Community Engagement & Transparency
“Schools belong to the community—and the community deserves a say.”
-Melissa Easley
The board sets the what—schools must be transparent, inclusive, and connected to the community they serve. The superintendent and her team determine the how—through communication channels, program implementation, and day-to-day operations.
Community Voice, Transparent Leadership
As a board member, my responsibility is to represent the vision and values of our community, keep the public informed, and ensure every student and family feels seen and included. That’s why, over the past three years, I have:
- Led North Mecklenburg engagement in 2023 during the creation of our new Student Outcomes Focused Governance (SOFG) goals. I helped gather over 60,000 pieces of data districtwide, ensuring community voices shaped the direction of CMS. In North Meck, family engagement doubled—growing from roughly 500 participants to well over 1,000.
- Launched Minutes with Melissa—monthly community forums where families and staff can ask questions, share concerns, and stay updated on board decisions.
- Created the “Chalk Talk” newsletter, breaking down complex policies, budgets, and board votes into clear, plain-language updates so families always know what’s happening.
- Met consistently with families, students, and educators across District 1 to listen first and lead with what I hear.
- Supported policies that protect and include all students, including LGBTQ+ students, undocumented students, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. Representation and belonging are non-negotiable for safe, thriving schools.
- Pushed for greater transparency at the board level and within CMS, recognizing there’s still a long way to go. We now have the right people and structures in place to make continuous improvements, and I will keep pressing until our families get the openness they deserve.
These steps are about more than updates—they’re about trust. Public schools belong to the community, and families deserve a real voice in shaping the future of CMS.
What I’ll Continue to Work On if Reelected
If reelected, I will keep fighting for:
- Expand opportunities for direct community input, including student advisory roles and neighborhood forums.
- Strengthen communication tools so families get timely, clear updates from CMS.
- Fight for policies that ensure every student—no matter their background, identity, or ability—feels safe, supported, and represented.
- Push for even greater transparency at the board level, so the public has a full picture of how decisions are made and how tax dollars are spent.
