Ann Crow, chairwoman of the Forsyth County Board of Education, appeared to be running unopposed for re-election until Friday, the last day of qualifying, when Brian Sorrell entered the July 20 Republican primary.
“I’m glad that someone is interested in running for public office,” Crow said. “It’s always good when we have people participating in the process.
"I’m looking forward to meeting him and competing for this very important position.”
Crow has held the District 1 seat since 2003. The lifelong county resident and husband Roger have three grown daughters, who went through the local school system.
Sorrell could not be reached for comment Friday. But his wife, Jennifer, said the couple has two children in the school system.
Her husband is a regional controller for Asbury Automotive Group, she said, and the couple has lived in Forsyth for about 15 years.
Unlike previous elections, which were countywide, this year's school board and county commission races are limited to voters living in the particular district.
The change is a result of state legislation approved last year.
District 1 includes some of Cumming and much of western Forsyth.
Three candidates qualified for the other school board post on the ballot, District 2, which covers much of south Forsyth.
Republicans Lawrence Duckworth and Kristin Morrissey and Democrat Camille Fareri will vie to fill the post being vacated by Mike Dudgeon, who's running for state legislature.
All three of the school board candidates have a background in education.
Fareri, who has two grown children and one grandchild, has served in various aspects of education for more than four decades.
With a doctorate in education, she has served as an adjunct professor at various colleges and currently teaches at Brenau University in Gainesville.
“My priorities are going to be really improving instruction from the standpoint that we need to be looking at students’ critical thinking skills to match assessments to what we’re teaching, and to recognize the limitations of the CRCTs and standardized tests,” she said.
“I have a real strong grasp of education, where it has been, where it is now and where it’s going and I’m passionate about good education.”
Duckworth and Morrissey both announced their candidacy last month.
Duckworth, chief executive officer for Learn.net, has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration.
He and his wife, Sharon, moved to Forsyth about five years ago. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Duckworth has previously said he wants to help take the school district from “great to greater."
“Giving our kids the competitive edge for the future is what our job has to be,” he said in announcing his campaign.
Morrissey and her husband, Joe, moved to Forsyth in 2004. The couple has two daughters in county schools.
A member of the Forsyth County Library Board, Morrissey spent 16 years with the library system in Rochester, N.Y.
With a child in kindergarten, Morrissey said she has a long way to go with the school district, which is why she moved to Forsyth.
She has said she does not want to “see the schools go downhill” as the result of the state budget crisis.
“I’d like to get involved and make sure the schools stay as good as they are, if not better,” she said.
“I’m glad that someone is interested in running for public office,” Crow said. “It’s always good when we have people participating in the process.
"I’m looking forward to meeting him and competing for this very important position.”
Crow has held the District 1 seat since 2003. The lifelong county resident and husband Roger have three grown daughters, who went through the local school system.
Sorrell could not be reached for comment Friday. But his wife, Jennifer, said the couple has two children in the school system.
Her husband is a regional controller for Asbury Automotive Group, she said, and the couple has lived in Forsyth for about 15 years.
Unlike previous elections, which were countywide, this year's school board and county commission races are limited to voters living in the particular district.
The change is a result of state legislation approved last year.
District 1 includes some of Cumming and much of western Forsyth.
Three candidates qualified for the other school board post on the ballot, District 2, which covers much of south Forsyth.
Republicans Lawrence Duckworth and Kristin Morrissey and Democrat Camille Fareri will vie to fill the post being vacated by Mike Dudgeon, who's running for state legislature.
All three of the school board candidates have a background in education.
Fareri, who has two grown children and one grandchild, has served in various aspects of education for more than four decades.
With a doctorate in education, she has served as an adjunct professor at various colleges and currently teaches at Brenau University in Gainesville.
“My priorities are going to be really improving instruction from the standpoint that we need to be looking at students’ critical thinking skills to match assessments to what we’re teaching, and to recognize the limitations of the CRCTs and standardized tests,” she said.
“I have a real strong grasp of education, where it has been, where it is now and where it’s going and I’m passionate about good education.”
Duckworth and Morrissey both announced their candidacy last month.
Duckworth, chief executive officer for Learn.net, has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration.
He and his wife, Sharon, moved to Forsyth about five years ago. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Duckworth has previously said he wants to help take the school district from “great to greater."
“Giving our kids the competitive edge for the future is what our job has to be,” he said in announcing his campaign.
Morrissey and her husband, Joe, moved to Forsyth in 2004. The couple has two daughters in county schools.
A member of the Forsyth County Library Board, Morrissey spent 16 years with the library system in Rochester, N.Y.
With a child in kindergarten, Morrissey said she has a long way to go with the school district, which is why she moved to Forsyth.
She has said she does not want to “see the schools go downhill” as the result of the state budget crisis.
“I’d like to get involved and make sure the schools stay as good as they are, if not better,” she said.