NEWS
2024 Primary – Superintendent of Public Instruction
The following candidate information is from the North Carolina Board of Elections website.
There are two candidates on the Republican primary ballot and three on the Democratic primary ballot.
While we did not receive responses from all of the primary candidates, we hope the following information will be helpful as you do your research before the primary election.
Michele Morrow (R)
423 Oakridge Road
Cary, NC 27511
(984) 223-1567
Website: https://www.morrow4nc.com
Catherine Truitt (R)
502 Hollowridge Court
Cary, NC 27519
Website: https://catherinetruitt.com
Kenon Crumble (D)
35 Mariposa Lane
Clayton, NC 27527
Website: https://kenoncrumble.com
Have you ever been to the Town of Davidson, or do you have a connection to our Town?
I have had the pleasure of visiting the Town of Davidson, I look forward to an opportunity where I may be invited to at the very least, shake the hands of your informed voters.
Why are you running for office?
I, Kenon Crumble, am running for NC Superintendent to champion a transformative vision for education in our state. My extensive experience as an assistant principal has given me a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our educational system. I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education and the support they need to thrive.
My campaign focuses on enhancing teacher support, improving educational infrastructure, ensuring equitable resource allocation, and integrating innovative technologies and methodologies in our classrooms. I believe in a future where education is not just a pathway to opportunity but a foundation for community strength and growth. My goal is to lead with integrity, passion, and a deep sense of responsibility, ensuring that North Carolina’s education system becomes a model of excellence and inclusivity.
This is more than a campaign; it is a commitment to our children, our teachers, and the future of North Carolina.
What makes you the most qualified over your primary opponents?
My qualifications over my primary opponents in the race for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction are rooted in my unique blend of experiences and my vision for the future of education in North Carolina. As an assistant principal, I have gained invaluable insight into the daily operations of schools, understanding the challenges faced by both teachers and students. This experience equips me with a practical perspective on what works in education and what needs improvement.
Moreover, my dedication to incorporating technology into education sets me apart. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, my emphasis on technology is not just forward-thinking but essential for preparing students for future success. I understand the importance of keeping the education system abreast with technological advancements, ensuring that students are well-equipped with the skills they need in a digital age.
Additionally, my focus on supporting and developing teachers is a cornerstone of my qualifications. I firmly believe that the foundation of a robust education system is its educators. By advocating for better support and professional development opportunities for teachers, demonstrates my commitment to creating an environment where educators can thrive and, in turn, provide the best education to their students.
This combination of practical experience in school administration, a forward-looking approach to technology in education, and a deep commitment to the welfare and development of teachers, sets me apart as a highly qualified candidate for NC State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What is the number one thing that Davidson voters need to know about you?
The number one thing that Davidson voters need to know about me is that I possess an unwavering commitment to enhancing the educational experience for every student. My career as an assistant principal has been marked by a profound dedication to the success and well-being of students. This commitment goes beyond mere administrative duties; it is about creating a nurturing and effective educational environment where each student can thrive.
My approach is holistic, recognizing that excellence in education is not just about academic achievement but also about addressing the diverse needs of students, including their emotional and social well-being. My experience in the education sector has given me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our schools, and I am uniquely positioned to bring about meaningful change.
For voters in Davidson, I represent a candidate who not only understands the intricacies of the educational system but also has a genuine passion for improving it. My vision for education in North Carolina is one that encompasses innovation, support for educators, and a commitment to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
What will be your top priorities?
As NC Superintendent, my top priorities will revolve around creating a more effective, inclusive, and forward-thinking education system in North Carolina. My focus will be on enhancing the quality of education through various key initiatives.
First, I am to integrate more technology into classrooms. Understanding the importance of digital literacy in the 21st century, my plan is to ensure that schools are equipped with the necessary tools and resources. This includes not only providing hardware and software but also training teachers to effectively incorporate technology into their teaching methods.
Another significant priority is to support and empower teachers. I believe that the backbone of a great educational system is its educators. By focusing on professional development, providing better support systems, and include salary increases. I intend to create an environment where teachers can flourish professionally and, in turn, provide high-quality education to their students.
Additionally, I am committed to addressing the diverse needs of all students. This includes focusing on mental health resources, special education, and programs for gifted students. I understand that each student’s needs are unique and aims to create a system that can cater to these varied requirements.
Overall, my vision is to build an education system in North Carolina that is adaptive, inclusive, and equipped to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. My approach combines innovation in teaching and learning methods with a deep commitment to the welfare of both students and educators.
