Dr. Claudia Griffin Announces Campaign for Justice of the Peace, District 1

To the citizens of Hempstead County Quorum Court District 1: I am announcing my candidacy as a Republican candidate for Justice of the Peace District 1 to fill the seat of my husband James Griffin, who is not seeking re-election for health reasons.

My education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, physics, and math from Ouachita Baptist University; a Master of Science in Education degree from Ouachita Baptist University; and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR).

I am proud of my education, but I value more the opportunities I have had to help the residents of Hempstead County in both small and large ways.

I taught math at Yerger Middle School, Hope High School, and the University of Arkansas at Hope (UAH).  I also taught two-year college administration courses at UALR.  I worked with other teachers and staff at Yerger Middle School to develop and direct a Gifted and Talented program to help academically advanced students have individualized opportunities not available in regular classrooms.

I worked for Green Thumb, part of the Job Training Partnership Act, helping older individuals in Southwest Arkansas obtain appropriate employment.   When Green Thumb lost its federal contract, I began working for the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board in Little Rock.  In this position, I worked with a team to write guidelines for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in Arkansas.  After these guidelines had been developed, I returned to Hope to work with other WIA program partners to set up and direct Hope’s first official Arkansas Workforce Center, located at what was then the employment office on Elm Street.

After the Hope Arkansas Workforce Center was developed, I worked for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. There I worked with teams on several projects.  One was to develop the Arkansas Course Transfer System, which makes transferring classes between Arkansas colleges easier.  Another was the development of Arkansas Career Pathways programs, which are state-funding programs that help parents attend and succeed in college.  After the guidelines were established throughout the state, I came back to Hope to set up and direct the Career Pathways Program at UAH. Almost every parent who went to college at UAH while I was director was assisted by the Career Pathways program.

When state funding was cut in 2013, the UAH Career Pathways Program had to cut staff.  I fired myself, knowing that my competent team could run the program without me. The program still exists under the leadership of Dr. Sonya Thomas.

I went back to Little Rock as the Policy Specialist for the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS), leading a team to write policy for the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a federal program that replaced WIA.  I recently retired because I preferred to stay in Hope and serve the people of Hempstead County instead of the whole state of Arkan.

I have had the honor of helping Hempstead County residents in other ways over the years.    I am an active member of the Hope Lions Club since they first accepted women into the club which helps Hempstead County residents in many ways.  When I was younger, I assisted with youth programs at First Baptist Church, Hope, and I was a girl scout leader.

I have been working within teams to help the people of Hempstead County since 1971.  I feel so honored to have had even a small part in helping the residents reach their goals, meet their needs, and make their lives better.  I am so very proud of all the youth and adults I have worked with and the ways they are giving back to help others.

I would like the honor of serving Hempstead County through the Quorum Court.  Your vote would allow me this opportunity.