West Wake News

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following announcement on January 24.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?’”

Please note: The photo of Deanna Kaplan with students was taken in the days before the coronavirus pandemic called for wearing masks in the classroom.

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By Kim Underwood

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

JANUARY 24, 2022 – Deanna Kaplan – the new Chair of the Board of Education – is deeply connected to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

She and her husband, Ted Kaplan, have five children. The WS/FC schools their children attended include Jefferson Elementary, Jefferson Middle and Reynolds High.

Over the years, Kaplan was often there with her children.

“I volunteered at all of my children’s schools,” she said.

Brian Brookshire, who is now the principal at Old Richmond Elementary, once served as the assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary.

“I have known Mrs. Kaplan for 16 years,” Brookshire said. “I first became acquainted with Mrs. Kaplan when her son attended Jefferson Elementary School where I served as the assistant principal. At that time, she was an active member of the PTA and a big advocate for the school.”

“She cares about students, teachers, and schools. Mrs. Kaplan is a great listener and leads by service.”

“Earlier during the school year, when Old Richmond Elementary School struggled, she eagerly volunteered to serve as a sub.”

“She is well-suited for the Chairperson as she is empathic, a team player, highly organized, and dedicated to serving others.”

These days Brad Royal is the principal at Reagan High School. He met Kaplan back in the days when he was the principal at Jefferson Middle.

Kaplan 10“I have known Mrs. Kaplan for going on 15 years now,” Royal said. “I had the pleasure of working with her as my PTA president during my first year as principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.”

“I was amazed at her positive and uplifting spirit.  Those defining attributes were evident the moment I met her and continue today. Mrs. Kaplan will seek you out just to say hello and to see how you are doing, regardless of how busy she is.  She is one of the most positive and kind people that I know.”

“I am proud that she represents families, students, and employees on our Board of Education.”

From the beginning, Kaplan enjoyed her time in schools. She enjoyed being with students. She appreciated the passion and dedication that not only teachers but also bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, teacher assistants and others brought to their jobs.

Kaplan sometimes writes down a quote that strikes her, and one of the quotes that means the most to her is from Martin Luther King Jr.:

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?’”

With that in mind, she is always on the alert for ways to serve others.

Most recently – in addition to fulfilling her Board of Education responsibilities – she has been substituting in schools and volunteering as a tutor with Reading Warriors, a program that works to ensure that all students are good readers by the end of the third grade. She has gone to Easton Elementary to read to students.

Talking with bus drivers and seeing how they connect with students, Kaplan has thought about earning her CDL (commercial driver’s license) so she could drive an activity bus on field trips.

Kaplan 3There are times working with students when she has wondered whether she should have become a teacher after graduating from college.

“I have been in the classroom and feel I missed my calling,” she said.

She didn’t miss her calling. She simply answered that calling in other ways.

Kaplan was first elected to the Board of Education in 2018. In December 2021, she was elected to serve as chair.

Kaplan said she was delighted to take on those responsibilities.

“It’s a dream job not because it’s easy but because it’s important,” she said.

“We can truly make a difference.”

“It’s a huge, huge responsibility but also an honor. Service to others is what it’s really all about.”

Frankie Santoro teaches Language Arts to academically gifted eighth-graders at Clemmons Middle.

“I met Deanna Kaplan when she was running for office, outside one of the polling sites,” Santoro said. “She marched alongside teachers.”

“Little did I know that meeting her would impact me so much. Her effervescent personality, positive but practical outlook of the profession and sincere interest in me as a teacher and person are just a few attributes that make her an amazing Board member and Chairwoman.”

Kaplan 6“I recently attended the Jan. 11 Board meeting with my best friend, Sara Thompson, another teacher in our district. We both remarked how, during public comments, Deanna looked intently at each person speaking, showing her true interest and investment in the speaker. This speaks to her character. She truly cares about the people of our district! She doesn't need this position, however, she's the perfect one for it.”

“Public service is what Deanna is all about! While finding subs still is an issue in our district, Deanna was one of the Board members who eagerly volunteered to sub and was true to her word when I, myself, needed a sub. When Ms. Thompson reached out to her to sub at her school, she and Board Member Leah Crowley stepped up and subbed for multiple days.”

“Deanna is a strong Board Chair because she consistently has the finger on the pulse of our district. When making decisions, she goes out of her way to include teachers in the process. She does an exceptional job at taking a step back and viewing the impact of the decision on all stakeholders. She isn't swayed by party, but instead, focuses on the most valued of her constituents – the students!”

“Deanna is not about the pomp and circumstance. She's a woman who intends to get things done as Board Chair and fulfills her calling to serve the teachers, students, and families with excellence.”

To back up a bit:

Although Kaplan did not grow up in Forsyth County, she did grow up in nearby High Point.

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She joked that she is a “local girl” – which is how the headline to a newspaper article described her when she married Ted Kaplan, a prominent politician. After serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives, he went on to serve for 10 years in the N.C. Senate. These days, he is a Forsyth County Commissioner.

