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In November, Phenix/Aspen voters will have the option of voting for two school board members.

Elise Green and incumbent Robert “Bobby” Johnson are both vying for the seat.

Green will be seeking elected office for the first time. The former Charlotte County Public School (CCPS) educator said she decided to run for the school board because she sees herself as blessed to have a wide range of experience and credentials in education.

“I want to use my skills and knowledge for the betterment of our schools, the children who attend them and the people who work in them,” Green said. “My oldest child will begin school next fall, and I hope to do all I can to ensure a safe, high-quality learning environment for her and her peers for years to come.”

Likewise, as an educator, Green said, she hopes to be an advocate and voice for all CCPS teachers.

“I am well-positioned to participate in the challenging conversations our public schools are currently facing, as I have been negotiating the same —  at times, controversial — issues at the university level for years,” Green said.

Since 2014, Green has worked at Longwood University where she is currently a senior lecturer of English as well as the university writing coordinator.

In addition, she is a first-year coach who helps incoming students navigate the challenges of their freshman year.

While working full-time at Longwood, Green also attended school fulltime and recently earned a Ph.D. in English from Old Dominion University.

While studying elementary education, Green said she spent 200 hours in CCPS classes learning about its curriculum, student needs and teacher needs.

“I know how to listen, I know how to learn, and I know how to get things done,” Green said.

With COVID-19 facing many school districts, Green said she was both a teacher and a student during the height of the pandemic and had a unique perspective on the pros and cons of online education.

“Online education is not an adequate substitute for in-person learning,” Green said. “We know this based on the last year’s stories we’ve heard from parents, students and teachers as well as formal research studies which have validated these shared experiences. I do believe that under normal circumstances, online learning can be a useful resource to advance a more mature student’s education when both the teacher and the student have the right support, access and training needed to be successful.”