.JPG "Board of Education")
Sue Fox
Tawny McCoy, Chair
Cindy Petit, Vice Chair
Ron Kiviniemi
Mike Rogers
Sue Fox has lived in Transylvania County for sixteen years. A native of Candler, NC, Sue graduated from Enka High School. She received her BS in Education and MAEd in School Counseling from Western Carolina University. Sue worked as a teacher and counselor in Haywood County Schools, Director of Financial Aid at Haywood Community College, and served from 1997 to 2007 as Counselor at Rosman Elementary, Rosman Middle, T. C. Henderson Elementary, and Rosman High School. Sue is currently retired and involved in many community and church activities.
Sue and former Rosman High School head football coach, Jim Fox, long envisioned working together in the Transylvania County school system to help kids develop and grow in all areas of academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Their focus, as a team, was to support and encourage all students in all areas and help them grow and mature into productive and successful citizens of Transylvania County.
Reflecting on her goals and objectives for TCS, Sue states that Transylvania County has historically been an excellent school system, focusing on meeting the needs of all children. In support of this tradition of excellence, Sue believes in:
- Retaining highly qualified teachers;
- Promoting community and parental involvement;
- Fostering better communication among students, parents, teachers and administrators;
- Continuing character education and drug prevention programs;
- Decreasing the dropout rate;
- Addressing important budget and financial issues and ensuring wise use of school funds; and
- Stressing the importance of academics, athletics and extracurricular activities to help each student develop to his/her highest potential.
Sue and Coach Fox have two children. Their son, Eddie, a 1984 graduate of Rosman High School, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Eddie recently completed the second of two tours of duty in Iraq among other overseas deployments. Daughter Kelly is the Director of Marketing at Mall of Georgia in Buford, GA. Sue and Jim have two granddaughters, Phebe and DeAnna.
To contact Sue Fox:
828-877-5709 (H)
sfox@tcsnc.org
3124 Island Ford Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Top...
.JPG "Ron Kiviniemi 2013")
Ron Kiviniemi is a retired Transylvania County educator and administrator. He worked in education for forty one years, thirty-six of which were as a teacher and administrator in public schools. Known as “Mr. K,” he has taught second through seventh grades in his public school career, served as an assistant principal at Brevard Elementary School, and as principal at T.C. Henderson and Brevard Elementary. Ron completed his career with the Transylvania County Schools in 2005 after serving four years as principal of Pisgah Forest Elementary. Under his leadership, Pisgah Forest was a “North Carolina School of Excellence” for four consecutive years, and in 2004 Pisgah Forest was chosen as a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education.
Following his Transylvania County Schools retirement, he was appointed as an Associate Professor of Elementary Education at Brevard College. During his five years there, Brevard College began its elementary education program and earned both state and national certification for all of its education programs. Ron taught elementary education curriculum classes and supervised elementary student teachers.
Ron and his wife, “Mrs. Ann,” have lived in Transylvania County since 1974. Ann is a retired educator as well, having taught kindergarten and first grade for thirty-three years. They have one son, Marc, an assistant professor of Social Psychology at the University of Buffalo.
Ron believes that, “An excellent school system is one of three recognized strengths that enhance Transylvania County’s attempts for further economic development. Companies looking to relocate are drawn by the quality of life, available workforce, and an excellent public education system for their employee’s children. Thus, we must do all we can locally to maintain and improve the excellent system we have in spite of several years of significant budget cuts at the state level to local schools. Our future economic development and the future of our children are too important to risk.”
To contact Ron Kiviniemi:
828-884-4489 (H)
rkiviniemi@tcsnc.org
28 Big Rock Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Top...
Mike attended both Brevard High School and Rosman High School and graduated in 1985. Due to financial constraints, he was unable to attend college after graduation and worked in the construction industry where he learned a trade. In 1993, he founded Michael J. Rogers Masonry, Inc. At its peak, Rogers Masonry employed as many as 75 employees. Mike thoroughly enjoys accounting and business practices. He has coached youth football, baseball and soccer, and has served as Transylvania County Little League Treasurer, SAFE Vice Chair, Economic Development Advisory Board member, and school board member.
In 2007, Mike had a serious ATV accident that changed his life forever. After staring death in the face, he was by God’s grace allowed to fully recover, and in January 2008, answered His call to preach. Mike currently pastors Dunn’s Creek Baptist Church.
Mike was elected twice by the citizens of Transylvania County to the Board of Education and was a very active member serving from 2002-2009. He has served as both Vice Chair and Chair. In January 2013, Mike was appointed to serve on the Board of Education once again.
Mike’s goal as a school board member is to continue to develop and create pathways for success for all students. He believes the Board can achieve this goal through three main objectives:
1. Employ the very best Superintendent possible to lead the school system. To that end, the Board must:
- Trust this individual to make decisions based upon Board of Education policies, vision and goals set forth for the direction of the schools; and
- Allow this person to surround himself with the very best personnel possible to oversee and lead the many facets of operating the system within governmental requirements and legal guidelines in order to support high student achievement.
2. Be proactive in working with elected officials to maintain and support funding that will:
- Meet the needs of and create opportunities for every student in every classroom through supplies, teachers and teacher assistants;
- Support School Resource Officers for the safety and well-being of students, staff, volunteers and parents;
- Maintain the Board’s investment in real property and meet the demands for future capital needs; and
- Provide the safest and most secure environments possible in which students and staff may learn and work.
3. Be approachable to the community and listen to their concerns in order to build and grow the strongest school system possible.
If we meet these goals, our students will receive unsurpassed educational opportunities, and we will build a stronger community in which to live, raise our families and work.
To contact Mike Rogers:
828-966-3999 (H)
828-553-0863 (C)
mrogers@tcsnc.org or mcrogers@comporium.net
172 Double Ridge Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Top...
Cindy Petit is a life-long resident of Transylvania County and a graduate of Transylvania County Schools. She earned as business degree through Brevard College and also attended UNC-Asheville and Blue Ridge Community College.
It is her goal as a member of the Board to "see our school system grow and meet the needs of all children. " She wants to assure every child an equal chance to become what they desire to become. She is particularly eager that Transylvania County Schools be able to retain qualified teachers, provide services to all children, and utilize funds in the ways that will most effectively benefit students.
Mrs. Petit operates Quebec Flowers. She and her husband Eric have two children enrolled in Transylvania County Schools.
To contact Cindy Petit:
828-862-4171 (H)
cpetit@tcsnc.org or quebecflowers@yahoo.com
125 Duncan Knob Road
Rosman, NC 28772
Top...
Tawny McCoy has lived in Transylvania County all her life and graduated from Rosman High School. She holds a college associates degree. She has volunteered in schools throughout her son's school years and decided she wanted to become more involved by "being a part of making the future bright for our students." Her vision is "to insure that each student receives a quality education in a safe environment and that they are prepared to meet the challenges facing them as tomorrow's leaders."
Among Mrs. McCoy's goals is to identify students who need academic coaching as early in the school year as possible and provide coaching throughout the year. She also wants to see the Board continue its age-appropriate drug awareness and violence prevention curriculum as well as character development at all grade levels. She is a strong believer in the value of communication among all stakeholders in the education of Transylvania County students.
Mrs. McCoy and her husband Keith have one son who is in high school.
To contact Tawny McCoy:
828-884-5015 (H)
tmccoy@tcsnc.org or tbmccoy@citcom.net
1564 Cashiers Valley Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Top...