Prince Edward County resident Beulah Womack announced she will be running for the Prince Edward County School Board.

Womack, prior to coming to Prince Edward, served as an educator in New Jersey for 30 years. She served on the Plainfield, New Jersey, Board of Education for 25 years and received her master’s degree in early childhood education.

“As an active resident of the Prince Edward County community, I am passionate and advocating for the children and families of this county,” Womack said in a campaign announcement. “Participating in the governance of schools allows one to advocate for children in a way that has the greatest impact on young lives; therefore, I have decided to seek election to the Prince Edward County (PECPS) School Board in November 2019.”

“I am a career educator and have served on the PECPS school board as an appointed member for five years. Currently, I am the chairman of the school board — a position that I consider to be an honor,” Womack said. “Thus, because of my passion for education, my experiences as a school board member, and my desire to serve the community, I am committed to working for the children of Prince Edward County Public Schools as an elected member of the PECPS School Board.”

While in Plainfield, Womack, according to the announcement, became active in the New Jersey School Board Association.

“I was elected at the Delegates Assembly to serve as president of the New Jersey School Boards Association which is a state mandated organization that supports public education by advocating and lobbying not only in New Jersey but on a national level as well,” Womack said. “It also trains members in the area of board governance, specifically the roles and responsibilities of board and its members. Further, the association supports and provides training in several areas, including new board membership, advanced board membership and leadership responsibilities for the president and vice president (chairman and vice-chair). Finally, I have also served as president of the Union County School Boards Association and the board of directors of the New Jersey School Boards Association.”

During Womack’s tenure on the PECPS School Board, Prince Edward County Elementary School was accredited for the first time in several years.

“If I am elected, I promise to continue to work with the school board and support our superintendent to make sure that our children are able to compete at any level,” Womack said. “We want our students to be critical thinkers and we are striving to educate beyond the state Standard of Learning (SOL) goals. In addition, we will continue working on goals that are the foundation of the division’s strategic plan to ensure that our students are competitive at all levels of socially responsible citizens; and lastly, we will continue to be well-versed and current on local and state governance issues with the direction and assistance of the Virginia School Board Association.

“I am a community advocate who believes we can make a difference. I am an advocate for parental involvement in the schools because I believe that parents make the difference; and I believe that your voice matters,” Womack said.