Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County, Board of Education District 9 Candidate: Benjie Forrest

Benjie is from the neighborhood of Black Jack in Pitt County. He attended H. Conley High School and holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University. He still lives in Black Jack and is widowed. 

Benjie is the owner of Benjie Forrest Farms, the manager and co-owner of B.D. Forrest Family Farms. He is also the Eastern Region Agricultural Education Coordinator. He previously worked as a teacher at Washington High School.

Benjie Forrest currently serves as a member of the Pitt County School Board of Education. He was first elected in 2008 and is serving his fifth term. He is a former chairperson of the Pitt County Schools Finance Committee. 

Benjie Forrest Campaign Website, 2014

Wanted vocational education to be equally as emphasized as health institutions and local colleges and universities.

Wanted the Board of Education to work alongside County Commissioners.

Wanted the Board to encourage more parental and community involvement.

Planned to hold an Open Door Policy and "return every call in a timely manner...[and] be a visible contributor in our schools.”

Supported the Bio-Diesels for Schools Program, which developed a 30 to 40 thousand-dollar annual windfall for County Schools from recycled restaurant cooking oils.

- Wanted vocational education to be equally as emphasized as health institutions and local colleges and universities.
- Wanted the Board of Education to work alongside County Commissioners.
- Wanted the Board to encourage more parental and community involvement.
- Planned to hold an Open Door Policy and "return every call in a timely manner...[and] be a visible contributor in our schools.”
- Supported the Bio-Diesels for Schools Program, which developed a 30 to 40 thousand-dollar annual windfall for County Schools from recycled restaurant cooking oils.

School Facilities & Resources

Wanted every school to have equal access to opportunities.

- Wanted every school to have equal access to opportunities.

Access to Education

Supported and helped pass a policy allowing a moment of silence for all students, teachers, and staff.

- Supported and helped pass a policy allowing a moment of silence for all students, teachers, and staff.

Teachers

Pitt County Republicans, Re-elect Benjie Forrest for Pitt County Schools

Aims to provide educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges and universities, trade schools, and health institutions.

Supports increased and improved vocational courses.

Believed evaluating student achievement should include Student interest, career preparation, and drop-out rates, not just testing.

- Aims to provide educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges and universities, trade schools, and health institutions.
- Supports increased and improved vocational courses.
- Believed evaluating student achievement should include Student interest, career preparation, and drop-out rates, not just testing.

School Curriculum

Supports career preparation, student interest, and reducing dropout rates.

Advocates for examining traffic patterns from local neighborhoods to schools in order to create safer travel.

Wanted school and bus security to be regularly addressed and improved.

- Supports career preparation, student interest, and reducing dropout rates.
- Advocates for examining traffic patterns from local neighborhoods to schools in order to create safer travel.
- Wanted school and bus security to be regularly addressed and improved.

Student Wellbeing

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Benjie Forrest

Benjie is from the Black Jack region of Pitt County. He graduated from D. H. Conley High School, and earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University. He still lives in Black Jack, and is widowed. 

Benjie is the owner of Benjie Forrest Farms, the manager and co-owner of B.D. Forrest Family Farms, and the Eastern Region Agricultural Education Coordinator. He previously worked as a teacher at Washington High School.

Benjie Forrest is currently serving on the Pitt County School Board of Education. He was first elected in 2008 and is serving his fifth term. 

As of June 14, 2024, Benjie Forrest’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Aims to provide educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges, trade schools, and health institutions.

- Aims to provide educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges, trade schools, and health institutions.
- Supports increased and improved vocational courses.

- Supports career preparation, student interest, and reducing dropout rates.
- Advocates for examining traffic patterns from local neighborhoods to schools in order to create safer travel.

Benjie is from the Black Jack region of Pitt County. He graduated from D. H. Conley High School and has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Agricultural Education from North Carolina State University. He still lives in Black Jack, and is widowed to the former Pamela Jane Beaver. 

Pitts County Org

Benjie Forest resides in the Black Jack region of Pitt County with his wife. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree of education in Agricultural Education. 

Benjie Forrest worked as a teacher at Washington High School from 1977-1995. He is the owner of Benjie ForrestFarms, LLC.

Benjie Forrest has been serving as a member of the Pitt County School Board of Education since 2008. 

Pitt County Republicans

Encourages parents and local board members to become more involved with their schools.

- Encourages parents and local board members to become more involved with their schools.

Is committed to providing educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges and trade schools.

- Is committed to providing educational opportunities with partnerships with local colleges and trade schools.

Is committed to emphasizing student interests and success outside of commons means, such as testing.

Advocates for reexamining traffic patterns from local neighborhoods to schools in order to create safer travel.

- Is committed to emphasizing student interests and success outside of commons means, such as testing.
- Advocates for reexamining traffic patterns from local neighborhoods to schools in order to create safer travel.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system