Wake County Board of Education
Monika Johnson-Hostler Are you an incumbent?
Yes
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. If elected, what are your plans for working with the Wake County Board of Commissioners to achieve our schools’ needs?
Since 2013, I have effectively worked with the Wake County Board of Commissioners on behalf of our school's needs. When the state's allocation falls short in providing the resources to meet the needs of our students, the County Commissioners continue to go above and beyond for Wake County Public Schools. I am appreciative of the work we have been able to do collectively. As a school board member, it's my role to advocate at every level of government-local, state and federa-l who are responsible for funding public education. As a long time advocate, relationships matter, that has been my strategy in advocating for funding as evidenced through my work with Wake County Board of Commissioners. I will continue to build on current relationships and create new relationships to ensure support for funding.
5. How do you plan to engage and build trust with parents, employers, and other stakeholders of your school district?
I have been committed to the campaign slogan of ask, listen and advocate. Those three words describe how I build and sustain relationships and rapport with people. I believe trust is earned and it is important to build trust by building relationships through communication and time. People are used to asking candidate questions, and are often surprised and elated when I ask them questions. It is important to hear from our parents, business community and other stakeholders about the broad questions but also specific questions related to their role and relationship to the school district. After asking questions, dialogue is important because there are often questions that haven’t surfaced that are also important. Listening has two parts- actively listening to hear their needs and while also listening to the collective community needs which are not always easy to discern. Advocating with and for our parents, employers and stakeholders also requires clear expectations of the desired outcome. It is equally important to make sure the person is aware of the decision making process. I will continue to implement this strategy to build relationships and trust. This includes being open about the feasibility of their ask and the desired outcomes.
6. What will you do to improve school safety in Wake County?
The framework for school safety must be addressed from a multi pronged approach, physical safety and mental safety. All schools should be outfitted with cameras, vestibules, and trained adults including not social workers, school nurses and school resource officers. Additionally we must have lower radios to school counselors and nurses to meet the needs of our students. We are often reactive and to ensure our schools are safe we must move to prevention by addressing risk factors. People are not "doing well" we have to address underlying issues such as managing stress, conflict resolution, communication and coping techniques to create safe and healthy students and school climates. We have to equally address physical and mental safety and well-being.
7. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Wake County Public School System address them?
The growing trends in student needs are student achievement, teacher recruitment retention, accessibility for students with disabilities, mental health needs, economic disadvantages and English learners and pandemic learning loss. For too long, North Carolina’s elected leaders have willfully underfunded schools for the state’s most vulnerable students. Leandro set forth the priorities to achieve this goal by requesting fair, equitable and adequate funding for all schools. I will seek to increase our local supplemental pay to help us keep our qualified and experienced teachers. To address student learning loss exacerbated by the pandemic, I will apply a multi strategy approach of tutoring and partnerships with community organizations. WCPSS and the YMCA of the Triangle have partnered on the HELP initiative. This is an opportunity for community members and volunteers to provide once a week consistent tutoring. In addition, I will continue to make investments in teacher professional development to ensure they have access to emerging and innovative practices and curriculums.
8. How do you propose the Wake County Public School System overcome its current labor shortage? Please give specific steps you wish to see taken.
We have to maintain our commitment to our educators by investing in the current educators, the pipeline and creating a culture that is conducive to teaching and learning. To overcome the current labor shortage, we must elect leaders that are champions of public schools. One that values and pays Wake County's brilliant teachers and committed staff. For too long, North Carolina’s elected leaders have willfully underfunded schools for the state’s most vulnerable students. Leandro set forth the priorities to achieve this goal by requesting fair, equitable and adequate funding for all schools. I will seek to increase our local supplemental pay to help us keep our qualified and experienced teachers. I will seek and advocate for a livable wage that factors in inflation, growing housing costs, and tenure for all personnel of Wake County. That includes both the county and the state to acknowledge all school employees, including our classified staff when they are giving raises to state and county employees.
9. What should the school system focus on to ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
An education is the foundation to lifelong success. I am an advocate in ensuring that all of our students are prepared to reach their full potential and lead productive lives in a complex and changing world. To ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow, Wake County Public Schools must continue to invest in its brilliant and committed educators and staff. This initial step helps with student achievement and accessibility for students with disabilities, mental health needs, economic disadvantages and English learners. Investments into what students need to be successful both academically and emotionally. I feel a sense of urgency to ensure all students have access to an exceptional education. To do that, we must make all of our students feel welcomed, accepted and affirmed in our public schools. It is my commitment to ensure a great public education is equally accessible to all students. The goal is to create positive climates in all of our schools for all students, regardless of their race, gender or identity.
