Phil Hardin has filed for seat one on the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education.
“Educating students, supporting teachers, and making sure that students have classroom environments that are safe, well maintained, and well-equipped has be the focus of the board of education, and I want to help reestablish this focus on the board,” Hardin said.
Hardin, 53, is a retired educator with 30 years of experience.
He spent 10 of those years as a classroom teacher in the Rowan-Salisbury School System and 15 of them as the district’s technology director.
He has also served as an adjunct physics instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and several more years as a classroom outside of Rowan County.
Hardin is a graduate of West Rowan High School, and has his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Catawba College and a master’s degree in physics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
He is a member of the advisory board for T.H.E. Journal, a magazine on transforming education through technology and served as the president and a school representative for the Rowan-Salisbury Association of Educators.
Hardin is unmarried. His mother is employed by the Rowan-Salisbury School System, as is his niece.
Hardin said he feels his experience and knowledge of educational budget management set him apart from the other candidates.
“I have a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to decoding, analyzing, and managing complex educational budgets – more than any of the current board members,” he said, adding that he would like to use that knowledge to retain teacher assistant positions and recruit quality teachers to the county.
“Open, ongoing, and meaningful communication with the general public is essential for the board of education,” he added.
Hardin wants to see the board make school board meetings more accessible by posting videos online and making them at more convenient times for citizens to attend.
Hardin is running for the seat now held by board Chairman Richard Miller, who is seeking re-election. W. F. Owens is also in the race. The election is Nov. 4.