Khem D. Irby
Democrat | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Barclay College, Haviland, KS, B.A., 2015-2019
WORK & MILITARY
Guilford County Schools, ACES Group Leader, 2013-2018
AFFILIATIONS
The Mother’s Agenda of NY, co-founder, 2004-2020
HP NAACP, 2018-2026
Foresters Central East Coast Council, Councillor, 2020-2026
Board of Education, Legislative Chair, 2020-2026
Dignity in Schools Campaign, co-Chair, 2022-2026
Greater New Hope Baptist Church, Director of Christian Education, 2022-2026
Parents Across America, President, 2020-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Guilford County Board of Education District 6, 2018-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Guilford County Board of Education District 6, 2026-
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Guilford County Association of Educators
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
GCAE
Simkins PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Mary Beth Murphy (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Amos Quick (2022)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Disclosure Report - Third Quarter (07/01/2022 - 10/22/2022) from the Guilford County website
Selected contributions/disbursements:
- $325.00 contribution from Democratic Women of Guilford County
- $100.00 contribution from Progressive Democrats of Guilford County
Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Guilford County website and the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Schools are institutions of learning and parents and their students should have access to their options and information to help them make good decisions for their family.
ECONOMY
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Public education accepts all learners and should be fully funded because of the responsibility to educate the future of this nation. The government is not funding but the tax dollars of the people are funding education. Public dollars for education should not be funneled into vouchers and other private operated charter schools.
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government cannot create a national religion. Religion and religious rules cannot become the law for everyone. For example, my Christian faith believes you must be married before engaging in the act of sex. This cannot become the law of the land in America and has not place in government.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Strongly Disagree
These officers should only investigate cross-border crimes, enforce our immigration laws.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
Schools cannot be the only place this information can be made available upon request and not part of the teaching instruction. This information should be targeted for parents. But is more appropriate for the collegiate experience.
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Neutral
We need to have more social workers and other mental health professionals in schools to help restore and help students make better decisions. Children are learning and cannot be expected to make adult decisions.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Agree
Educators cannot teach patriotism but are responsible for giving students the information about America that will tell the whole story without bias. If America fully funds public schools students will be patriotic to their country that gave them the tools they needed while they are young instead of investing in prisons.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
The U.S. DOE has an opportunity to be the 21st Century watchdog for our civil rights in education, help provide free college for all our citizens and fully fund IDEA a the law states. Protecting public education is their role. It should not be dismantled without a full analysis lead by educators. This department is not being lead by an educator at this time. There is always room for changes but it has not been thoughtful by this administration. The states already have the power.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Sex Ed should only include the understanding of the reproductive system and the human anatomy. It should include the understanding of how the brain works, how it is still growing and the impact of harmful substances to the body. I do not see the need for touching the other subjects in the K-12 setting.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Critical Race Theory, Gender Identity are not courses in K-12. Global History should be taught because America is comprised of people from around the world.
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Agree
Public schools do prioritize academic achievement, build character and teach not only American traditions. We must value our freedoms and democracy.
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Strongly Disagree
This is not a proven strategy to improve educational outcomes. It has only divided communities and educators did not create this strategy. Public schools are not business on the stock market.
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I study the teachings of Jesus the Christ and believe in John 3:16 as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which leads and guides us into all truth whether we want to accept it or not. I value and respect people who care and love their neighbors. I respect all faiths and understand that America is a place that all faiths can be practiced that do not bring harm to others.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Government must recognize this right but the right of one parent cannot become the rule over other parent choices. Public schools are for all the public.
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Choose not to answer
Saying this is not enough and it should not be an excuse to exclude people or use this one line as the basis for not recognizing that racism does exist. Dr, King was assassinated because he believed this and America does not want to live up to this statement in every area of life. Everyone must be seen as a partaker in government.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Choose not to answer
Every culture has their view on marriage and how it is practiced. The Mormons have a practice that America does not allow legally. Government can expand marriage to more inclusive of others who practice their faith. What God are you referring? Let God judge not government. Marriage is also a choice.
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Choose not to answer
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Choose not to answer
Educators must be given the autonomy to choose the books appropriate for all ages.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
no.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Lean Liberal
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Strongly Disagree
No matter how much training someone may have, anything can happen accidentally. We need teachers to have the proper salary and resources for children to do what they went to school for. Teachers are not police or military.
