A desire to remain an active and engaged civic participant has prompted Cathe Myers to step forward as a candidate for local public office in Waynesboro. Myers is officially launching her bid to secure the open seat representing Ward D on the Waynesboro School Board, framing her candidacy around a lifelong commitment to children, community collaboration, and educational advancement.
The Ward D contest features two candidates contending for the singular open position, presenting local voters with a choice on the municipal ballot this fall. As the race gets underway, registered voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots during the official Election Day scheduled for November 3, while early voting options open to the community starting on Friday, September 18.
The impetus behind Myers entering the political arena originated earlier this year in late May, sparked by an informal conversation with a friend who asked whether she had ever considered pursuing a position on the school board. Although she had not previously contemplated a candidacy, the idea resonated deeply due to her longstanding respect for the schooling system and her family’s generational background in teaching, including her father and multiple relatives who worked as educators.
To secure her place on the upcoming municipal ballot, Myers initiated a grassroots petition campaign, walking door-to-door through neighborhoods across Ward D to collect the requisite voter signatures. This direct outreach provided her with a first-hand opportunity to listen to local residents, understand differing neighborhood viewpoints, and gather community perspectives regarding the specific challenges and priorities facing the Waynesboro school system.
Among the central issues Myers has highlighted on the campaign trail is the growing burden placed upon the modern student body. She observed that today’s children are confronting intense societal pressures that frequently force them to act as "instant adults," navigating developmental and social expectations that require them to mature significantly faster than previous generations experienced during their youth.
Myers emphasizes that these mounting pressures are not the fault of any specific group or individual, but rather reflect broader cultural and technological evolutions in society. In particular, she has expressed deep reservations about the pervasive role of digital devices and technology in the everyday lives of young people, linking extensive screen exposure directly to noticeable shifts in student behavior and declining attention spans.
Her concern over digital immersion is informed not only by broader observations but also by personal experiences within her own household. Having observed her grandchildren’s mounting reliance on personal electronics, Myers instituted a household rule during large family gatherings that requires both children and adults to put away their mobile phones, arguing that digital distraction is a critical issue school board leadership will inevitably have to address in the years ahead.
Myers’ life experiences have taken her through diverse environments before settling into local community advocacy. Raised in Ticonderoga, New York, she broadened her global perspective early in life by spending her senior year of high school abroad as an exchange student in Panama, an experience that preceded her initial foray into higher education.
After sampling a few college courses upon returning from Panama, Myers determined that a traditional university path was not the right fit for her goals and chose instead to enlist in the United States Navy. Serving primarily in clerical capacities, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming one of the first women assigned to an East Coast submarine squadron, serving a total of four years in the armed forces before concluding her military service alongside her husband, whom she met while enlisted.
Following her departure from military service, Myers dedicated herself to raising her children as a stay-at-home parent, taking an active role in their daily school activities. She intentionally modeled her parenting after her own mother and father, emphasizing that parents bear a fundamental responsibility to act as engaged role models in their children’s educational development.
As her family grew older, Myers eventually transitioned back into the professional workforce once her youngest child entered the fifth grade. She re-entered employment by serving as an office manager for a nursery, combining her organizational background with her commitment to balancing professional work with family responsibilities.
Should she win election to the Ward D post, Myers has outlined a campaign platform centered on three primary objectives: institutional transparency, academic excellence, and community-wide partnership. She articulates her philosophy through a musical metaphor, stating that when individuals tap in unison they create a single coherent sound, urging teachers, parents, and school board members to unite cooperatively to achieve optimal outcomes for students.
The upcoming election coincides with a major leadership transition within the Waynesboro school system, as longtime Superintendent Jeffrey Cassell prepares to retire on December 31. The current school board is actively accepting candidate applications for the top administrative role and plans to conduct official candidate interviews in October ahead of seating the new board member in January.
Myers views this impending change in administration as an energizing milestone for the school district rather than a disruption. She believes that hiring a new superintendent presents an opportune moment for both continuing and newly elected board members to welcome innovative viewpoints, explore new methodologies, and establish a constructive direction for local classrooms while modeling healthy adaptation to change for the wider public.
Addressing the systemic challenges of educator staffing, Myers argues that solving teacher recruitment and retention requires more nuanced solutions than simply increasing compensation packages. While recognizing financial incentives as a common remedy, she intends to facilitate direct conversations with instructors across all career stages—from first-year teachers to those with five or twenty years of tenure in Waynesboro—to evaluate what educational policies are succeeding and what areas require reform.
Approaching the November contest with a spirit of humility, Myers acknowledges that serving in public governance is an entirely new endeavor in which she continues to learn every day. Nonetheless, she maintains that her dedication to being an active, hands-on community member qualifies her to represent Ward D effectively and advocate for the best interests of Waynesboro’s children and schools.
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