C.R. Katie Eddings (D)
3936 Buckhorn Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(910) 705-6559
Website: https://eddingsforeducation.com
Maurice “Mo” Green (D)
5004 Heddon Way
Greensboro, NC 27455
(919) 803-2223
Website: www.mogreenfornc.com
Have you ever been to the Town of Davidson, or do you have a connection to our Town?
Yes, I have been to the Town of Davidson numerous times. My connections to the Town are primarily through my connections with Davidson College. My former law firm (Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, now McGuireWoods) represented the college, and my daughter is a graduate of the college. I also worked with schools located in and near the Town when I worked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as its Deputy Superintendent/Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel.
Why are you running for office?
I am concerned that North Carolina’s public school system is being dismantled. It is woefully underfunded, its educators are belittled, and student academic performance needs improvement. NC public schools need a champion who will provide a new vision. I believe I can be that champion since I have been a school district superintendent and deputy superintendent, a foundation chief executive, a school board attorney, and a member of numerous boards that deal with a host of educational issues.
What makes you the most qualified over your primary opponents?
Because the State Superintendent oversees the public school system and a large department that administers approximately $11 billion annually; develops subjects, course content, and assessments; and provides licenses to over 100,000 teachers and administrators, my experiences leading and managing large, complex organizations are significant reasons for voters to select me. My experiences have included being: Superintendent of Guilford County Schools, the third largest district in the state, for more than seven years; and Deputy Superintendent/Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, one of the largest two districts in the state, for more than seven years. I have also been the chief executive of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a large philanthropic organization that awards millions in grants to educational causes in North Carolina, and a member of numerous boards/commissions that deal with a host of educational issues, including homelessness, athletics, policy, media, arts and community support.
Moreover, I have a growing list of endorsements from, among many others, the NC Association of Educators, former NC Governors Jim Hunt and Bev Perdue, former State Superintendent June Atkinson, former Chair of the State Board of Education Bill Harrison, more than a dozen former local district superintendents, current and former United States Representatives, and the Past President of the NC Parent-Teacher Association Kelly Langston. See www.mogreenfornc.com for a list of my endorsements to date.
What is the number one thing that Davidson voters need to know about you?
I have a vision for the North Carolina public school system. My vision is for it to be recognized as an excellent school system that is the best in the country. That vision centers around preparing each and every student for whatever is next for them in life once they graduate from high school, be it college, career, military, etc. That vision matches and surpasses the North Carolina constitutional requirement regarding a sound, basic education, as defined by the North Carolina Supreme Court in the Leandro litigation. My vision also includes character development, as I believe in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “intelligence, plus character, that is the goal of true education.”
The vision to be “excellent” and “the best” is core to how I work. For example, when I was superintendent of Guilford County Schools, I worked with others to set a vision of education excellence (the successful coupling of academic achievement and character development) for the district and would share that the goal for GCS is to be the best school district in the country.
In the district’s first strategic plan, I wrote: If we commit to excellence, our children and young people, all with the capacity to be great, will respond in kind. If we expect excellence, they will deliver it. If excellence is the only acceptable option, they will embrace it, for children live what they know. While there is certainly room for continued improvement in GCS, it is through the work of many who came before me, the work of many who worked alongside me, and the work of many who have continued to work after I left GCS that the district and its schools have been routinely recognized for its excellence and for being among the best in the state and nationally in academic achievement, character development and the arts.
Voters can learn more about me through my campaign website, which is www.mogreenfornc.com and the social media links that can be accessed through that site.
What will be your top priorities?
My top priority will be to implement the vision noted above. I believe that this vision can be realized through commitments by a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., General Assembly, State Board of Education, local boards of educations, educators, Governor, parents, faith community, businesses, etc.) to the following:
- Investing fully in public education
- Revering educators (teachers as well as other educators such as custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, counselors, etc.) and paying them more
- Providing appropriate and differentiated resources for each student according to their needs
- Enhancing parent and community engagement
- Ensuring safe and secure learning environments
- Celebrating the good in public education
To that end, my top priorities include: advocating for North Carolina investing fully in its public education system; advocating for substantial increases in the base pay for all public school educators and the Department of Public Instruction employees, excluding me; and, deploying targeted resources and strategies to support lower performing schools and school systems, while implementing policies and strategies that will improve the academic achievement and character development for all students. Because I always continue to listen and learn, these priorities may change.