Candidate Profile: Rick Steiner For Cherokee Board Of Education D4

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Two candidates are running for Cherokee Board of Education District 4 in the May 24 General Primary Election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the primary draws near.

Rick Steiner is running for Cherokee Board of Education District 4.

<b>Name</b>

Rick Steiner

<b>Campaign website</b>

http://www.electricksteiner.co...

<b>City or town of residence</b>

Acworth

<b>Office sought</b>

Board of Education, District 4

<b>Party affiliation</b>

Republican

<b>Education</b>

Bachelor's Degree in Education, University of Michigan

<b>Occupation</b>

Realtor, I own and operate Steiner and Associates with Atlanta Communities. I have been in the real estate business for over 20 years. Prior to that, I was a professional wrestler with WWE.

<b>Family</b>

I have three sons who graduated from Etowah High School. Hudson graduated from Shorter University, Maveric graduated with a BS in business from Emmanuel College, and my youngest son Bronson graduated from Kennesaw State with a degree in criminal justice.

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No.

<b>Age</b>

61

<b>Previous public office, appointive or elective</b>

I am running for re-election, I have served district 4 on the school board since 2005.

<b>Why are you seeking this office?</b>

I am running for re-election for the kids. For me, it has always been about the kids and what I can do to help expand and improve the educational experience for every child in the Cherokee County School District (CCSD). My sole purpose as a board member is to do everything that I can to ensure that the 41,873 CCSD students, as well as their parents and teachers, have everything that they need to continue to receive and to provide the very best education possible and be successful in that regard.

<b>Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the deluge of misinformation being spread by a national group based out of New York that is on a mission to take over local school boards here in Georgia and across the country with the candidates they have recruited. We need to stay focused on teaching and learning. Since I have been on the board, we have achieved many great things. Our test scores have led the state and are continuing to exceed the national average. Over the last 10 years we have grown the graduation rate more than 15 points.
Education is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and CCSD continues to broaden educational choices to meet the needs of all our students. My sole purpose as a board member is to do everything I can to ensure that every student receives an excellent education so that they can be successful in their chosen career.

<b>What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

Our goals are drastically different, my opponent has nothing positive to say about our school district. Based on the statements she has made; she does not understand the role of a school board member. Over 20 years ago, the actions of a rogue school board member led to the suspension of our accreditation. Our school district is one of the top performing school districts in the state and in the nation. There is always room to improve and that is what I continue to strive for. Education is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and CCSD continues to broaden educational choices to meet the needs of all our students. Currently, more than 2,100 CCSD students are utilizing a school reassignment choice. This year, we introduced I-Grad Virtual Academy, a hybrid digital and in-person learning program. CCSD currently offers 35 Career Pathway programs that provide our students with the opportunity to earn industry certifications and licenses to graduate workplace ready. Our test scores have not only led the State but are continuing to exceed the national average. Over the last ten years we have increased the graduation rate by more than 15 points.

<b>If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?</b>

<b>What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?</b>

My priorities are to continue to increase our graduation rate and to broaden the education choices to include traditional trade school programs.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

During the time I have served the students, their parents and their teachers as a member of the school board we have accomplished many great things. As a realtor I know the number one reason that people choose to move to Cherokee County, and it is because we have such a great school district. I am proud of our school district and the way we have responded to the needs and wishes of our students and their families especially during the global pandemic. Our district was better prepared than most. More importantly, we gave parents the option of choosing what was best for their children, whether it was digital learning or in-person learning.

<b>What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?</b>

My parents taught me the importance of a good education and I shared those values with my sons.

<b>Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I do not support CRT. CRT is not in our schools, the school board banned CRT in our schools last May. Our governor recently signed a bill that bans CRT from being taught in any school in Georgia. I have had the pleasure of being a member of a school board whose priority is to offer quality education to all students in Cherokee County. I am running again so that we can continue to maintain and improve our award-winning school district.