By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board member Liz Carter draws her 13-year career on the board to a close tonight (Thursday). Carter, who was appointed to the board in 1994, did not run for re-election this year.
She plans to stay busy, taking care of three girls she hopes to adopt this year and working as a youth council coordinator for the Town of Chapel Hill.
During her tenure on the board, Carter has been an advocate for children of color and has emphasized the need to close the minority achievement gap.
She has enjoyed her work on the board, but would like to spend more time with her family now.
Carter is replaced by newcomer Mia Burroughs, who will be sworn in at tonight’s meeting.
As she was wrapping up her final business on the board, Carter took time to answer a few questions from The Citizen.
What are the challenges you see ahead for the district?
Part of it is continuing to educate all children and an emphasis on … children of color, and those families that feel that they don’t have a voice. It’s not just people of color who feel that they don’t have a voice. There are others that fit into that population.… For some reason, they don’t feel attached to the district.… Also, exceptional education – I think it’s an area that we need to improve in.
When I came on the board in ’94, the voice that was truly loud was that of parents of exceptional children … It’s good to hear. I always welcome the voices of our parents and of our students.
What are some of the successes of the district during your time on the board?
I feel we’ve made some strides in addressing some of the needs of African-American and Hispanic students. We’re not there yet.… My regret is that I will not be at the table when some of those decisions are being made, decisions in improving the learning process of children and the instructional day of the child.… I won’t be there. I’ll often wonder what went on around those tables when I was not there. I have to trust the persons that we’ve elected.
What are some of the things you wish the board had done differently?
Addressing some of the needs of the Blue Ribbon Task Force.… Some renovations of some of our older facilities and upkeep.… Keeping in mind that staff is extremely important. We often forget that teachers are the people who touch our kids’ lives every day … and if things aren’t going right for [teachers] in the classroom, it’s hard to be all you can be if you feel your individual needs are not being met … I think that’s something that our board and future boards need to be reminded of. We need to be sure that those teachers feel they are supported.
You’ve been very involved in working to close the minority achievement gap. What’s it going to take to close the gap?
There are three [primary] components: teachers, students and parents. One more piece is the community. I think we’ve done well in addressing some of the initiative in minority student education, but we haven’t brought the community along.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that I will be of sound mind and body when we close the gap
Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Overall, it has been a great 13 years.
Going on the board, I always said it was not about me, it was about the children. I will be forever indebted to the community for being allowed to serve on the board.â€