Stacey Sault: 2025 candidate for Cary Elementary District 26 board

Bio

Office sought: Cary Elementary District 26 board (Vote for 4)

City: Cary

Age: 41

Occupation: No answer given

Previous offices held: Current Cary Elementary District 26 board vice president

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I am the current school board vice president and have worked very hard over the past 4 years in helping move the district forward. I have enjoyed the work, I have enjoyed learning all about our school district so I decided to try and run again.

What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum?

The role of the school board overall is oversight in many ways. We approve the curriculum and learn all about it during meetings. We have to monitor its success by going over state testing scores or district testing scores. I believe it needs to be set and approved in collaboration with the curriculum director and staff.

They do a thorough dive into the curriculum to determine how it will or will not work for the districts needs. No school board member is in the school district implementing the curriculum day to day so it’s important the curriculum director and staff feel comfortable and happy with what they bring before the board for approval.

Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

No, I don’t. I think the district is in a direction of moving forward. They have a strong curriculum director who has started the process of getting all the schools on the same page with curriculum, curriculum mapping for all in our district, reviewing programs, focusing on reading and math.

Four years ago, we didn't have the stability from a director that we do now so I think grace needs to be given a bit. We have a newer superintendent and newer curriculum director and together they are working on making sure our kids get the best possible education they can.

Last year, I asked when we could expect results from implementing a new curriculum program and was told a few years. Results don’t happen overnight, and the leadership has started on a great path they should continue on.

How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

Everyone deserves a voice and to be heard. I think the misconception people have with the school board is that the board can change anything they want. It’s my job to listen to constituents, really hear them, respond, and help them if I can, but also be honest if I can’t. It doesn't matter my personal opinion on a lot of things, it matters what is best for the entire district.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board.

District 26 recently dived into their entire school policy manual in order to update it and put it online for easier access and easier updating. There were three board members on the committee, one was myself. I was able to look at all of our policies and see which are still working, which are not working, and dive deeper into those we wanted to implement better. It was a respectful collaborative effort by all of us and I believe that is the only way to accomplish anything.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board.

There is definitely a push in the political climate to get rid of DEI programs, it's become a political talking point everywhere. I do not think politics belongs in our schools so I support my district on what decisions they will make based on the guidelines from the current administration.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I believe I am a great candidate. I have worked tirelessly over the past 4 years to understand school finances inside and out. I have met with our assistant superintendent of finance many times over the years to dive into the budgeting and make sure I understand it.

I have listened to our transportation department more than any other person has in recent years in order help them move forward with a new building and better pay.

I believe I am the only one who works in a K-5 school and gets to see first hand what staff can be going through on a day-to-day basis.

I am the only candidate and current board member with several years of experience in our dual language program. The dual language program is a fantastic part of our district and no candidate and no current board member knows it/understands it like I do.

I am a school board member because I care, not because I have bigger political aspirations like some others do, I just care about my kids, the district’s kids and want to continue to help the district I grew up in.

What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

Years ago, I started looking into our school lunches and nutrition and still to this day I am very passionate that we can and need to do better for our children. Children shouldn’t be hungry, they shouldn’t be served food that you wouldn’t eat yourself, they need proper nutrition to do their best in school. The endless amounts of processed foods and sugar in a school lunch isn’t the best possible nutrition we can offer kids.