Yes
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. If elected, what are your plans for working with the Wake County Board of Commissioners to achieve our schools’ needs?
Since 2013, I have effectively worked with the Wake County Board of Commissioners on behalf of our school's needs. When the state's allocation falls short in providing the resources to meet the needs of our students, the County Commissioners continue to go above and beyond for Wake County Public Schools. I am appreciative of the work we have been able to do collectively. As a school board member, it's my role to advocate at every level of government-local, state and federa-l who are responsible for funding public education. As a long time advocate, relationships matter, that has been my strategy in advocating for funding as evidenced through my work with Wake County Board of Commissioners. I will continue to build on current relationships and create new relationships to ensure support for funding.
5. How do you plan to engage and build trust with parents, employers, and other stakeholders of your school district?
I have been committed to the campaign slogan of ask, listen and advocate. Those three words describe how I build and sustain relationships and rapport with people. I believe trust is earned and it is important to build trust by building relationships through communication and time. People are used to asking candidate questions, and are often surprised and elated when I ask them questions. It is important to hear from our parents, business community and other stakeholders about the broad questions but also specific questions related to their role and relationship to the school district. After asking questions, dialogue is important because there are often questions that haven’t surfaced that are also important. Listening has two parts- actively listening to hear their needs and while also listening to the collective community needs which are not always easy to discern. Advocating with and for our parents, employers and stakeholders also requires clear expectations of the desired outcome. It is equally important to make sure the person is aware of the decision making process. I will continue to implement this strategy to build relationships and trust. This includes being open about the feasibility of their ask and the desired outcomes.
6. What will you do to improve school safety in Wake County?
The framework for school safety must be addressed from a multi pronged approach, physical safety and mental safety. All schools should be outfitted with cameras, vestibules, and trained adults including not social workers, school nurses and school resource officers. Additionally we must have lower radios to school counselors and nurses to meet the needs of our students. We are often reactive and to ensure our schools are safe we must move to prevention by addressing risk factors. People are not "doing well" we have to address underlying issues such as managing stress, conflict resolution, communication and coping techniques to create safe and healthy students and school climates. We have to equally address physical and mental safety and well-being.
7. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Wake County Public School System address them?
The growing trends in student needs are student achievement, teacher recruitment retention, accessibility for students with disabilities, mental health needs, economic disadvantages and English learners and pandemic learning loss. For too long, North Carolina’s elected leaders have willfully underfunded schools for the state’s most vulnerable students. Leandro set forth the priorities to achieve this goal by requesting fair, equitable and adequate funding for all schools. I will seek to increase our local supplemental pay to help us keep our qualified and experienced teachers. To address student learning loss exacerbated by the pandemic, I will apply a multi strategy approach of tutoring and partnerships with community organizations. WCPSS and the YMCA of the Triangle have partnered on the HELP initiative. This is an opportunity for community members and volunteers to provide once a week consistent tutoring. In addition, I will continue to make investments in teacher professional development to ensure they have access to emerging and innovative practices and curriculums.
8. How do you propose the Wake County Public School System overcome its current labor shortage? Please give specific steps you wish to see taken.
We have to maintain our commitment to our educators by investing in the current educators, the pipeline and creating a culture that is conducive to teaching and learning. To overcome the current labor shortage, we must elect leaders that are champions of public schools. One that values and pays Wake County's brilliant teachers and committed staff. For too long, North Carolina’s elected leaders have willfully underfunded schools for the state’s most vulnerable students. Leandro set forth the priorities to achieve this goal by requesting fair, equitable and adequate funding for all schools. I will seek to increase our local supplemental pay to help us keep our qualified and experienced teachers. I will seek and advocate for a livable wage that factors in inflation, growing housing costs, and tenure for all personnel of Wake County. That includes both the county and the state to acknowledge all school employees, including our classified staff when they are giving raises to state and county employees.
9. What should the school system focus on to ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
An education is the foundation to lifelong success. I am an advocate in ensuring that all of our students are prepared to reach their full potential and lead productive lives in a complex and changing world. To ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow, Wake County Public Schools must continue to invest in its brilliant and committed educators and staff. This initial step helps with student achievement and accessibility for students with disabilities, mental health needs, economic disadvantages and English learners. Investments into what students need to be successful both academically and emotionally. I feel a sense of urgency to ensure all students have access to an exceptional education. To do that, we must make all of our students feel welcomed, accepted and affirmed in our public schools. It is my commitment to ensure a great public education is equally accessible to all students. The goal is to create positive climates in all of our schools for all students, regardless of their race, gender or identity.
