Candidate Questionnaire: Bill Fletcher

Cary, NC — Continuing our Candidate Questionnaire series, we hear from Bill Fletcher who is running as the incumbent for Wake County School Board, District 9.

Candidate Questionnaire

As we have done in previous election cycles, we sent a list of three short questions to all the candidates for office in Cary. We do not edit the answers but provide a forum for the candidates to speak to our readers in their own words.

Earlier this week, we heard from Ed Yerha. We’ll hear from Nancy Caggia and Jack Smith in subsequent days. Other candidates have not yet sent us their answers, but we’ll publish anything additional we receive on Monday, October 7.

Once again, we will not endorse candidates or tell you how to vote. However, we urge all citizens to go to the polls in Cary on Tuesday, October 8, 2013.

Bill Fletcher

Q1 – Why are you running?

Quality public education is the cornerstone of the American way of life. It enables our citizens to “reach for the stars” within the free enterprise system and to participate in our representative form of government. I value public education and believe we need to improve it, not abandon it. I have experience improving outcomes for all types of children and building community support for our schools. I want to provide that leadership again.

Q2 – What are your top 3 priorities and how will you get it done?

Our singular focus must be to prepare students for success at the next level. And the demands of that next level are ever-changing. We must adapt instruction to equip students to meet those changing demands.

To assure high student achievement, we must set high goals and hold administrators and teachers accountable. Every available resource must be aligned to achieve the desired outcome. Rigorous progress monitoring and transparent reporting to the public is essential.
Every child must read well. Currently, 15% of Cary’s third graders could not read at grade level. We must redouble our efforts to have all children read well. Reading well is fundamental to success in school and in life.
The Board and central administration must re-engage the community in a productive dialog that results in setting new, high goals for our schools and our community. These are the public’s schools and it is our responsibility to stay connected with the public.

Q3 – Give us a brief bio and tell us about your relevant experience.

I served on the Board through 2005. During that time we saw student achievement climb to the highest levels in system history – more than 90% reading and doing math at or above grade level… and more than 60% performing at level 4 – the highest level. We reached those heights by focusing on delivering excellent instruction in the classroom and holding ourselves and our students to high academic standards. And while helping struggling students reach minimum grade-level standards, we also stretched a record number of top performers to reach high academic growth.

I lead by building consensus around a few stretch goals and enabling our professional educators to implement the necessary strategies and tactics to achieve those goals. My business background, my experience in listening to diverse opinions and groups, and my passion for excellence in public education are reasons to vote for me. I am a non-partisan builder of consensus and relationships. And through those relationships we get things done!

I was born in Wake County, attended Catawba College and graduated NCSU in 1971 with a degree in Zoology. Married for 38 years to Becky Fletcher, we have three amazing adult children and two grandchildren. My business experience spans years in broadcasting, marketing and advertising, business consultation and real estate sales. Currently working as an associate broker at Keller Williams Realty Cary.

Candidate Information

Bill Fletcher
Wake County School Board
District 9

Website: BillFletcher4SchoolBoard.com