...in Statham off Highway 82, one of six kids raised by my parents, Kevin and Leslie Ringo. For several years, my Dad was pastor of Berean Bible Fellowship church in downtown Winder, and before that, we were active members of Gospel Light Baptist Church. Faith and family have always been at the center of my life in Barrow County.

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After moving across the county line for a few years, I returned in 2005 to raise my own family. My husband Dan and I have lived right by Apalachee High School for over 20 years, watching our two children Brett and Brooklyn grow up here and staying deeply involved in our community. We attended Bethlehem Church back when it was still a small congregation, long before the current pastor arrived, and we are still members of the church today!

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My passion for building community runs deep. As a teen, I made plenty of mistakes during some tough years, and I had my son at 18. Looking back, I realized so many of those bad decisions could have been prevented if I had been more plugged into positive activities like sports, youth groups, or community events. That experience lit a fire in me: I want every teen in Barrow County to have those opportunities to stay connected, active, and supported.

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That's why I've poured my energy into youth and community programs over the years. I volunteered as the coach for the BASA (Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy) cross country team from 2020 to 2023. Before that, I organized free run clubs, women's groups, trail meet-ups, summer campouts, and events for kids, always focused on bringing people together and giving our young people outlets to thrive.

 

In 2023, that passion turned into action when another teacher and I helped launch a successful track program at BASA. When the county tried to shut it down, I rallied parents, students, teachers, and the community to fight back. We stood up for the principle that every student, no matter their talent level, deserves the chance to participate in sports and extracurriculars. Thanks to persistent advocacy and support from a dedicated school board member who took our concerns seriously, we saved the track program. I learned firsthand how critical it is to have a strong voice at the board table, one that listens and acts on behalf of families, teachers, and students.

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Our involvement in the community has slowed some in recent years after our kids grew, though our passion remains as strong as ever! Our oldest graduated from BASA in 2024, and our youngest will be graduating from Apalachee this year. Our evenings used to be filled with sports commitments, but now the house is pretty quiet, and I felt like it was a great time for me to step up, get more involved, and continue serving the community in a bigger way. I understand that serving on the school board is hard work, and I don't take this calling lightly. I prayed about it significantly before deciding to move forward.

 

Now, I feel confident it is time to pay it forward. If elected to the Barrow County School Board, I'll serve as that independent liaison: accessible to parents, teachers, and students who need their concerns elevated after following the proper chain of command. I'll fight for transparency, fair treatment, and decisions that put our kids and community first. No special interests, no "good ol' boys club," just real representation for the citizens of Barrow County.

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I'm not running as anyone's puppet. I'm running because I've lived here, raised my family here, coached here, fought for our programs here, and I know what our schools and families truly need. I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve our community.

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