On Monday, Oct. 20, former Guilford County commissioner, former Board of Education member, and unfaltering education advocate Dot Kearns passed away at the age of 94.
She was the first woman to ever serve on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners – as well as the first woman to chair that board.
Three years ago, Kearns, an alumni of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro told UNCG Magazine that she ran for the Board of Commissioners “hoping to help bring about the merger of the three school systems in Guilford County.”
The end result ultimately became “a unified school system available to serve all young students in Guilford County who choose to come into it,” Kearns said at that time.
That was just one of her major accomplishments but, upon her death, there was an outpouring of love and support from many across the community that she had helped in so many other ways as well.
A lifetime advocate for education, she also led an effort to ensure safe drinking water in Guilford County and worked to help youngsters get their lives started out on the right foot.
She served on the boards of education for both High Point City Schools and then Guilford County Schools and she always worked as hard as she possibly could to get school bonds passed.
She also pushed hard for programs like Smart Start for county schools.
Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen said he first met Kearns when she was running for a state Senate seat in the 1990s. He recalled working in her campaign office during a tough election year when Democrats across the board “got hammered,” but said Kearns came close to winning her race.
“Dot really loved High Point,” Thigpen said. “Whether it was as a county commissioner or the school board, she was a champion for that community. If she believed in something, she was going to make sure you understood why it mattered and how it served people. She was always personable and willing to listen, but she was also passionate and determined.”
Thigpen added that she was a very strong advocate for schools and for school bonds. He said she never met a school bond she didn’t love.
He also said Kearns was one of the county’s earliest and loudest voices for integration and inclusion.
“She believed schools should not be racially segregated, and she was a big believer in diversity – that was very important to her,” Thigpen said.
He spoke of her other positive qualities as well.
“She was always present,” Thigpen added. “If there was a community meeting, she would be there. She cared; and she showed up day in and day out. And she didn’t just do it in big ways as an elected official – she helped people in small ways, quietly, behind the scenes. She had the character, the integrity and the passion that public service requires.”
Kearns had her hands in many baskets and served the community through a host of positions. For instance, she served on the National Conference of Community and Justice, the Guilford County Health Advisory Board, Communities in Schools, the NC School Boards Association, the Community Advisory Board for Kids Voting, and various boards serving UNCG.
While she’s now being recognized in death, she was also recognized in life: In 2016, Kearns Academy in High Point was named for her. That magnet school offers AP courses and a Gifted & Talented program.
She received the Outstanding Service Award presented by the NC League of Women Voters, and the Order of the Longleaf Pine Award from the governor. She also received the Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award, which goes to those who fight against bigotry and racism.
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston – seen above with her when she was honored by the Board of Commissioners several years ago – sent out a statement this week for the county board that Kearns once chaired.
“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners,” it reads, “we extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Dorothy ‘Dot’ Kearns. Dot was more than a friend; she was a trailblazing leader, passionate educator, and devoted public servant whose legacy has shaped generations across our community. She made history as the first woman to serve as chair of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners (1985–1988) and dedicated her life to advancing education and public service.”
The statement adds that, from her early years as a social worker in High Point, throughout her lifetime of public service that came after that, she was a terrific force for good in the community.
“She championed opportunity and equity for every child,” the statement from the commissioners reads. “Her service extended far beyond elected office, and her work reflects a lifetime of impact and integrity. Her gift of service and unwavering commitment to our community will continue to inspire us all. We will truly miss her.”
Guilford County Schools also issued a statement on the life and contributions of Kearns, which in part reads, “Guilford County Schools is saddened by the loss of Dorothy ‘Dot’ Kendall Kearns. Kearns was a strong advocate for public education, whose vision and dedication helped shape Guilford County Schools and our community.”
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This is off subject, but I just want to thank President Trump for building a brand new big beautiful ballroom for our White House – and doing so without using any taxpayer money.
This guy is one great President, and will be remembered favourably in the history books.
[ Joe Biden will prompt questions of “Who..?”. ]
The East Wing Great Hall will be a wonderful space for having concerts, dances, State dinners, ceremonial events, and other occasions that require a large space for formal or informal government gatherings.
I think it should be called the East Wing Great Hall to tie it to the original East Wing, signifying that nothing has been “demolished” from the past, and Great Hall to show that the space has multiple uses for whoever is President in the future.
As for Ms. Dot Kearns, she was a lovely woman, hard working, caring, and professional. Though I didn’t agree with all her policies and goals, she wanted what she felt was best for the young people and citizens of the County and her district.
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I agree wholeheartedly. “The East Wing Great Hall”… sounds appropriately regal.
And while I don’t know much about Dot Kearns, I believe she came from an era when Republicans and Democrats worked together for the benefit of the community. God Bless Her.
If you believe has actually lined up the financing for this mess you are more of a sucker than I imagined.
Today he mentioned how he would consider donating the 230 million he is demanding the government (your taxes) pay for all his personal legal bills to go towards the ballroom. Kinda points to him not having the full 300 million cost covered.
The now 300 million dollar ballroom is much like Mexico paying for the wall…..a lie. Sure he has some big busiensss committing brides to feed his ego but I highly doubt they equal 300 million and I am certain will jot put one dime of his own money into its building
You have been conned.
You mean the ballroom built with bribe money.
If you want the ear of Trump just donate money to his pet projects, give him a jet, buy his crypto coin, his cheap watches, rent entire floors of his properties, give his company projects with excess fees included, etc.. etc.. etc..
America is for sale the highest bidder.
The merger of the school systems was a dubious “accomplishment” and was achieved by means of a rigged referendum that did not allow the voters to keep things as they were. The product of the merger is a bloated, horribly mismanaged money pit that is weak in education and strong in indoctrination.
True. The county schools were performing well. Dot Kearns and others saw the merger as a means to help city schools’ performance. Like true Democrats, bigger is always better. As a result of the merger, the city schools brought down the county schools, and the school system is now a nonfunctioning system with abysmal performance results.