Election 2015 Candidate Statement: C.J. Hatcher (Candidate for School Board White Hall District)

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Caroll “C.J.” Hatcher

Albemarle County School Board, White Hall District

C.J. Hatcher (Photo by Jen Fariello)
C.J. Hatcher (Photo by Jen Fariello)

With over 40 years of experience in education, I will bring leadership and expertise to the Albemarle County School Board. An educator, administrator, entrepreneur, author, and policy adviser, I will work hard to strengthen and improve the Albemarle County School District.

Children are our greatest resource. They are the future of Albemarle County, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and of our great country. I want the students in Albemarle County Schools to be successful in life. I believe the key to that success is a quality education.

For that to be achieved, decisions should be made in the best interest of our children, not in the interest of Washington bureaucrats.  The best decisions are LOCAL decisions made in our County and in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I will put education first! I will put students first! To do this, I plan to work on 5 priorities:

Fiscal responsibility and stability! We need to spend money more judiciously.

Student and teacher evaluations other than a single mandated test! We need to encourage creativity in the classroom with less emphasis on “learning” to pass a test.

Capital improvements to avoid “band aid” solutions like redistricting! If some of our schools had been modernized years ago, we would have less overcrowding today.

Alternative funding sources so as not to burden tax payers or cut programs! I would seek and encourage Corporate Partnerships and private funding.

Curriculum designed for 21st century skills with proper professional development for teachers! Teacher involvement with curriculum and decision-making is key to success.

I started my career as a high school Government/Economics teacher. I’ve been in the trenches and understand the complexities of a classroom teacher’s job. During the 10 years I taught high school, I served as Social Studies Department Head and represented my district on the State Textbook Committee.

Later, as Director of Education for a large media company, I was recognized for creating educational programs and business/school partnerships. I traveled around the country showing other media companies how to engage with the school districts in their own communities using similar programs and partnerships.

Next, I started a business – an educational publishing company. We were successful marketing the CJH product line throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. CJH Educational Publishing was a leader in our niche industry for over 25 years. The curriculum line was distributed by media companies, school districts, teacher supply stores, and museum gift shops, including the Smithsonian.

I am the author of 33 educational books. I’ve served on Literacy Boards, spoken at National Conferences, and taught at the Community College level. I was appointed to a policy position by Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and served on his executive board.

Recently, I wrote a tabloid series on Higher Education for a national newspaper. As a free-lance writer and columnist, I continue to promote sound curriculum to teachers, parents, and students.

Appointed to the ACSB Long Range Planning Advisory Committee in 2015, I have local policy experience and knowledge in addition to my role as a resident and grandparent of two Albemarle students.

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