“I want to advocate for teachers, like my mother, who are overworked and underpaid. They are the backbone of the school system and are extremely underappreciated.”
Owen Phillips, who announced Sunday he is running for the Johnston County School Board, knows the importance of education. A 1998 graduate of Clayton High School and a McGee’s Crossroads resident, Owen has 5 children, ages 11, 12, 16, 17, and 19. “Being a parent of five students in Johnston County, I want to improve our schools and help all students succeed. We have great people working in our schools and the children deserve the best education.”
His mother, a teacher for 30 years, worked at West Clayton Elementary. “We must responsibly allocate funds to help teachers get the materials they need and the pay they deserve,” Phillips said Sunday while announcing his candidacy. “The voters in Johnston County can rest assured I will be an advocate for responsible spending.”
Owen spent 5 years in the United States Army and received 2 medals of commendation.
He is currently a police officer for the Town of Clayton and previously worked at the Smithfield Police Department.
In 2016, he was selected by his peers as the Clayton’s Police Officer of the Year. In 2017, he was the Town of Clayton’s Employee of the Year.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Western Carolina University. Owen is currently working on his master’s degree in Human Resources.
Advocate For Teacher Pay Raises Not Central Office Pay Hikes
“I, like many others, disagree with the some of the decisions of The Board of Education,” Owen said. “Specifically, the central office pay raises while classrooms go underfunded.
“I see one of my best friends struggling against the odds to get things done on the school board. Ronald Johnson and I started working together in 2007 at the Smithfield Police Department. He is fighting for what is right and needs back up.”
“I grew up in Johnston County, served my country in the US Army, and local community as a Police Officer. I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to serve the public as a member of the Johnston County Board of Education.”
