Taylor Tally, candidate for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education
Voters who live in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district will fill four open seats on the Board of Education in November.
Incumbent board members Rani Dasi, Deon Temne and Ashton Powell are running against 11 challengers in the Nov. 7 general election.
The challengers are Meredith Ballew, Vickie Feaster Fornville, Barbara Fedders, Jane Gabin, Solomon Gibson III, Mariela Hernandez, Honoria Middough, Renee Peet, Michelle Rissling, Taylor Tally and Allison Willis.
It may be one of the largest group of candidates to ever run in a Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board election. Five other candidates who filed in July, when the conservative Moms for Liberty group was said to be fielding potential candidates, withdrew before the November ballots were printed.
Board member Jillian La Serna is not running for re-election.
Early voting in the nonpartisan Nov. 7 election starts Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 4..
To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit co.orange.nc.us/1720/Elections or contact the Board of Elections at 919-245-2350 or vote@orangecountync.gov.
Name: Taylor Tally
Age: 36
Occupation: Consultant at climate tech startup
Education: Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Science, US Air Force Academy (Distinguished Graduate, 2009); Master’s of Business Administration in Corporate Finance, Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC-Chapel Hill (Magna Cum Laude, 2023)
Political or civic experience: None
Campaign website: tally4chccs.org
Why are you running for school board and what makes you the right candidate? Current board members: Please also explain the delay in announcing your re-election campaign this year.
I’m running to ensure our district continues to produce outstanding outcomes, while closing the achievement gap. As a fighter pilot, I learned to operate effectively and efficiently — often with incomplete or unknowable information — with a diverse set of team members and stakeholders. I enjoy problem solving, learning from others, and doing my part for mission success. I believe I can bring a unique perspective to the board, help separate emotion from critical thinking, and I’m willing to admit when I don’t know the answer.
What are the three top challenges facing the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools? Choose one and explain how you would address it.
▪ Achievement gap
▪ Teacher shortages
▪ Transportation
We must make better strides when it comes to recruiting and retaining diverse teachers. Representation matters, and one of the most productive ways to close the achievement gap is providing students with diverse teachers of different backgrounds who may be able to inspire where others cannot.
What do you think about the state’s 2021 Science of Reading law and Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training, and how both initiatives are being implemented in the district? What would you do to improve student reading and literacy outcomes?
While LETRS is not a silver bullet to end reading deficiencies, it is based on research and with the right training (and coaching!), it is a helpful tool that our elementary teachers should use. The training program instructs our teachers about the science of reading so they better understand why students may be struggling and gives teachers a framework on how to make progress. Children must learn to read so that they can later read to learn. Focusing resources on the former is a good investment, and I would work to ensure teachers have the right support to fully implement. I look forward to seeing the results.
What do you think about the district’s work to close the achievement gap? What would you do if elected?
The board has taken many steps in the right direction and has laid out a strong strategic plan to help close the gap. I would continue to focus on hiring teachers who are more representative of the student populations. The HR department is diligently working this problem, and I would fuel that effort. I would also address disparities in school discipline policies, which disproportionately affect Black/brown students. When able, we should implement restorative justice and other alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
How can the school district bring people with different viewpoints together to find common ground and workable solutions?
To foster unity in our district, we’ll implement a multifaceted approach. First, we’ll host open forums using structured dialogue methods to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Additionally, we’ll organize workshops to promote understanding of diverse perspectives, building empathy among stakeholders. Through regular updates, we’ll keep everyone informed on the progress, maintaining transparency and trust in our efforts. Lastly, we’ll celebrate our successes in finding common ground, reinforcing our commitment to unity and collaboration. Together, we’ll make our district stronger and more inclusive.
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