This past Tuesday, school board representatives Sonya Powell, Robert Burley, and Kimberly Schmidlin attended their final meeting. As they were saying their final goodbyes, three newcomers to the Board of Education were sworn into office, picking up the baton from those leaving office.
Powell joined the school board in 2012. She was a former educator and continues to teach at Sampson Middle School.
“I made it my life’s duty to be concerned with the well-being of the students of Sampson County,” Powell remarked, noting that while she will be leaving the school board she will still have plenty to keep her occupied, with a “very busy” church life, as well as her grandchildren.
Burley said his wife still teaches in elementary school, so he’ll still be involved with the school system in some capacity.
He explained why he decided not to run for reelection.
“I was ready to get out of it… I think eight years was enough,” Burley attested. “It’s time for somebody else to come in with fresh and new ideas — I think that’s a good thing.”
Schmidlin said that “it was a pleasure to serve Sampson County Schools” as a Board of Education member for over 11 years.
When she first joined the board, she explained that her children, nieces, and nephews were all in the school system and had graduated during her time on the board. Now, her grandchildren are in the school system.
“I’ve seen a whole different generation move on,” Schmidlin reflected.
“For me,” Schmidlin said, “I believe that there’s a time to serve, and then there’s a time to step aside and let someone else serve.”
Schmidlin stated that she will continue to “support the board and these board members in any way I can.”
During the board meeting, chairman Daryll Warren renewed his oath of office, while the newly elected representatives Michael Elmore, James Jones, and Krystin M. McPhail all took their oaths for the first time.
Elmore said he contemplated and prayed about running for public office for several years. “The timing wasn’t right in years past,” he attested, “but I truly felt called to run this past election cycle.”
Elmore grew up in the Sampson community and proudly considers himself a product of Sampson County Schools. He says he’s “ready to get to work!”
“I am excited about the opportunity to give back to a school system and community that has given so much to me …,” Elmore said. “It is my hope that every child in Sampson County can have the same opportunity I had.”
Jones hails from Harrell’ and has worked for many years as a school resource officer.
“I always wanted to — and continue to want to — help the students succeed in life and do what I can to help Sampson County Schools be the best they can be.”
Jones expressed that he’s “looking forward to making a positive change for Sampson County Schools.”
McPhail was an art teacher for 12 years in the county system, teaching at both Union Midway high schools. When she stepped away from teaching to pursue her art full-time, McPhail said she “felt like there was a void in the difference that could be made for kids.
“Of course, I still interacted with kids and volunteered with the school system,” she explained, “but, you know, to be able to really make a difference and make a change, that opportunity no longer presented itself.”
When it was “more or less” proposed to McPhail that she run for the Board of Education, “I really felt like that was my opportunity, and the Lord calling me, to be able to make a change and greater difference without being in the classroom anymore.
“I worked from one end of the county to the other,” McPhail said, “and so really understanding the differences between communities and things like that, I think, is important as well.” She hopes to help give staff, students, parents, and communities a voice to be able to make a change and put policies in place that can be “the best opportunities for our students and school systems.”
The new board members will begin their official duties July 1.