Wake County picks newest school board member. Here’s what to know about her priorities

After multiple rounds of voting, the Wake County school board picked a local nonprofit leader and longtime school volunteer to be its newest member.

The school board appointed Toshiba Rice on Tuesday to fill the District 4 seat that represents much of Southeast Raleigh and part of Knightdale. Rice will replace Tara Waters, who resigned to accept a seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

The board interviewed six applicants on Tuesday. Rice was selected 5-3 over Tammy Martin on the third round of voting.

“She has a proven track record in this district,” said board member Lynn Edmonds. “She’s been a leader in the district.”

Rice is CEO of imWell, which is a wellness consulting firm. She’s also executive director of Track My Steps, a non-profit that says its goal is to work with parents to help close achievement gaps.

Rice’s initiatives are to help high school graduates transition for career readiness, adopt strategies to increase student attendance and enhance benefits to recruit and retain employees.

Rice will be sworn into office next week. She’ll finish out Waters’ term, which expires in November.

Rice has not said yet whether she will run for the seat when it’s on this fall’s ballot.

Multiple ballots to pick winner

On the first round of voting, Martin was the leader with four votes. Rice and Damion Lewis, a former Wake teacher and administrator, each got two votes.

Martin is communications director for the N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. During her interview, she talked about the impact of being the parent of a Wake magnet student who has gone on to become a college professor.

“She understands not only what the families and students need but what we do here at the board and her experience can help add to that,” said board member Cheryl Caulfield.

Martin and Rice tied on the second ballot with three votes. Lewis was dropped from consideration because he only had two votes.

On the final ballot, Edmonds, board chair Chris Heagarty, Sam Hershey, Lindsay Mahaffey and Tyler Swanson voted for Rice. Caulfield, Monika Johnson-Hostler and Wing Ng voted for Martin.

“Ms. Martin, this was an incredibly difficult choice for us and I think everyone here would acknowledge that she’d make a tremendous addition to our Board of Education,” Heagarty said after the vote.

‘Wake does an amazing job’

Applicants were asked to prove their residency, list three initiatives they’d pursue and provide up to three letters of recommendation.

During her interview, Rice cited her work helping families access community and social services and her 20 years of involvement in school and district groups.

“Wake does an amazing job with the resources we already have,” Rice said during her interview. “Let’s enhance those resources and let’s show our community that we are developing some of the brightest, greatest minds that are getting ready to enter into Wake County so they can continue to enjoy retirement, so they can continue to enjoy safe places where they live, learn, work and play.”

One of Rice’s recommendation letters was written by former longtime school board member Christine Kushner.

“I recommend her as a fierce advocate for children and an unblinking supporter of improving public education and public schools for all students,” Kushner wrote.

Moms for Liberty questions vote

Applications were due Feb. 2. But on Feb. 4, Hershey, Johnson-Hostler and Swanson attended a campaign event held by Waters that Rice also attended.

The Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty questioned whether Rice was the “pre-chosen successor.”

“It’s not ethical for #wcpss board members to socialize with 1 applicant of the open D4 seat,” Moms for Liberty posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “What about the other 6? Is today’s interview process actually a fair interview process? OR is it for show?”

Heagarty has said the packets and the names of the applicants weren’t provided to board members until Feb. 6.

Other school board applicants

Originally, seven people applied. But Michael T. Williams withdrew his name from consideration on Tuesday.

Here are the other people who applied for the District 4 seat. Some plan to run for the seat in this year’s election.

Sean Callan

Callan is a research and policy associate in the criminal justice sector for the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. Before then, he was a carpenter and an automotive technician.

Callan also has volunteered with several groups that help children, including being in a leader in the group Bikers Against Child Abuse.

Callan’s initiatives were improving transportation services, surveying teachers on why they’re considering leaving and expanding early childhood education services. If needed, Callan says they may have to raise bus driver pay by shifting money from other parts of the budget.

Damion Lewis

Lewis is a teaching and learning manager at Panorama Education, an education software company. He is a former teacher and administrator in the Wake County school system and the state Department of Public Instruction.

Lewis says he would bring a unique perspective, having been a teacher in District 4 and the parent of two children who will soon enter the school district.

Lewis’ initiatives are to look at the data to improve the performance of schools, improving social emotional learning and behavioral supports for students and improve employee retention by making sure their voices are heard.

Tammy Martin

Martin also is a real estate broker and was campaign manager for former state Rep. Yvonne Holley’s bid for lieutenant governor in 2020.

Martin says she wants to give back to a school system that she credits with giving her daughter the education that enabled her to become a tenure-track professor in England.

Martin wants to provide more support to parents so they know it’s OK to ask for help, consider recruiting college students to serve as school bus drivers and increasing volunteer opportunities in schools.

Martin didn’t submit her entire application before the Feb. 2 deadline but board members agreed to interview her.

Robert Morales

Morales is a program manager for the City of Raleigh’s Human Services Agency. His prior experience includes being an advisor to the Secretary of Education for Puerto Rico and special assistant to the governor of Puerto Rico.

Morales says his public service, particularly his experience with strategic funding projects would serve the board well.

Morales’ initiatives are increasing parental engagement, community engagement and integrating technology into education.

Jayna Victor

Victor is a community relations analyst for the City of Raleigh’s Housing and Neighborhoods Department. She’s also the former treasurer and co-founder of the German International School of the Triangle.

Victor says her nearly 10 years in Raleigh government and her commitment as an active parent can help her build the trust of district families and staff.

Victor’s initiatives are enhancing student transportation, improving staff recruitment and retention and enhancing school safety.