Toni Emehel

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I retired from corporate America at the age of 37, which allowed me to dedicate myself fully to the needs of my family and community. This period has been incredibly rewarding, as I've been able to contribute my time and energy to causes that are important to me. Especially my service to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where I have had the joy of serving as an active parent member of School Improvement Teams at Park Road Montessori, Randolph Middle School and Northwest School of the Arts. Being a part of these School Improvement Teams allowed me the opportunity to work directly with school administrators to assess student performance, establish priorities, and develop appropriate School Improvement Plans with sound monitoring systems to ensure proper alignment of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

I frequently serve as a test proctor at local high schools and have sat on Senior Exit Review panels. As an actively engaged parent, I have also had the pleasure of serving on various Parent-Teacher-Organization boards, including filling the role of PTO President at Park Road Montessori, PTO Vice President at Randolph Middle School, Booster Club President at Northwest School of the Arts and Organizer of Northwest School of the Arts very first Inter-Club Council.

I've also had the joy of serving as an American Red Cross CPR Instructor, where I've trained and certified many individuals in critical lifesaving skills, empowering them to protect their families and the public in their respective professions. I've also been a Bible Teacher within my faith community and taken on leadership roles, including serving as President of my community HOA and volunteering with the Keep Charlotte Beautiful Adopt a Street program.

While I've been focused on family and community since 2006, I've also made sure to keep my professional skills sharp by providing consultative services to influential clients, locally and nationally, over the years. This has given me valuable experience in different areas and kept me connected to the professional world. Now, I'm genuinely looking forward to serving full-time as a member of the School Board, representing the concerns and needs of District 6. I believe my background and commitment to the community will be a great asset to the school board and our school district.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you?  Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.

My decision to run for a seat on the school board is a continuation of my lifelong work and commitment to our community. The schools in District 6 hold a very special place for me, as they have been entrusted with educating three generations of my family. I received my own education within District 6, my children were educated here, and now my grandchildren are currently attending schools in the district. This deep personal connection gives me a unique perspective on the district's strengths and areas needing improvement.

While I have always been a consistent supporter of the CMS school district, I am now stepping forward in this capacity because I believe District 6 is in great need of effective representation that genuinely reflects the diverse needs and concerns of its residents. I am committed to bringing a strong voice and dedicated action that our students, families, and educators truly deserve.

In terms of experience in an elected role, at Park Road Montessori, I was elected to serve as PTO President and as a member of the School Improvement Team for a three-year term. At Randolph Middle School, I was elected PTO Vice President and also served on its School Improvement Team for a two-year term. Additionally, I was elected President of the Northwest School of the Arts Booster Club and served on the Northwest School of the Arts School Improvement Team for a three-year term. In these positions, I focused on promoting higher learning for all students, ensuring proper support for low-performing students, and advocating for every student.

Outside of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, I was also elected to various roles on my community's HOA, including President, Vice President, and Secretary. These experiences allowed me to demonstrate executive leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to community-centric representation.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?

I would focus on two key areas to enhance our educational system.

Firstly, my immediate goal would be to strengthen existing policies to ensure that our primary focus remains on achieving the highest educational standards for all students. This involves a comprehensive review to identify areas where we can refine and improve our approach to student learning and development.

Secondly, I would prioritize a thorough review of the budget to ensure that we are adequately recognizing and rewarding our teachers for their invaluable contributions. This review would also extend to our teacher retention policies, with the aim of making sure that retaining quality educators is a top priority. My goal is to create an environment where teachers feel valued and supported, which in turn benefits our students.

I believe these actions would lay a strong foundation for significant positive change within our system.

Tell us about 2-3 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

I'm delighted to share a few examples from my career, which I believe demonstrate my commitment to advocacy, effective communication, and a focus on long-term impact.

