Takesha Pollock joined the race Friday for the Fort Mill School Board, handing voters another choice for three open seats.
Pollock, a Vice President and Compliance Manager at a major financial services firm, has two girls in the district. She is running to serve as an advocate for parents.
“Studies show that children’s academic success is exceptionally enhanced when parents are engaged in their children’s education,” she told the Fort Mill Sun. “Every parent’s voice is powerful and should be considered when district leaders make decisions. I want to be that advocate for the parents of Fort Mill. I firmly believe that together we can build a community coalition of parents that is representative of all backgrounds and points of view to ensure that the parents’ voices are heard.”
Pollock is among six candidates and one of four newcomers running for the school board. The other newcomers are Desareta Jones, Hazel Frick and Dr. Nichelle Newton. Trustees Kristy Spears and Dr. Scott Frattaroli have also filed for re-election.
School Trustee Tom Audette is stepping down as he runs for York County Council. Filing ends at noon Monday (Aug. 17), and the nonpartisan race goes to voters on Nov. 3.
Pollock, a native of Union, S.C., received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University and Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Houston-Downtown. She and her husband moved to Fort Mill in 2013 and they have two girls in the district, a seventh-grader at Springfield Middle School and fourth-grader at Sugar Creek Elementary School.
Over the last six years, she has served in several parent engagement roles, most recently at the state level as an Advisory Board Member for the Carolina Family Engagement Center (CEFC) and the S.C. Education Oversight Committee on Accountability.
Pollock said she is a problem solver in her professional career. She takes complex ideas, gathers feedback from all stakeholders and works with those stakeholders to implement solutions for everyone.
“As a parent, I am continually building relationships with teachers, school administration, and other parents to support each other in ensuring students achieve success,” Pollock said. “As a member of the Fort Mill School Board, I will use these skills, coupled with my passion for education, to be an advocate for parents.”