GROW’s mission is to improve educational outcomes for children in the Richland One school district through education, advocacy, and leadership accountability. In that spirit, GROW conducted a survey of this year’s school board candidates.
Seat 2: Lee Carroll, Jamie Devine, Steven Diaz, Christa Williams
Seat 4: Ericka Hursey (Incumbent Cheryl Harris did not respond)
At-Large: John Black, Angela Brown, Richard Moore. (Incumbents Angela Clyburn and Tamika Myers did not respond)
Based on responses to the survey and on observing the candidates in forums, GROW has determined that the following candidates will be agents of change in Richland One. GROW-approved candidates for 2024 are:
Steven Diaz (Seat 2)
Mr. Diaz is a Richland One parent, former Marine, and Richland One graduate. He has a background in HR and finance, and he pledges to take that deep understanding of finance to the Richland One School Board. ”I will ensure that our district's budget is managed prudently, focusing on eliminating wasteful spending and directing resources where they are most needed—our classrooms. It’s essential that taxpayers' money is spent efficiently to enhance educational outcomes rather than being lost in bureaucratic inefficiencies.” In addition, Mr. Diaz is focused on “Putting Kids First: Every decision made by the school board should prioritize the well-being and success of our students. Whether it’s through safe and modern facilities, access to mental health resources, or promoting extracurricular activities, our kids must be at the center of our policies.”
Ericka Hursey (Seat 4)
Dr. Hursey began her educational career in 1995 and her administrative career in education in 2001. She joined the staff in Richland School District One in 1996 and held several administrative positions over the years including Coordinator and Director of Richland One Adult Education, Principal of Olympia Learning Center, Assistant Principal and Principal at Heyward Gibbes Middle School. She was also a Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal at Lower Richland High School, her alma mater. Dr. Hursey has built her career on putting students and teachers first, which she pledges to prioritize if elected to the board. “Low student achievement and high employee turnover are significant indicators that the district’s leadership is not successfully addressing key areas of concern.”...”A priority for Richland One should be to retain its current employees by ensuring they work in environments that are safe, free of bullying and retaliation, and supportive. Employees need to feel empowered to function as qualified professionals, with the freedom to express concerns openly and receive support in their roles. When employees feel safe, secure, and valued, they are more likely to contribute to recruitment efforts by speaking positively about the district.”
Angela Brown (At-Large)
Ms. Brown has 17 years of experience teaching plus 18 years of school administrator experience. She holds Masters of Education and Education Specialist degrees. Ms. Brown shows a deep commitment to focus on student outcomes and understands that every student must receive a high-quality education. She believes the current leaders aren’t delivering the kinds of educational experiences our students deserve. “The superintendent plays a crucial role as a well-compensated and influential leader in the school district. He is responsible for ensuring that every student receives a quality education in alignment with state and federal regulations and grade level standards, as well as community values and priorities. The district's performance has continued to remain subpar for too many years under his leadership as superintendent.”
Richard Moore (At-Large)
A graduate of C.A. Johnson High School, Mr. Moore has 34 years of experience at both the school and district administrative levels, 15 years each as Principal at Brennen and Logan Elementary Schools and five years as Elementary Coordinator in HR, all within Richland One. Mr. Moore has a reputation for being a strong, compassionate, and fair leader in the schools in which he served. He pledges to bring “a fair and balanced voice, committed to asking the hard questions.” In addition, Mr. Moore was unequivocal in his characterization of the district’s shortcomings. “Research shows that quality teachers are the determining factor in student achievement. The current administration has created an atmosphere that has resulted in the loss of teachers and administrators and little success in filling vacancies in a timely fashion. No, I do not feel that the current superintendent has been successful in meeting his obligations to the students of the district.”
Too many Richland One students aren’t receiving the quality education they deserve. GROW believes in leadership accountability. These GROW-approved candidates are committed to student success, transparency, and leadership accountability.
If we continue to elect the same people year after year, we should continue to expect the same results. Vote for change in November.
