Construction corporation liaison and parent Theresa Schroeder-Langley announced she is throwing her hat into the ring for the Post 1 seat on the Board of Education.

Schroeder-Langley is the Community Affairs Director for the Turner Corporation construction company and a parent with four children in the Rockdale County Public School system - one in third grade, one rising sixth grader, one rising junior and one rising senior.

Schroeder-Langley said she felt moved to run for the seat because of what was at stake this year and because of her broad involvement with the school system through her kids and through her work.

"With four kids in school, it's a concern of mine, especially with all the changes going on," she said. "With budget cuts and furlough days, the new math and new curriculum, and all the changes going on, I want to be more hands-on and involved in the school system, as far as decisions in how we're educating our kids and giving theme the best opportunities available to them."

"Education with my children is very important and I want to make sure we continue to focus on children and their educational needs, despite the budget slashes."

She pointed out that she would be able to bring a business perspective as well as the perspective of a parent to the board.

She also recently launched a mentorship program, the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor program, at all three high schools and the Rockdale Career Academy that will begin in the coming school year.

She said she had been thinking of running for the board and when she heard board member Jeff Dugan, who currently holds the Post 1 seat, was retiring from the board, she felt this was a good opportunity to run.

School board seats Post 1 and 2, both at large seats, are up for election this fall. Katrina Young holds the Post 2 seat and has said she is running for re-election.

A graduate of the Rockdale Leadership class in 2009, former PTO vice president at Hightower Elementary and a member of the Rockdale Rotary club, Schroeder-Langley was transferred to the Atlanta area in 2003 and decided to move to Rockdale County because it reminded her of her hometown in Connecticut.

"I still get that small town feel. You can't walk through Wal-Mart without running into somebody you know."

Other candidates that have declared they are running for the Post 1 seat are Jimmy Norfleet, an Army veteran and Sims Elementary PTA president, and Salem High School's retiring Athletic Director Jim McBrayer.