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Candidate Forum

On September 29, 2022, the Buncombe County Democratic Party hosted a forum for all ACS Board candidates. Watch the video here:

Endorsements

  • ​Al Whitesides
  • Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
  • Elinor Earle
  • Gordon Grant​
  • Drew Reisinger
  • ​Lou Bissette

Priorities

As a candidate for the Asheville City School Board, Sarah's focus is on:
  • quality education that makes the aspirations of every single student possible;
  • supporting our excellent and under-resourced teachers​; and
  • maximizing limited school funding for the benefit of the entire school system.​
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​The Asheville City School system faces challenges. Sarah's professional experience as a teacher and an attorney, her extensive service on boards and commissions, and her years as a parent in the ACS system have given her the skills needed to help the ACS Board navigate these issues.​

Personal Statement

I believe my particular skills and experience are needed right now to steer the Asheville City School system through some challenges. 

I married a Western North Carolina native and have been a resident of Asheville for almost 25 years.  Our 2 children attended the Asheville City Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Over those years I have been deeply involved as a public school parent: I served as a robotics coach and a math tutor; I worked the concession stands during football games; I set up for and cleaned up after countless school events.  For 14 years, I have shown up for the Asheville City Schools.

I have over two decades of experience serving on local, regional, and national boards and commissions, which is important because I’m seeking to serve on a Board of Education to work with others to forward the mission of the Asheville City School System.  By serving on boards and commissions, I’ve learned how to facilitate meetings; how to be quiet and listen; how to pull in all voices at the table; how to read a balance statement; and how to keep a responsible budget.

My first professional job was as a public high school social studies teacher.  I understand firsthand how challenging and how rewarding the teaching profession can be.  I am now a partner in the law firm of McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. in Asheville.  As an estate planning attorney, I help people plan for the future.  Whether that be sickness, death, divorce, or children with mental health or substance abuse issues, we make plans. 
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The Asheville City School system – like all public school systems across the state – faces significant challenges: financial pressures; exhausted teachers; and students with unprecedented mental health challenges.  I believe that my professional experience as a teacher and an attorney, my extensive service on boards and commissions, and my 14 years as a parent and volunteer and advocate for our schools have given me the skills needed to help the Asheville City School Board navigate these and other issues.

Committed to our schools + Committed to our students + Committed to our teachers

Paid for by Thornburg for School Board