Robert L. Edwards, CMS Board of Education District 4 candidate, answers questions
To help inform voters in the Nov. 4, 2025, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Robert L. Edwards
Age: 47
Campaign website or social media page: electdrle.com
Occupation: CMS EC Teacher/Compliance Facilitator and Behavioral Health Specialist
Education: Doctoral Degree
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held): No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement:
With 20+ years in education and behavioral health, I’ve led civic and community voting engagement at HBCUs, advised the Shaw University NAACP, worked with the DNC, and supported local campaigns. I’ve directed behavioral health initiatives for individuals with IDD and mental health needs, organized after-school programs, expanded access to wellness resources and am currently planning community fundraisers like the 2026 Queen City Met Gala to support kidney disease awareness and arts causes.
What are the most important issues in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools today, and how would you address them?
The most pressing CMS issues are the student mental health crisis, equity in resources, post-pandemic academic recovery, and adapting to federal mandates. As a board member, I will improve in-school mental health services, ensure fair staff placement in under-resourced District 4, strengthen social-emotional learning, prepare students for workforce technology demands, retain teachers, and secure funding through partnerships that boost achievement and create safe, supportive schools.
How can the district improve student performance, close achievement gaps and get schools off the state’s low-performing list? (There were 56 CMS campuses on the low-performing list during the 2023-24 school year, and 32 in the 2024-25 school year):
To improve performance and close gaps, CMS must address root causes like mental health challenges and resource inequities. I will advocate for in-school wellness teams, trauma-informed practices, and equitable staffing, technology, and enrichment. Combining academic recovery, social-emotional learning, targeted tutoring, and partnerships with families, DSS, and community providers will raise achievement and move schools off the low-performing list.
How should the school system handle decisions by the federal government that you may disagree with or that negatively affect the district? And how should the district communicate with the public about the effects of those decisions?
The district should respond to federal decisions that negatively affect CMS by assessing their impact, standing firm by advocating for students and their families’ best interests, and working with state and local partners to locate solutions. Communication with the public must be transparent, timely, and clear, using multiple channels so families understand both the challenges and the district’s plan of action. Teacher shortages remain a challenge across North Carolina and the nation.
What do you believe CMS needs to do in order to attract teachers and keep experienced ones in the classroom?
CMS should invest in educators, respecting their time, prioritizing their wellness by listening and acting on their needs, and offering competitive pay, manageable class sizes, and strong professional development. Supporting mental health and creating positive, well-resourced environments will help attract and retain quality educators.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?
What separates me is my experience. I have over 20 years of experience in education and behavioral health, giving me the expertise to address learning gaps and mental health needs with practical, evidence-based solutions. My experience as both an educator and a behavioral health professional gives me a unique, dual perspective to address academic and wellness needs together, ensuring every student has the support to succeed. Most importantly, I bring a fresh vision rooted in real experience.
