JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

School board candidate Amy Mauldon has lived in Blacksburg for seven years.

BLACKSBURG -- She's a weightlifter, published Ph.D. and tae kwon do blue belt. But Amy Mauldon says she's a parent and advocate for children as well and wants to represent Blacksburg's District A on the Montgomery County School Board.

On Nov. 4, voters in District A, which covers southern and southeastern Blacksburg and northeastern Montgomery County, will cast ballots in a special election to fill the remaining year of the term. Phyllis Albritton was appointed to the seat last September after board member Amy Lythgoe resigned last July, and voters will choose between Mauldon and Albritton in November.

Mauldon applied to be appointed to the seat after Lythgoe's resignation.

"Education is very important to me," she said. "Education affects the entire community."

If elected, Mauldon said she wants to boost the career and technical education courses offered by the school system and enact strong measures against bullying.

Both are issues the school system is looking into as well.

The mother of two -- Miranda, an 11-year-old Blacksburg Middle student, and Ann, a 9-year-old Margaret Beeks Elementary student -- says she has the long-term thinking to make sure the policies she votes for will have the right effect in Montgomery County schools.

Chris Neck, co-president of the PTO at Beeks, said Mauldon has made he and his wife and co-president, Jen, better leaders because Mauldon asks tough questions and she is methodical and doesn't act on whims.

"Amy's not gong to wow a crowd with a speech .... but if you're looking for someone who's going to raise the issues and get some work done, that's her," he said.

Beeks is the only school in District A.

Mauldon has been involved in the PTO at Beeks since her children started school six years ago, and she served as vice president and president from 2004 to 2007. She said it's her way of giving back to "the one place in the county where everyone should be welcome."

The firmest stand Mauldon would take if elected to the school board is against bullying.

"A child who is being bullied cannot be left to handle the problem on their own," she said. "I think it's hard sometimes for parents and teachers to understand because that's not how we grew up."

Today, she said, students face a different kind of bully who has more resources, such as the Internet.

She also wants to make sure all students have career opportunities, particularly those who don't plan to attend college.

"I think in this entire country, there are not enough opportunities for people who don't want to go to college," she said.

She wants to increase business partnerships and mentor programs for students in career and technical education and improve the classes offered to them to help ensure they do have options.

Mauldon, who has lived in Blacksburg for seven years, received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley and has been a research associate and statistician. She is now a stay-at-home mother.

In addition to being on the PTO, she's also been vice president and volunteered with the League of Women Voters.