Meet Natalie
I'm Natalie Kidd, candidate for Hampton School Board. I grew up in Hampton and proudly graduated from Kecoughtan High School, before attending Christopher Newport University and working at the local non-profit, Virginia Living Museum.
As an active volunteer and someone who has given back to her community from a young age, I possess many skills that have lead to become the leader I am today.
During my time as a Hampton City Schools student, I was able to develop my leadership abilities in several roles. I served multiple terms as a class officer; I was president of an all-girls community service organization, Keyettes; I was a chapter and district president as well as a state officer for the Career and Technical Student Organization, DECA; and my most prominent position was being appointed as a Student Representative to the Hampton School Board.
As a college student, I was a Student Ambassador for Christopher Newport University and the head volleyball coach for Bethel High School, now serving as a volunteer assistant coach. Additionally, I have served as the head coach for the non-profit, Girls on the Run - Hampton YMCA Chapter, which educates young girls on social-emotional skills while improving their physical health as they train to run a 5K.
In my profession, I am the Digital Giving Officer at the Virginia Living Museum. My role expands resources and builds community relationships that allows the VLM to reach its vision.
Why K-12 Education Matters to Me
About 20 years ago, I was a Kindergarten student with a diagnosed neurological-disability enrolling at Booker Elementary (now known as Patrick Elementary) in Hampton. I, unfortunately, was found not eligible for services through our school division that would've given me the skills I needed to succeed in the classroom. This decision gave my parents no choice but to pull me out of school weekly to receive services through a private practice.
Through the rest of my time in elementary school, I was a top-performing student in the gifted program whose performance began to gradually decline over the years as I was continuously found not eligible for services nor classroom accommodations even through my disability was greatly affecting my academic performance.
By the time I reached middle school and was attending Spratley Gifted Center (now known as Kilgore Gifted Center), I was significantly behind my peers. I was fortunate enough to have one teacher who realized if she gave me more time to complete tests and assignments, I was able to complete them with accuracy. This is when that teacher and my mom collaborated to fight for me to finally receive a 504 plan.
After receiving that 504 plan and given simple classroom accommodations such as extended time on tests and assignments and back-up notes - I was able to get on track with my peers. If I hadn't been given these accommodations, I would have not been able to have the opportunities and achievements I earned such as graduating in the top 10% of my class and being able to serve the entire HCS student body as a Student Representative on the Hampton School Board.
Advocating for students with disabilities to receive the accommodations and support they need is a passion of mine. I believe as a member of the Hampton School Board, I can further put this passion into practice and implement policy that will give all students the equitable education they deserve and follow the HCS motto of "Every Child, Every Day, Whatever It Takes".
Operating a school division is undoubtedly a complex task, but I am not one to shy away from hard work or difficult challenges. I am committed to putting in the effort required to actively listen, advocate, and make a positive impact. Public education gave me the chance to be something more, and now, I want to pay that forward as a member on the Hampton School Board.