Jordyne Blaise, candidate for Wake County school board District 3, answers our questions

To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.

Name: Jordyne Blaise

District/seat: Wake County Board of Education, District 3

Political party: Democrat

Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 38

Campaign website: jordyneforwake.com

Current occupation: Business Owner

Professional experience: I worked as a high school English teacher, in government and in higher education. I was a legislative analyst for the DC Council responsible for drafting legislation and managing agency relationships and served as the Equal Opportunity Officer/Deputy Title IX coordinator at NC State University. My experience includes interpreting and enforcing civil rights laws, investigating discrimination complaints and coaching leaders to optimize organizational performance. I currently own a consulting firm.

Education: B.A. English, Georgetown University; JD, Law, Georgetown University

Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Intern, U.S. House of Representatives; Legislative Counsel for DC Councilmember; City of Raleigh Human Relations Commission

What would be your top priority if elected?

My top priority would be ensuring student success by advancing policies that address recruiting and retaining highly-qualified staff, promote a safe and inclusive learning environment, and address students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.

What specific strategies would you promote to improve academic achievement for Wake County students?

I would promote investments in teacher development and retention, adequate and equitable allocation of resources to all schools, and data-informed decision-making. I believe that academic achievement is inextricably linked to social/emotional wellbeing, so I would also include strategies that promote belonging and address student wellness and safety by leveraging best practices for early intervention and community engagement.

How should Wake County respond to the Biden administration’s new Title IX rules involving transgender students?

We should follow federal law. For 50-plus years, Title IX has provided important protections in key areas: sex stereotypes in education, pregnant/parenting teens’ rights, gender-based violence, and athletics. It also requires schools to address and investigate complaints of sexual harassment. These protections are critical. In 2020, Fourth Circuit courts ruled that Title IX should be interpreted to prohibit discrimination against transgender students — a position that aligns with the Title IX rules.

Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not?

No. The legislature should first fund the $600+ million it was ordered to under Leandro, which guarantees every child in the state the right to a sound basic education. Private school vouchers are diverting students and money from public schools and have no accountability for how they spend the money or what student outcomes they produce. Private school may be a good option for some families but they should not be paid for with public tax dollars.

What is your view on installing weapons detectors at every school as a security measure?

There is a lot we must do to address violence in our schools but there is not enough data to support the efficacy of weapons detectors. Besides the logistical challenges of getting students through them and managing multiple entry points, they can lure vulnerable parents into a false sense of security. I support schools having properly trained threat assessment teams that can identify strategies to address violence. Also, all new and renovated facilities should take steps to increase safety.

Under the Dome

Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here.