Community members will soon see some new faces on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board. The results of Tuesday's election means the board will be comprised entirely of female members.
The all-woman group is the first in the school system's history. The changes will also reshape the political makeup of the nine-member board, as Democrats will have a majority with five members.
Elizabeth Motsinger was reelected to serve another term. Fellow Democrats Deanna Kaplan, Andrea Bramer, Barbara Burke and Malishai Woodbury will also serve as representatives on the board.
On the Republican side, incumbents Dana Jones, Lori Clark and Lida Calvert Hayes were reelected. Leah Crowley also won her first term.
Deondra Rose is an assistant professor of public policy and political science at Duke University. She studies gender and education issues. Rose says elections like this one are a sign that more women are throwing their hats into the political ring.
“Women do represent 40 percent of school board representatives, but to have 100 percent, I think that's striking. I really do,” says Rose. “And I think the message is they view women as not only valuable but critical participants in governing.”
The new board will be sworn in on December 11th.
Over the next year, it's expected to tackle issues like school safety, building needs and teacher supplements.
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