You know the daily grind. Packing lunches, adding money to lunch accounts, checking homework, worrying about screen time, and hoping your child feels safe and seen at school. I’m right there with you. I have two kids in our schools, one in Laurel Mill Elementary School, and one in Terrell Lane Middle School. I feel the impact of every decision this board makes, in real time, at my own kitchen table.

When we talk about school start times, I’m thinking about my own sleepy middle-schooler. When we discuss homework policies, I’m weighing it against my elementary kid’s evenings. When safety protocols come up, my heart beats faster because my children walk those hallways too.

When we talk about curriculum, it’s not just an abstract debate about standards to me; it's what my own kids are absorbing every single day. Because this is a non-partisan office, my only allegiance is to you, the families of District 3, not to a political party platform.

I deeply believe that parents are a child's first and most important educators, and that you have a fundamental right to guide their upbringing. That is why I will advocate for strict parental oversight and control over what enters our classrooms. You shouldn't have to guess what your children are learning; you deserve absolute transparency, easy access to instructional materials, and a clear, respected voice in the review process before new curricula are adopted.

I will fight for a curriculum that gets back to the fundamentals, rigorous academics, critical thinking, and practical life skills, ensuring our schools focus on teaching kids how to think, not what to think, while firmly keeping parents in the driver's seat. This commitment to practical excellence is deeply personal to me. I fondly recall the training I received through the career and technical education programs at Louisburg High School that laid the foundation for my masonry business today.

You deserve a board member who listens to your everyday realities, values common-sense solutions over political division, and focuses entirely on student success.

You are the heart of our schools. I know that deeply, because my mother has been a teacher at Franklin County Schools for decades. I’ve watched her grade papers late into the night, spend her own money on classroom supplies, and carry the emotional weight of her students’ struggles. She doesn’t work in our district, but she gives me a clear window into what teachers everywhere need: respect, support, and the resources to do their best work.

Additionally, my wife is an assistant principal at Terrell Lane Middle School. She comes home and shares the realities you face, the paperwork, the meetings, the delicate balance of supporting students while managing mandates from above. I hear firsthand about the challenges of classroom management, curriculum changes, and the need for meaningful professional development.

I will never see you as just a line item in a budget. You are professionals, mentors, and often the most stable presence in a child’s life. On the board, I will advocate fiercely for competitive pay, manageable workloads, and classroom support that lets you focus on what you do best: teaching.

Leadership is tough. You’re caught between district policies, parent expectations, staff needs, and tight budgets. My wife lives this every day as an assistant principal. Through her, I understand the pressure you’re under, the need for clear, practical policies that don’t create chaos on the ground.

I won’t bring you theoretical ideas that look good on paper but fail in practice. I’ll bring a ground-level perspective that asks: “How will this actually work in our schools?” “Do our principals have the support to implement this?” “What unintended burdens might this create?”

Let’s build a board-to-administration partnership based on mutual respect and operational reality. Together, we can streamline initiatives, cut redundant paperwork, and ensure decisions made at the top actually help you lead effectively in our buildings.

Oftentimes, I'm asked, "What word of advice do you have for our youth?"

My answer is always the same: Put the Lord first. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your path. Be true to who God created you to be. Know your identity, stand firmly in your values, and never feel pressured to become someone else just to gain acceptance or applause.

Live a life of such integrity that, whether it's a family member, a friend, a stranger, an opponent, or even someone who has misunderstood you, if they choose to follow your example, they are being led in a positive direction. That's the kind of influence that truly matters.

One of the greatest compliments a person can receive is not simply that others listen to their words, but that they begin to adopt the positive ideas and examples they set. During our authentic campaign car cruise, I'm grateful that we started a positive trend that has brought excitement and community engagement. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I choose to see it as confirmation that positive leadership inspires others to raise their standard as well.

My prayer is that we never compete to outdo one another, but challenge one another to serve better, love deeper, and lead with greater integrity. At the end of the day, trends will come and go, but character, authenticity, and a heart surrendered to God will always stand the test of time.

Stay humble. Stay authentic. Stay prayerful. And always let your light shine so brightly that others don't just notice it, they're inspired to walk in it.

You might wonder why a school board election matters to you if you don't have kids at the bus stop every morning. But the truth is, the health of our public schools dictates the health of our entire community. Excellent schools attract thriving businesses, keep our neighborhoods safe, and directly protect and boost your property values. Even if you don't have children in the classroom, you are a vital stakeholder in the success of Franklin County Schools.

As a parent with two kids in the district, my goal isn't just to see my own children succeed; it’s to ensure that Franklin County produces responsible, capable, and well-educated citizens who will become our future neighbors, workforce, and leaders. I am deeply committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency. I promise to treat your tax dollars with the utmost respect, ensuring that every dollar invested in our schools is used efficiently to yield measurable, positive results for our community. A strong school system lifts all of Franklin County, and I will work hard to ensure our schools remain a point of pride for every taxpayer.

First and foremost, I respect and celebrate your commitment to doing what is best for your child’s unique educational needs. Every family’s journey is different. But choosing a private or charter education doesn't mean you lose your stake in Franklin County Schools. Our community thrives when all of our children thrive, regardless of the building they learn in.

I want Franklin County Public Schools to be an institution so strong, so safe, and so academically rigorous that it serves as a gold standard for the entire region, benefiting our collective community. Furthermore, many of our community's youth sports, arts, and recreational programs rely on the strength of Franklin County School infrastructure and partnerships. As a board member, I will always advocate for an environment of mutual respect and collaboration between all educational paths. My door will always be open to you, because your perspective as a parent is invaluable, and your investment in Franklin County’s future is just as deep as mine.

I stand at a rare crossroads: a parent with skin in the game, a wife who hears the administrative view daily, a son who respects the teaching profession, and a local small business owner who runs a masonry company right here in our community. This isn’t about privilege, it’s about perspective. It means:

• I can bridge divides between the boardroom and the classroom.
• I can relate to parents' concerns, so I can turn them into actionable policies and translate those policies into plain language for families.
• I will bring a blue-collar, common-sense business mindset to the board. In my line of masonry work, if you don't manage your budget, bid accurately, check contracts, and lay a solid foundation, the structure crumbles. I will bring that exact same financial discipline and structural accountability to our school system.
• I can spot unintended consequences before they hurt our kids or overload our staff.
• I am accountable not just to voters but also to my own family, who depend on this system every day.

• I will truly listen to parents, grandparents, teachers, and staff.
• I will champion transparency, so you always know why decisions are made.
• I will approach every taxpayer dollar with the same care, integrity, and accountability that has guided me as a business owner managing subcontractor projects and as a faithful Trustee entrusted with being a good steward of the Lord's resources.
• I will prioritize student well-being and academic excellence above politics.

This school board needs more than good intentions. It needs lived experience, emotional investment, and a 360-degree view of our educational community. I offer all three.

Let’s build a school system that works for everyone, because when our families, educators, and leaders are aligned, our children soar.

Vote for a board member who doesn’t just represent you but reflects your own values at the kitchen table.