South Carolina is a dynamic state with highly trained educators and staff members. These highly trained individuals come together to accomplish one of the most critical objectives required for economic growth at the individual and state levels. Recognizing that education is one of the pillars of economic sustainability, Dr. Brooks plans to continue to support school choice, but believes that public tax dollars should stay within the public school system. The concept of keeping public tax dollars for public schools ensures that there will be an adequate stream of funding coming into the school system, and this option has the best potential to benefit the majority.

We have struggled as a state to close the educational gaps with provided state funds and grant-based assistance; diverting those funds will widen the gap, which will take decades to fix. The support and buy-in from the parents and the local and state governments are crucial as we push to improve our academic standing in this nation. Dr. Brooks supports reinforcing the establishment of individual student goals, realistic teacher/school expectations, and specific guidance on parental assistance. Building bridges and appropriate placement of resources will join the school system with the parent (s) by encouraging frequent involvement for all walks of life while considering contributing factors such as work schedules and home dynamics.

Education is one of the pillars of society and has the potential to close many economic-impacted gaps. Therefore, emphasizing the development or expansion of programs/policies and procedures that strengthen this system would prove beneficial. How do we identify the appropriate programs, policies, and procedures to develop or expand? We ask teachers – those currently working and retired!

I intend to create or expand legislation that allows educators to work to strengthen the outcomes of South Carolina’s public school system. Our children deserve programs that support all education components including personnel such as bus drivers, custodian workers, substitute teachers, teacher assistants, teachers, etc. I will support these programs to deliver measurable outcomes with direct impacts.

In 2024, more than 1,600 teens were charged with weapons law violations in South Carolina, such as illegally owning or carrying a gun. In that same year, 57 teens faced murder charges.

Violence committed by youth boils down to access: Whether it is to the right things or to the wrong things, it’s all about access.

Today’s young adults find access to their heroes and role models on social media among “content creators”. But those creators are not living realistic lifestyles and youth are often unable to distinguish between that and real, sustainable growth in life. These artificial stories from so-called “influencers” promise shortcuts to wealth, fame and power and children grow to believe they’re entitled to all of the rewards without having to do any the work.

We all remember adolescence being a time of hormones causing all sorts of emotional swings. It is tragic that too many teens do not have access to anger management techniques but they DO have ready access to guns. Many lawmakers today ridicule Social and Emotional Learning in our schools and decry attempts to implement gun safety policies; but I believe this can be a powerful one-two punch to reducing youth violence and saving our kids’ lives.

Many often point to the parents as being the sole cause and solution to these problems. But media messaging and even lawmaker policies pressure our girls to become parents well before they’re ready. They are unable to take care of themselves, let alone bear the responsibility of taking care of their children. We then we end up in a generational cycle of poverty and negligence from which it is tough to break free.

I agree that a strong family is the best deterrence against young people turning to crime. While we will always have a need for strong and honorable law enforcement, evidence shows that the most effective way to reduce violence is through programs that focus on family dynamics, mentoring, cognitive-behavioral skills, and intensive support for high-risk youth.

I am a strong advocate of afterschool programs with on-the-job training (with pay) across all industries but especially in trades.

I propose looking at the current SC Comprehensive Health ACT, which was enacted way back in 1988 to require public schools to provide age-appropriate health education to students. We should modernize it to include topics on personal finance, healthy social media use, and maintaining personal relationships.

Finally, we must look towards effective programs that have shown to reduce gun violence like Cure Violence Programs that are being implemented nationwide and have resulted in a measurable drop in shootings.

We must take this problem seriously and that requires serious leadership dedicated to solutions, not soundbites.