I recently announced my candidacy for the position of Region 3 Director for the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE).  Elections are for NCAE members and will be conducted by email from April 4 to 14.

We are in the midst of an unprecedented budget crisis and heading toward what will be one of the most important general elections in many years.  Here in North Carolina, 2020 brings the opportunity to elect policymakers who will be much more open to listening to educators and working together toward the changes our students need.  

When that long-overdue transformation happens, having the right teacher leadership in place is going to be incredibly  important.

Over the past few years, I’ve used my platform NotesFromTheChalkboard.com to serve as a watchdog on state legislators and Superintendent Mark Johnson and keep our state’s educators informed about important issues that impact them and their students.  I’ve developed strong working relationships with lawmakers who believe in public schools, and I’ve been a tireless local advocate with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education and Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners as well.  

All of this work has helped me grow personally and professionally, build a strong statewide network of educators and policymakers,  and gain skills which will be crucial for effective leadership.

As Region 3 Director I will bring my passion for advocacy, education policy and communication to bear on turning Region 3 into a place where every educator understands local, state, and national education issues and is empowered to use their voice as a tool for changes that benefit their students and colleagues.

I am running against a strong incumbent, and it’s going to take a lot of hard work for me to get elected.  If you’re willing to support my campaign, here’s how you can help:

1. Share this post with colleagues in your network, especially NCAE members eligible to vote in Region 3 (that includes Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Kannapolis, Lincoln, Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Mooresville City, Rowan, Stanly, and Union Counties).
   
   
2. Complete this survey indicating your support for my candidacy and encourage others to do the same:  https://tinyurl.com/JPforNCAE3. If I’m going to win, I’ll need contacts in as many Region 3 schools as possible, and this survey is how I’m going to do that.
   
   
3. If you’re able, consider a contribution to my fundraiser for postcard mailings.  Every dollar enables me to reach three voting members of NCAE Region 3 with information about my campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/postage-for-justin-parmenter-for-ncae-region-3 

Whether you are a member of NCAE or not, and whether you support my candidacy or not, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do to change lives in your school every day.  Working together we can transform this state into a place where your work is respected and supported as it deserves to be.

Warmly,

Justin Parmenter
Charlotte, NC
Candidate for NCAE Board of Directors, Region 3