Who's running for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 2025
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Mecklenburg County residents will have the choice to elect one person to represent their district on the non-partisan school board.
Why it matters: From immigration fears to federal funding cuts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools face major challenges. This board is tasked with steering the nation's 16th-largest school district through it all.
Zoom out: The board will also oversee what's being done to improve student outcomes. While CMS, which has more than 141,000 students, has made strides since the pandemic, it still lags behind the statewide average in student test scores and high school graduation rates.
- Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 9. Early voting starts Thursday, Aug. 21. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
District 1
- 🏫 Melissa Easley is an incumbent with two children in CMS. She previously taught science and social studies in suburban Chicago.
- Bill Fountain, a former middle and high school teacher, has run before for the school board without success. He believes CMS has prioritized "social and political agendas over core academics."
- Charlitta Hatch is a graduate of CMS and has two children: a third-grader and a preschooler. She's an adjunct professor and teaches "History of Racism and Psychology of the Black Experience."
District 2
Thelma Byers-Bailey did not file for reelection.
- Juan Hall is a former volunteer coach at West Charlotte High School and is involved with Moms for Liberty, a conservative group championing the parental rights movement.
- Shamaiye Haynes has run before in 2023 with the support of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte — but she said it hurt her chances that Mecklenburg County Democrats didn't include her on their blue ballot.
District 3
- ✏️ Gregory (Dee) Rankin is running unopposed to keep his seat.
- He has a degree in public administration from UNC Pembroke and has taught in CMS as well as private and charter schools. He has also served as chair of the Black Political Caucus education committee.
District 4
- 🎓 Stephanie Sneed, a trial lawyer, currently serves as the board's chair and formerly chaired the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
- Robert Edwards
- Jillian King is a former teacher and stay-at-home parent.
District 5
- 🚌 Lisa Cline, an incumbent, worked in education for 39 years, including as assistant principal at Phillip O. Berry, West Mecklenburg and Ardrey Kell high schools.
- Cynthia Stone attended, taught and sent her children to CMS.
District 6
Summer Nunn is not seeking reelection.
- Toni Emehel attended CMS schools in District 6 and is an active volunteer. Her children were also CMS students.
- Anna London is president and CEO of Charlotte Works, Mecklenburg County's workforce development board.
- Justin Shealy is a parent who says he's increasingly concerned with "politics taking precedence over academics" and wants to restore parental rights.