Former LaFayette Middle School teacher Karen Stoker is running for LaFayette seat on the Walker County school board.

Stoker taught at LMS for seven years — four years as a graduation coach and three years teaching science and social studies to sixth-graders.

She has been an educator for 33 years and recently retired from Walker County Public Schools.

She is a graduate of Gordon Lee Memorial High School, has a bachelor of science degree in education from Jacksonville State University and a master’s degree from the University of West Georgia.

Stoker was originally a criminal justice major in college, but changed to education as her then-boyfriend Ken wanted a safer occupation for her.

Several members of her family have already been campaigning for Stoker, while she actually began her campaign on June 6 after completely finishing the school year.

Stoker’s family is also comprised of several current and former educators, including her parents Bobby and Millie Chappell (both former educators), husband Ken, and their children Ben Stoker and Cheribeth Swanson.

“It has been a learning process, so I have had to go back to school, so to speak,” Stoker said.

“I think being a classroom teacher for most of those years (29 of 33), I have something different to bring to the table,” Stoker said.

Stoker taught at Fortune Grammar School for 13 years, during which Susan Wells, currently a board member, was principal for several of those years, until Stoker left in 1992.

Stoker has also taught at Gordon Lee Middle School, teaching sixth-graders for 13 years.

If elected she would replace two-term board member James Smith, who was a role model of hers. She describes Smith as “a brilliant man” who shared her interest in science. Stoker and her elementary students were fascinated whenever Smith brought the traveling star lab.

She became interested in running for the school board two years ago, after retiring briefly for the first time.

She seeks to promote a “diversity of curriculum that will be challenging in preparing students for success beyond high school,” she said.

“The most important obstacle to an efficient and effective school system is funding deficiencies,” Stoker said.

She hopes to better inform voters of the necessity to optimize parental involvement in a child’s development as an investment in their future successes.

“Parental and community support to improve education is vital to the success of any school system and to ensure increased amounts of students graduate from high school,” Stoker said.

She views a diploma as “a key that will unlock many, many doors of opportunity,” that would otherwise remain locked and inaccessible.

In 2010, Stoker was the chairman of the education community service program for the LaFayette Women’s Club. She also earned distinguished teacher of the year at LMS during 2007.

She has lived in the Kensington area with husband Ken for over 33 years.

Voters can contact Stoker at 706-539-2519 or email her at ktr6@comcast.net.