The following parents are interested in serving on the Lake Carolina Elementary School Improvement Council. Please read the bios below and vote using online SIC Ballot 2019. Voting will close on Monday, September 30. Thank you for your time and support for LCE!
Deitra Matthews:
She is a proud military wife with two beautiful children. She is a strong believer in kindness, compassion, solutions, and serving mankind. Love is truly her religion, and helping women, children, and their families grab MORE out of life has become part of her purpose.
A graduate of Savannah State University, she holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coker College where she double majored in English and Psychology. She considers it an absolute privilege to be able to use her degrees in various areas to serve others; but, what she has found to be her greatest and most rewarding degree is one that she believes that she is currently pursuing. That is the degree of life.
It has become part of her personal ministry to help women and children across the globe seek MORE out of life by encouraging and supporting them through their journey of wanting MORE, needing MORE, and finally understanding that they deserve MORE!
Deitra is also a very active community advocate who very often voices the concerns of under-served
children and their families. She has been a board member with The Ram Foundation for 6 years, and she is an active board member with Palmetto Health’s Children’s Hospital. She also volunteers with the Hydrocephalus Association and the Save the Children Action Network, where she serves as the Voter Engagement Lead.
Deitra was previously employed with Richland County School District One, where she was the Program Director of the 21st Century Program at St. Andrews Middle School.
Her past active memberships include School Improvement Council at Catawba Trail Elementary School, Parent Advisory Board with Richland County School District Two, Executive Women’s Committee of the Capital City Club, Junior League of Richmond, Virginia, Junior League of Fayetteville, North Carolina, NAACP – Kansas City, Kansas Chapter, and The National Council of Negro Women.
Deitra is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Her husband, Brian, is a Colonel in the United States Army, where he still serves. Her two daughters, Caroline and Claudia, are currently in the eighth and fifth grades respectively.
Deitra’s philosophy is deeply rooted from 1st Corinthians 13. For, she believes that if LOVE is one’s leading guide, then one must follow it.
Crystal Piper-Smith:
I am the mother of Caden Young a 3rd grader in Mrs. Crowell’s class. I am originally from Columbia, SC and I was educated in the Richland County School District 1 public school system. Since 2009 I have served as a college professor of public health administration at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Quality education and excellence in academics will continue to be one of my top priorities and I am excited about the opportunity to serve the School Improvement Council and ensure our children receive a quality education that prepares them for a successful future. I have served as a volunteer (reading to classes, special event planning, field trip chaperone, and homeroom parent) at my son’s previous school for the past 3 years. I look forward to the opportunity to work with administration and staff to make the best decisions for all students. I can bring my experiences as an educator, researcher, and parent to assist with planning and evaluating the needs of our school. I have previous experience serving as a liaison on other boards in my current position, and if I am elected I will make myself available to hear parents’ ideas so everyone feels their contributions are valued. I am passionate about making sure our children’s educational environment is safe and inclusive.
