Citing her experience as a former budget director at Fulton County Schools, a Conyers resident is challenging incumbent Rockdale Board of Education Chairman James McBrayer for his Post 1 seat.

"I feel like I would not be doing my duty if I didn't run," candidate Alberteen Young told the News. "Before I let somebody that doesn't have the level of perception I do get on the ticket simply because they're a good salesperson, I should get on the ticket."

The 12-year Rockdale resident said "the school system's OK," but the BOE needs to have expert members to avoid problems down the road.

"You hear a lot of things in the news about school board members being in trouble. We don't need that to happen here," Young said.

"You hear about people running for office who are not qualified," she said. Asked if she's referring to McBrayer, she said, "No, not really."

Young said she is a certified public account with a master's in business administration. She was "director of budget" at Fulton Schools from 1988 to 1998, she said, where she handled finances and the strategic plan.

She has a daughter attending Shoal Creek Elementary and a grandson at Davis Middle, she added.

Young said Rockdale County also needs a more representative school board. The student population is majority black, while most BOE members are white. However, she said that is not the main reason she is running.

Alberteen Young is not related to incumbent BOE member Katrina Young, who holds the Post 2 elected seat.