Burlington resident Avery Wagoner is making his first run for public office, campaigning for a seat on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education.
Wagoner serves as vice president of wholesale marketing with Cary Oil company and has two children, both of whom attended and graduated from Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, according to past Elon News Network coverage.
An active member of his local church, First Presbyterian in Burlington and board member for Positive Attitude Youth Center, Wagoner also has volunteer experience as a youth sports coach and with the Special Olympics of Alamance County.
At an Oct. 11 candidate forum, Wagoner said the Alamance-Burlington School System is in need of creative solutions to maximize its budget, which is lower than neighboring school districts.
“We're the 16th largest school system in the state right now,” Wagoner said. “But if you compare ourselves to the counties that touch us and our competition around us rather, we’re underperforming in that part. We can step up the plate a little bit because the teacher attrition rate and the competition for teachers is paramount to our future success.”
Wagoner was unable to provide comment before publication.