and merit matters. I propose a paradigm shift from equity to opportunity. A vision that understands gaps in talents will always exist; it’s not about closing those gaps, rather working inside them to ensure all students leave public schools with a meaningful tomorrow. Knowledge first, then vocation.

What should the district do in response to calls to remove books from schools that some say are inappropriate for students?

Some school libraries are actively dispensing of accepted literature, like “Hiroshima,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Dr. Seuss. We don’t ban or destroy; we absolutely discern content in public schools, where parents do not accompany their children in selections. The activists that are book banners, censors, and destroying literature by eradicating “the classics” in an attempt to make room for more “relevant” literature is far more concerning, specifically to the stability of our Western civilization.

How should schools discuss issues involving discrimination based on race, gender and other factors?

We must stop being centers of social justice and start being institutions of academic learning, ones we can be confident that our kids will come out prepared for the next step in their life, whether it be work or school. There is one rule and one discussion: treat others as you want to be treated. All are equal, period. We have to correct the abysmal scores and failing of the children inside our schools, refocus schools back to their education lane.

How would you go about making schools safer in the aftermath of school shootings such as in Uvalde, Texas?

Stop making schools a soft target. We can provide SROs in every school and take a hard look at the safety of our buildings. The truth is, we have a heart issue. Something has created a deep-seated hatred of schools; we must address the needs of our students by making school a place of community and success. A place no student would ever consider attacking. Much of this will require more vocational opportunity, younger, better connections and a discipline policy that has consequences.

What would you do to try to address student learning loss that was exacerbated by the pandemic?

Never close schools to children again. Never force masking on students, especially those with special needs. Time cannot be recaptured; what we can do is refocus on academics. We have engaged too much time on nonessential learning. Bring back direct instruction, limit technology in K-5, move to recess twice daily and once in middle schools, make the three R’s traditional again and drive proficiency in those areas with leveled group instruction — do what we know works. Don’t be afraid to be bold.

What’s the appropriate level of funding that should be provided to Wake County schools?

Funding is provided on three levels; federal, state and local. Federal is tied to title and supplemental grants. State is a formula based on enrollments and other streams. Local was designed for capital needs, but has grown to fund operational expenses. Our current budget stands at $360 million annually for 46 schools. The budget is highly codified and near impossible to decipher; that needs to change. A dollar amount needed cannot be given without a thorough review of the actual expenses.