Deanna Kaplan is the daughter of Rudy and Vivian Frazier. Her brother, Eric, is two years older. Their father, who died four years ago, was an industrial engineer. Their mother, whose health keeps her from living on her own these days, brought her cat Violet with her when she moved in with the Kaplans.

Violet shares the household with the family’s two rescue dogs – Stella and Luna. Years ago, Kaplan met Luna when someone with a litter of puppies offered to let people take one home for $5.

“Best $5 I ever spent,” Kaplan said.

After growing up in High Point and graduating from High Point Central High, Kaplan headed to Meredith College. Later, she also attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Kaplan began her work career holding jobs connected to nutrition. While she was serving at the Director of Dietary at The Winston-Salem Convalescent Center on First Street, Forsyth Internal Medicine invited her to become their nutrition consultant.

Those responsibilities took her to Washington. On the return trip, she caught Ted Kaplan’s attention in a casual way at the airport. Although they enjoyed talking, they didn’t exchange names or telephone numbers or anything.

Later, Ted Kaplan decided to see whether, using the bits and pieces of information he picked up while talking, he could find her. Although he was able to track down a telephone number, he didn’t get the name quite right.

Deanna Kaplan has the same first name as her mother, and, when Ted Kaplan called and her roommate answered, he asked for Vivian Frazier.

Kaplan 67 Because he had the name wrong, when her roommate handed the phone, she joked, “It’s probably someone you met at the airport.”

It was indeed.

“It was almost like we were destined to be together,” Kaplan said.

They have now been married 34 years.

“It’s been a really wonderful life,” she said. “His whole world is all about service to others.”

Day-to-day, the combination of her husband’s responsibilities and her responsibilities means that there are days when they see each other mostly in passing.

Their children are Sarah, David, Rebecca, Katherine, and Max.

Their oldest, Sarah, is now 32. Her company VUE by SEK designs and distributes jewelry. She recently married.

David works for Guidecraft, a toy company that is a subsidiary of the Kaplan family business – Kaplan Early Learning Co. Based in New York, he travels to other countries as well.

Rebecca, who graduated from Appalachian State, works for Harper LLC – an architecture, design, and general contracting business in Charlotte.

Dog 56Katherine, who also graduated from Meredith, works with her sister’s jewelry business and helps care for her grandmother.

Max is in college at the University of South Carolina, where he is majoring in International Studies.

The list of activities that Kaplan participates in – or has participated in over the years – is quite remarkable.

After working her way up by participating in 5K races and half-marathons, she ran in two marathons.

She hikes. She plays golf. She gardens. She scuba dives and has danced with eels in Tahiti.

She and her husband both enjoy cooking.

“He is the meat master,” she said.

She specializes in seafood and Italian food.

“Travel is our favorite hobby,” she said.

Scotland, Italy, and Iceland are among the countries they have visited. She loves to learn, and, along with taking a Geography Class at Forsyth Tech, she has picked up books about volcanoes and glaciers and such that helped her understand the geography of the countries she visited.

Kaplan 93She also enjoys books by Malcolm Gladwell and others who offer new perspectives on life.

Kaplan can even perform marriages. Her maternal grandfather was a Presbyterian minister. She, too, has been ordained and has performed two marriages so far.

One of her favorite ways to unwind is to take a walk with a dear friend.

With so many things that engage her, she seldom does nothing. Her version of doing nothing is watching something on Netflix or picking up a who-done-it mystery.

Since she has joined the Board of Education, Kaplan has enjoyed getting to know the other members. She appreciates that each of them brings her or his gifts to the job.

“It’s wonderful for us to come together,” she said. “They all bring to the table such great, diverse perspectives.”

With the coronavirus pandemic bringing so many challenges in recent years, at the top of her list for goals as chair is dealing with learning losses connected to that.

Although thinking about all the challenges that face the Board of Education has kept her awake more than one night, she finds it reassuring to know that she is working with such valuable people – board members, the superintendent, administrators, and everyone working directly with students every day.

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The Kaplan family lives in Lewisville where Mike Horn serves as mayor.

“I’ve known Deanna for more than 30 years and first met her though her husband Ted who was a state senator,” Horn said.

“It’s funny, but sometimes you know from a first meeting whether someone will become a true friend or just an acquaintance. With Deanna, it’s a friend.”

“I think when you talk with those who know her, they will express the same feelings. She is genuine, sincere, thoughtful and truly cares about our community, particularly the kids who attend our public schools.”

“With Deanna there are no hidden agendas. What you see, is what you get. She wears her heart on her sleeve and what a huge heart that is. I believe that is one of her greatest strengths.”

“Those with whom she serves know how genuine she is and how committed she is, in a very difficult environment, to make sure ALL of our kids have the best possible educational opportunities.”

“She is collaborative in her approach to problem-solving and is respectful and considerate of those who may have differing opinions. I personally don’t know of anyone who has spent more time in our schools with our kids and teachers than Deanna. The impact of those experiences is what guides her leadership and sustains her exuberance and commitment for making our public schools exceptional places for learning.”

Original source can be found here.