Age: 41
Family (spouse and children): I have been married to Steven Decker for 15 years. We have four amazing children — Steven Decker, 2013 graduate of Effingham County High School, currently enrolled at Middle Georgia College; Kaelyn Decker, 2015 graduate of Effingham County High School, currently enrolled at Georgia Southern University; Jacob Decker, fifth grade student at Rincon Elementary School; Addison Decker, second grade student at Rincon Elementary School
Occupation: I am a National Sales Executive with Merchants Credit Bureau and have worked for them for 20 years.
Place of birth/how long you have lived in Effingham:
I was born in Jacksonville, Fla. I have been a resident of Effingham County for 17 years.
Previous political experience and other elective offices you may have sought: I currently serve the citizens of Effingham County as the 5th District representative on the Board of Education and have done so for eight years.
Why I’m running:
The school system is the reason my husband and I chose to move to Effingham County. I love this community and our school system. Having children in the schools gives me a perspective and first-hand knowledge of what is happening in the schools. I volunteer with the PTO at Rincon Elementary and serve on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the Effingham County High School. This has allowed me to develop relationships with students, parents, community members and staff that are unique. I am committed to our children and the excellent educational system we have here in Effingham. I feel I have a proven track record and want to continue to keep the Effingham County School System on the road to success.
Top three objectives:
I would like to focus on a common sense approach to testing that will be beneficial to both the students and the staff.
I want to look for innovative programs and strategies to help all students achieve at every level. We already have programs such as Reading Recovery, the STEM Academy, and the College and Career Academy just to name a few. I want to continue to improve these programs by adding additional career paths at the Career Academy and Content Specialists to help improve instruction.
As our county continues to grow, I want to be prepared with maintaining our facilities and employing the best and most caring teachers we can to serve our children’s needs. Effingham County continues to grow because of the excellent reputation of our school system and we need to be able to meet these expectations. Providing competitive employment packages, as well as, support programs and staff will help us maintain the quality teachers and programs Effingham County is known for.
