I was asked recently by a good friend of mine, “Why are you supporting Donna Joy for Jefferson County School Board?” “What does she know about education, and when was the last time she stepped into a classroom?”

The answer was easy for me. Donna Joy is an advocate for all. Donna fights for the rights of those who either don’t have a voice or are afraid to use it. If you take the time to view the school board candidates in local forums, you will see that Donna has a detailed plan mapped out with tangible goals and objectives to accomplish her mission. Donna is a licensed social worker and therapist, along with her certification in special education, which serves her well when working with challenged students.

Donna grew up in the Baltimore City Public School system, and despite being in the minority, she graduated with honors. Her time in the Baltimore Public School System served her well, as she was able to see not only the challenges that the inner city public schools were presented, but also the struggles that came along with living in a low socio-economic development. She carries those experiences into her everyday life, which gives her the tools to take on difficult challenges in the school system. Her educational background consists of two undergraduate degrees in math and elementary education; two graduate degrees in psychology and special education; and a Ph.D. in educational measurements, statistics, research and evaluation. She also has educational training in public school policies.

Her knowledge of national and state public school policies would help Jefferson County teachers and administration give students clear-cut expectations in the day-to-day operations of the school.

Donna has been a teacher in the public school systems of Baltimore, Md., Arlington, Va., and Jefferson County schools for 33 years. Her experience in the classroom, combined with her education, makes her a great candidate for the Board of Education position. She supervises student teachers and doctoral dissertation candidates, which keeps her updated on policy changes in and outside the classrooms. These are some of the reasons why I endorse Donna Joy for a seat on the Board of Education.

Kevin Holmes, of Shepherdstown