Unfortunately, for many of our students their parents are missing in action when it comes to being actively involved in their child’s education and school. Early in my career, I had the privilege of advocating for children through my service with Custody Mediation and later with the Child Support Enforcement office where I encountered similar disengagements between parents and their children well-being (sic). These roles allowed me to not only facilitate, but engage in difficult conversations with parents and to assist them in gaining a deeper understanding of the unique role they each (sic) in their children’s lives. I honed my communication skills by assisting parents in developing healthier communication patterns to advance their children's well-being. In both positions, I engaged and guided parents toward prioritizing their children's needs, aligning with their responsibilities as parents. It is within this framework that I believe policies can be put in place that will encourage parents to truly understand the importance of their presence in their children’s lives, while also allowing parents to see the dangers of their absence.

Another fulfilling aspect of my career involved managing commercial litigation for children affected by lead-based paint exposure. This work encompassed evaluating insurance policy coverages and managing multi-million dollar litigation to ensure claimants received proper compensation for their losses. My responsibilities included assessing children's cognitive abilities and reviewing academic performance over time to pinpoint the onset of lead-induced deficiencies and identify points of progress. Recognizing that a child's mind, once neglected or damaged during formative years, can never be fully restored, I became a staunch advocate for protecting children's cognitive development while they are young. In the context of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, this commitment translates into seeking a position on the school board to ensure we set high standards for our students in reading, reading comprehension, math, science, economics, history, and all core subjects. We don’t give up and continue to aim high for every student. My goal is to foster wholly proficient children who have a fair chance at living the lives they and their parents envision.

Finally, I recently collaborated with Legal Aid North Carolina and the City of Charlotte Community Relations to combat discrimination against families with children in community swimming pools. This work involved securing non-discrimination agreements, developing non-discrimination policies, and implementing mandatory Fair Housing Training specifically addressing discrimination against families with children. These initiatives were conducted with one of the largest pool management companies and one of the largest community association managers in North and South Carolina. Children represent one of the most vulnerable populations in our society; they have inherent rights that we must respect, including the right to a strong educational foundation that fosters independence and enables them to become contributing citizens.

What endorsements from any notable NC organizations or individuals have you received?

• The Honorable Vilma D. Leake, Mecklenburg County Commissioner, Co-Founder of The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte Mecklenburg, former Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board Chair and former President of Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators

• The Honorable Joyce Waddell, NC Senate 40th District

• The Honorable W. Terry Sherrill, Esq., Litigation Attorney and Former Superior Court Judge

• Stacy Sorrell-Moore, Founder/Editor-in-Chief of MB Magazine

• Kendall Phills, Philanthropist and Founder of The Phills Foundation, honoring the legacy of Charlotte Hornets NBA player Bobby Phills II

• Q. Nicole McNair-Vanderhorst, Founder/CEO of WH Farms Co

• April Daniels, Founder of The Girlfriends Corner

• Michele Allgood, Founder and Executive Director of Gracious Living Adult Health and Day Care Center

• Gun Sense Candidate

Tell us something unexpected about you that voters may be interested to know.

This question has caused me to think deeply about the values and beliefs that truly fuel me. Thus, I'd like to share a few aspects of my long-standing commitment to education and community development.

One significant experience was serving as a faculty member for Davidson College’s Love of Learning program. During my time there, I developed curriculum and delivered instruction for a mock trial program specifically designed for high school students. Additionally, I created and taught a course titled "Values for Success," which I later expanded to reach students across the county through regional public libraries.

My dedication to children's education is not a recent development; it has been a core focus since the 1990s. For example, I launched a youth leadership program through Toastmasters. This initiative brought middle schoolers together weekly to develop crucial skills such as organizing their thoughts, practicing active listening, speaking confidently, and learning social etiquette for constructive peer critique.

Finally, as an author, writer, and lover of the English language, I host a podcast called "Children’s Story Time" during the holidays. My goal is to spread cheer and create special moments for families by reading children’s stories. These podcasts have attracted listeners from around the world, expanding their literacy development to include listening literacy.

I believe these experiences highlight my deep-rooted passion for nurturing young minds and contributing to community enrichment, which I hope resonates with voters.