Who is Trent Merchant, District 5 CMS Board of Education candidate?
Name: Trent Merchant
School board seat you’re seeking: District 5, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 52
Campaign website: trentmerchant.com
Email: trent@trentmerchant.com
Occupation: Executive search consultant
Education: MA - US History - Wake Forest University - 2002. BA - History (concentration in Africa and Asia) - Washington and Lee University - 1992.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought): Yes. Won an at-large seat on the CMS Board of Education in 2007.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement: CMS Board of Education, At Large Member 2006-2011. Epiphany School of Charlotte, Board Member 2021-2022. Charlotte Rotary Club, Member 2006-2012. Youth Sports Coach - Myers Park Trinity Little League, Yes I Can Basketball, YMCAs, Optimist Club, etc 1989-2018.
What qualities, skills and experiences do you think would make a good superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Success leading a complex organization with multiple sites and many customers. Courage, decisiveness. High EQ — empathy, self awareness, ability to neutralize toxicity. Exceptional communication skills, especially listening and adaptation. Track record of hiring people better than them. Gives away credit and accepts blame. Organization builder, not a resume builder. Strategic, with good mid-range vision. Preference for an authentic, inspirational leadership style.
CMS, along with other districts across the country and state, has lost a lot of teachers. What are your ideas to keep teachers in CMS classrooms?
Recruit strong principals who will encourage creativity, and have teachers’ backs. Build a culture of support for teachers. Focus volunteer efforts on taking side duties off of teachers’ plates. Generate and celebrate early wins, engage the business community, and advocate with county and state from a position of affirmation rather weakness. Build an endowment to fund teacher supplements. Ensure safe schools. Reduce burdensome licensing requirements. Let teachers lead professional development.
What solutions would you offer to improve student and employee safety on CMS school campuses?
Place safety considerations at the top of the priority list in all construction/renovation. Practice safety drills in ways that do not induce trauma. I support the detection/deterrence measures deployed by the interim superintendent so far. Work with students to create relevant anti-bullying education. Partner with outside groups to offer mental health resources. Teach proven calming techniques — meditation, breathing, yoga. Grow community by emphasizing similarities in order to build relationships.
How do you define CMS’ achievement gap? How can CMS bridge the achievement gap, raise test scores and get the 50 district schools off of the low-performing list?
The gap is the space between potential and actual performance. We need to set realistic stretch goals — celebrate growth but keep pushing for attainment of performance goals. The board must focus relentlessly on raising the bar and closing the gap, then follow the operational model we used to win the broad prize. Get the best principals in front of students who need the most help, give them flexibility and use actionable data to target additional support. Monitor, adapt, celebrate, repeat.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
I bring unmatched experience and expertise to the role. When I was on the CMS board in 2006-2011, I was a leader in transforming CMS from broken to outstanding. I am a strong independent voice with broad bipartisan support from numerous leaders, including a majority of the County Commission, and all commissioners whose districts overlap mine. I’m a talent expert who will hire the right superintendent. I’m also a father of three CMS students, proven business leader and former teacher.
This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 1:19 PM.
