Deena Hayes needed the School Board almost as much as the School Board needed her. Hayes, a 40 year-old CCE student, was elected to the Guilford County Board of Education in Nov., 2002. She unseated the incumbent board chairman, Calvin Boykin. And with her victory, she became the first black woman to serve on the board.
At one time, Hayes was active within the NAACP and worked in numerous civil rights organizations. Working in those organizations, where policies and ideologies are questioned all the time, has helped her to separate an argument from a person.
“She has the incredible ability to make friends with people who deeply disagree with her,” said assistant professor of justice and policy studies Pat Callair.
That uncanny gift will help her in her role as an Education Board member. Young for an elected official, she feels that her youth will only assist her.
“I feel extremely energetic,” Hayes said. “I think we need to recruit more younger people. I do appreciate the older members, but sometimes it means we are set in our ways.”
Hayes refuses to let her ideas set into cement. She is prepared for any change that could help students learn better.
“She’ll be less inclined to go the usual route of test, test, job,” Callair said.
Hayes looks at those children who test poorly, or at thowe with behavioral problems, and wonders: “How do you help that child to be successful in school?”
Her curiosity will lead to creative new ways of helping students in need. It’s her desire to help those people that got her elected.
“She’s a community person,” Guilford County Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston said. “She’s grass roots; the people like her and she’s accessible.”
One thing that Hayes plans to address is the “huge disparity between black kids and white kids” in the classroom. Also, because of past issues with the Board of Education, Hayes feels that many parents “have checked out of the whole process.”
To those people, she gives this charge:
“To anyone who has thrown in the towel,” Hayes said, “give this board and me a chance to build a good relationship.”