By Katie Holland

Staff Writer

Having watched her three daughters thrive in the Clinton City Schools system, local businesswoman Georgina Zeng said she wants to do her part to ensure that all other children get the same privilege. So, Thursday, she became the fifth person to file for one of three open seats on the Board of Education.

Zeng, who is originally from India and is married Ricky Zeng, established that she has nothing but positive things to say about the educational institution that her daughters, Erica, 14, Leah, 13, and Chloe, 7, currently belong to.

“(The school system) has produced such wonderful kids; I may be their mother, but they are the ones who are educating them,” Zeng attested.

In fact, she gives credit to the school system for helping to see her daughters thrive. In fact, Erica, her oldest, has been recently accepted to St. Mary’s College in Raleigh on a full scholarship to finish up her high school education, and her daughter, Leah, was recently named a state champion in the area of mathematics, both accomplishments she credits to the “fine education” they have received in the city system.

Knowing that Clinton City Schools has contributed so much to the well being of her daughters, Zeng said she felt that running for office would be one way that she could give back.

While she has no quarrels with the current board, she did say that she feels “it is time for a change,” and she noted her belief that she could be a positive voice for the system that she dearly loves.

As proof of how much she adores her school system, Zeng points to the countless amount of volunteer work she willingly provides in the schools, including being a president, vice president and fund-raising committee member for her daughters Parent Teacher Student Organizations. She also established that she has been a member of the Academically and Intellectually Gifted Committee as well as part of the school improvement teams.

“I have even been on the committee to select Teacher of the Year,” Zeng said, adding that she was also a part of the March to a Million campaign that made it possible for Clinton High School to be built.

“I am very involved,” said Zeng, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in child psychology from Calcutta Girls University.

Through her volunteer work, Zeng feels that she has the experience needed to know what the problems of Clinton City Schools are.

“I know what the teachers and the children are going through,” Zeng established.

More specifically, she commented that she thinks money will be a major issue for the board this next term. However, she feels quite strongly that the school system should keep its core values in tact.

“We don’t need to remove anything from that,” said Zeng, noting that by doing so, it sends the message that “education comes first.”

Running along with Zeng are two other newcomers, Carol Worley and Randy Barefoot. In addition, Victor Fryar and Dr. Bill Starling have filed to retain their current seats on the board. Dr. Carl Barr filed Thursday afternoon and Shirley Davis has said she will file this morning. See those stories in Sunday’s paper.

The filing period ends at noon today.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.