By LISA DUKE
Beaufort County Schools

While today’s generation enjoys a multitude of technological advances, many remember rotary dial phones and party lines of days past.

If one wanted to talk with someone on the phone, one might have to pick up the rotary phone and listen to see if anyone was on the line, and if there was, wait one’s turn. Enjoying a personal phone is a great convenience and asset.

Taking a cue from modern technology, the Beaufort County Board of Education makes a point to not worry about party lines, in this case when it comes to politics. Each member of the Board of Education looks past political party lines to concentrate on what’s most important — the children.

Representing nine districts within the county, each board member tries to make sure every student has all of the advantages possible to be successful.

One of these board members is Eltha Booth.

Booth has been on the board since Dec. 13, 2004. She represents District I, which includes the Washington attendance area. Booth has been very busy in her role as a school board member over the last 12 years, and she has recently served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina School Boards Association. She has been very instrumental in Beaufort County Schools joining the North Carolina School Boards Association Action Center to advocate for the legislative agenda and policies of the NCSBA.

“Mrs. Booth is undeniably crucial to the success of the Beaufort County school board. As a longtime citizen of this community, she is devoted to providing the children of our county with the best education possible,” Chairman Terry Williams said of his colleague.

Booth also represents Beaufort County Schools as the member of the Federal Relations Network. In her role on the state and national level, she has traveled to New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Boston, as well as many trips to Raleigh and Greensboro, representing the interest of students in Beaufort County.

One of the projects that Booth said she is most proud of is the recent addition of the multipurpose building at Eastern Elementary School.

Booth is very active in her church and family. She is a member of St. Monica Missionary Baptist Church in Grimesland. She is married to Beaufort County Commissioner Ed Booth, and has four children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Williams said Booth is an asset to the board and strives to work in the county’s best interest.

“She has great relationships with our parents and students and has their best interest at heart while serving the county as a whole. She also plays a vital role in our local school board by representing Beaufort County well at the state level,” Williams said. “She has always had my utmost respect, and I am honored to serve with her.”

Over the next several weeks, the Daily News will be highlighting Beaufort County Board of Education members, as part of a spotlight series about the members’ backgrounds and their roles on the board.