Prince Edward supervisors should appoint former longtime educator Patricia Bobenrieth to represent the Buffalo District on the Prince Edward County School Board.

The candidate has the knowledge, experience and capability to continue to improve the school division and take it to new heights.

She is a retired educator of 30 years who taught in Prince Edward, Lunenburg, Nottoway and in Pennsylvania. “With my classroom experience and the relationships that I have in the schools and community, I can provide the board with insight on the challenges and support needed in our schools,” she said during a recent public hearing.

Dr. Wilkie Chaffin, who is an asset to our community and a very intelligent man, is also a viable choice. We think that his talents, which are many, are more applicable in educating the public through his good work on the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District Board and through his other community endeavors.

Bobenrieth says she wants the county to become a “top educational center while keeping the focus on the students’ achievement … Our children are our future.”

We are encouraged by her outlook.

Bobenrieth said that two of the board’s and division’s biggest challenges are communication and participation by stakeholders.

We share her concerns.

Kathy Biggers, a librarian at Prince Edward Elementary School told the board, in endorsing Bobenrieth, “We need someone at our school board (who) knows what it is like to be in the classroom. …”

We agree with Biggers’ reasoning, which is why supervisors should appoint Bobenrieth to the school board next month.