I am running for school board
because I want to bring a fresh perspective to district leadership. Orange County Schools is positioned to make great strides with recent progress that’s been made around equity. I want to support our new Superintendent, Dr. Monique Felder, and other district leaders, as we set a vision, shape the culture and increase the success of all students here. Nurturing children to reach their potential is my life’s work. As a foster parent to many children, the founder of the Hate-Free Schools Coalition, the Program Director for summer camps at Efland Cheeks Community Center, and as the director of Children’s Ministry at my church for seven years, I have developed a real sense for how to help kids shine. I will bring a unique understanding of inequities and extensive experience with coalition building to the boardroom. I’m prepared to work hard and passionately to serve the community I love in a new capacity, and I’m eager to engage with a diverse group of board members to collaboratively seek the best solutions for every student in Orange County Schools.

About LaTarndra

As a resident of northern Orange County and a parent of children in Orange County Schools for over two decades, LaTarndra Strong has laid deep roots in our community. As the founder of the Hate-Free Schools Coalition and a member of the Orange County Schools Equity Task Force, LaTarndra has attended nearly every school board meeting for the last several years. She spearheaded the Mayor's Leadership Club to mentor Orange County middle- and high-school students alongside former Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens. This program will continue under the leadership of Hillsborough’s new mayor, Jennifer Weaver.

LaTarndra is a former member of the Cole Mill Road Church of Christ and is actively looking for a new spiritual community to call home. Additionally, she is the current Vice President of the Northern Orange NAACP and has previously served as the director of Efland Cheeks Community Center's summer programs. She has been a foster parent for over 15 years, nurturing children of many different ethnicities with a variety of lived experiences in our district. In addition to her work as a parent and community member, she has a professional background in accounting and is currently an employee of the University of North Carolina.

LaTarndra's Platform

Student Achievement

Academic achievement for all students should be the primary focus point of every school

Focus on preparing students for further education or careers after high school

Promote innovation and recognize teachers who reach different types of learners

Address literacy shortfalls early and improve interventions for students who struggle

Confront uncomfortable issues, like low performing kindergarten students, quickly and directly.

Focus on expanding Pre-K

School Safety

Ensure that we are constantly reviewing safety plans to meet current best practices so that families feel comfortable sending their children to school

Educate parents and students on drug use and preventative measures, including vaping

Support and advocate for LGBTQIA students

Take measures to reduce bullying

Student Reassignment

Assess the urgent need for school reassignment comprehensively and carefully with family participation, district goals and transparency.

Study population forecast in Northern Orange County to responsibly prepare for district growth.

Community Engagement

Create school environments that serve as engagement hubs in our community

Strengthen district partnerships with various stakeholders, businesses, volunteers, and civic organizations

Think about needs of families as well as students and create plans for matching resources to needs

In The News

9/5/19

Hillsborough says no to hate

Hundreds showed up for “A March Against White Supremacy” in Hillsborough over the weekend in response to a klan rally held in the town the week before.

1/28/19

Orange County Schools admits to 'racial intolerance,' passes equity policy

In a surprising, last-minute turn, Orange County school members voted unanimously Monday night in favor of the school system's first-ever racial equity policy, which in its first line acknowledges "persistent racial intolerance, inequities and academic disparities in Orange County schools.

1/3/18

Parent who prompted Confederate flag ban in Orange County Schools honored

The Triangle Tribune has named an Orange County parent its 2017 “Newsmaker of the Year.” Latarndra Strong founded the Hate-Free Schools Coalition.

8/15/17

A day after Charlottesville, Orange County Schools bans the Confederate flag

Facing local criticism and moved by the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Orange County school board unanimously adopted a new student dress code Monday night that bans the Confederate flag, Ku Klux Klan symbols and clothing and swastikas from all district schools.