RE-ELECT
SANDY ELLINGTON-GRAVES
for SCHOOL BOARD

Why vote to RE-ELECT Sandy? Because a second term on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education is important to Sandy as she believes she can continue to advocate for our public schools. She believes every child deserves a first-class education from a school system that values the success of every child, values its educators, and works to strengthen our community. It is important to ensure every child receives the knowledge, skills, tools and resources to allow them to confidently choose their path after high school. A chosen path may include the pursuit of higher education, entry into the workforce or a commitment to our armed forces. While the paths may differ, every student will be equally prepared to thrive academically, professionally, and socially as well-rounded young adults.

As a parent, Sandy has been actively engaged in the Alamance Burlington School System for the past 26 years. During that time, she has held various leadership roles in PTA/PTSA/PTO, served on the Joint Facilities Task Force, and served as a member of the local parent advocate group, VOICE. She was a member of the Alamance Achieves Communications Task Force, graduated from Alamance Citizens for Education’s inaugural Parent Engagement Program (PEP) and was selected as a 2020 NC Institute of Political Leadership Fellow.

“Over the last 26 years, I have worked with educators across our elementary, middle and high schools on both personal and professional levels.  I have seen both the opportunity and the challenge of teacher recruitment and retention, aging facilities, school safety, struggling academic performance, redistricting and the transition of six superintendents. Yet, more importantly, I have also seen the powerful and positive impact of committed leadership, quality educators, inspired students and thriving programs. In 2013, A Vision for Public Education was adopted by the School Board to transform ABSS into an educational leader by creating equal opportunity for every student in civic engagement, a meaningful quality of life and valuable skills for economic success – for themselves and for their community. I am excited to continue that work if I am re-elected to serve four more years,” Sandy said.

As a local REALTOR®, Sandy has been actively engaged in the business community since 2002.  She sees firsthand how the strength of our public education system impacts the local housing market which in turns impacts local economic development.  An effective school system can drive tax revenues, real estate values, and community satisfaction.  

Sandy stated, “According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, every dollar spent in per pupil funding in a community equates to a $20 increase in home values. This would indicate that increasing per pupil funding may actually benefit every citizen in Alamance County, regardless if those citizens actually have children in our public school system.  Studies also show that children who grow up in safe and affordable housing experience better behavioral and cognitive health outcomes, improved student achievement and more opportunities for educational success.  I believe that engaging our citizens and the local business community is crucial in moving our school system forward.”

As a lifelong citizen of Alamance County, Sandy is actively engaged in the community.  She is an avid supporter of many community initiatives and serves on numerous local non-profit boards. In addition to her service on the school board since 2020, she was appointed to the Alamance County Planning Board in 2021, serves as a State Director for the Alamance Caswell Builders Association, and is a member of the Burlington-Alamance County Association of Realtors®. As a liaison for ABSS, she is involved with the Justice Advisory Council and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. She has a passion for serving her community raising both money and awareness for local non-profits over many years including the Salvation Army of Alamance County, Cone Health, the DMF Foundation, Little Pink Houses of Hope and Meals on Wheels.

“Alamance County has always been my home. I was born here. I started my family and my business here. Strong schools attract the brightest and best educators to provide our students with an educational experience that is second to none. Strong schools help drive economic development, creates opportunity for our graduates, and builds wealth for our community. And that benefits all of us.” she said.  

Sandy’s Re-Election Campaign Will Focus on Three Key Priorities:

1 Academic Performance

2 Safe & Healthy Facilities

3 Teacher Recruitment, Retention and Pay

Learn more about Sandy’s PRIORITIES here

When asked why she would be a good candidate for School Board, Sandy stated, “I truly believe that my knowledge and experience, my demonstrated commitment to education, and my extensive history of community engagement will serve me well in my continued work with the school board. I hope to build more collaboration with our school board, our educators, our business community, our county leaders, and our citizens to help ABSS produce powerful student outcomes that promise lasting benefits to our county. My desire to serve is not a desire to become a politician.  I am simply a parent, a business owner and a lifelong citizen who wants nothing but the best for Alamance County.”

Sandy is a lifelong resident of Alamance County and resides in Eli Whitney.  She is a 1989 graduate of Southern Alamance High School and is married to Justin Graves. They have three children and three fur babies. She is a local real estate broker at Allen Tate REALTORS® in Burlington. She would appreciate your vote for re-election!

** Vote Tuesday, November 5, 2024 **
SANDY ELLINGTON-GRAVES for School Board

***** EXCITING NEWS! *****

Sandy is both excited and humbled to be officially endorsed by the Alamance-Burlington Association of Educators (ABAE) for her re-election to the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education. 

An excerpt from a recent ABAE media release stated, “Sandy Ellington-Graves has served the ABSS school board as the board chair during some of the most tumultuous and challenging times of the board’s history, such as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mold crisis of the previous school year. During this time she has continually committed herself to try and balance the many voices she hears from both on the board and from the wider school community, keeping at the center what is best for Alamance public schools and the children they serve. When asked about her priorities for her next term on the school board, Sandy responded that there still remained progress to be made for the challenges ABSS faced in 2020: ensuring ABSS educators feel supported by the district, maintaining safe and healthy school environments, and building community trust in the school system through transparency and accountability.”

In the same release, ABAE President, Robert Alvis, said, “Our public school system depends on effective leadership at many levels, including the school board.”