Pitt County Schools Mourns the Loss of Kathy Taft

Ms. Kathy Arnold Taft was a member of the Pitt County Board of Education fromDecember 3, 1990 until December 2, 1996.

By: Heather Mayo Pitt County Schools | WNCT
Published: March 09, 2010

Ms. Kathy Arnold Taft was a member of the Pitt County Board of Education from
December 3, 1990 until December 2, 1996. Even prior to joining the Pitt County Board
of Education, Ms. Taft was deeply involved in Pitt County Schools’ activities as a parent,
volunteer, PTA member, teacher substitute, and as a parent and student advocate. She
served as Vice-Chair of the Pitt County Board of Education from December 1993 until
December 1994 and chaired numerous Board committees during her six year term.

Ms. Taft demonstrated her commitment to improving public education on many levels in
Pitt County including involvement with Parents for Public Schools, Parents for the
Advancement of Gifted Education, Advisory Council for Students with Exceptionalities,
Pitt County Boys and Girls Club, Smart Start, Communities In Schools, and Partnership
for Education. She was also a past member of the Board of Governors of the North
Carolina Governor’s School.

Currently in her second term with the North Carolina State Board of Education, Ms. Taft
was also actively involved in the North Carolina Public School Forum, the State Board’s
Compliance Commission for Accountability, and the Globally Competitive Students
Committee.

Dr. Beverly Reep, Superintendent of Pitt County Schools, expressed her concern for Ms.
Taft‘s family and friends in their personal loss. She said, “The educational community
has also lost a true friend. Kathy remained steadfastly loyal in her commitment to
improving educational opportunities for the students in Pitt County and throughout the
state. She was never afraid to tackle the tough issues and she challenged all of those
with whom she worked to keep their attentions focused clearly on what was best for the
children. She was our ‘go-to’ person and she never failed to listen and respond. Words
cannot express how much she will be missed by all of us in the education community.”

To leave your condolences, thoughts or rememberances, sign our Kathy Taft Guest Book by clicking here.