Chris Franklin
first- and second-year teachers. Our retention percentages have
stayed in the 90% range since beginning the program in 2002.
The school system won a national award in 2007 for this pro-
Profession: Senior lecturer and
gram. We have now expanded the program to mentoring new
honors professor in statistics at the
administrators and providing guidance to aspiring administra-
University of Georgia. I have fin-
tors. Serving on the school board also placed me in a position
ished my 28th year as a university
that allowed me to work at the state educational level in Georgia
faculty member. I am also the cur-
with the revision of our state mathematics standards. I was an
rent chief reader of AP Statistics for
advisor to the math committee writing the new standards, and
College Board.
we now have a significant amount of data analysis (based on the
pre-K–12 GAISE framework) at the K–12 level in our Georgia
Area of Science: Statistics
math standards.
Public Office: Chair, Oconee
County Board of Education,
Watkinsville, Georgia
Jerry Moreno
How long have you been on
Franklin
the County Board of Education in
Profession: Professor
Watkinsville? Since 1999. From January 2001 to December
2001, I served as vice chair of the board. Since January 2002, I
Area of Science: Statistics and
have served and continue to serve as chair. So, I’m in my 10th
mathematics
year as a board member.
Public Office: School Board for
Why did you want to be a part of the Oconee County Board
Kenston Local School District,
of Education? I strongly believe in serving my community. I felt
Geauga County, Ohio, since
that my background in education would allow me to contribute
December 1988
to my county school system. I am also the mother of two boys.
My older son (now a third-year student at UGA) went through
Why did you want to be a
Moreno
my school system from K–12. My youngest son will begin 8th
member of the School Board for
grade this fall.
Kenston Local School District? My life is in education, so it
was natural to want to serve on a school board. I think the com-
How did you campaign? I have been blessed to be unopposed
position of a school board should be balanced across professions,
each time I ran. However, I still attended political forums so the
including at least one educator in the five positions. Ours were all
voters could hear my views.
business people, so when the opportunity arose to fill a vacancy, I
applied and, surprisingly, was chosen.
What is the hardest part of your political life? The time it
takes away from my family! Also, juggling the time commitment
How did you campaign? My appointment was for 13 months
of the school board with my professional responsibilities.
to fill the vacancy. I have run five successful four-year terms
thereafter.
How does your statistical training affect your political
decisions? Whenever possible, my decisions are data based. I
What is the hardest part of your political life? As you might
feel this is a major contribution I have brought to the school
imagine, seldom is a school issue clear cut. On issues from the
board—helping my colleagues and school administrators under-
public, both sides invariably remind you that they are taxpayers,
stand the importance of making decisions based on data, not
etc. Whatever my position on an issue turns out to be, it is always
what feels good.
on the side of what is best for our children.
Do you believe you get more or less respect because of your
How does your statistical training affect your political
science background? I feel my math and statistical background
decisions? Statistics and mathematics teach you how to make
has brought me much respect.
logical decisions. The statistical process of asking a question, col-
lecting appropriate data, analyzing the data, and arriving at a con-
What advice would you offer a fellow statistician who is
clusion is applicable and invaluable to solving problems, whether
considering running for office? This experience of serving on
in one’s profession, school issues, or in everyday life. The data are
the school board has been one of my most rewarding. It’s chal-
seldom numerical, but the process works, nonetheless.
lenging and hard work; however, I believe I have been able to
make a positive difference and impact. One of the initiatives I’m
Do you believe you get more or less respect because of
most proud of is supporting a teacher induction program with all
your science background? I’m not sure how much respect
local funds. This program provides system support to all our new
school board members get, period. I would like to think that
JULY 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 5
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