Justin Shealy, CMS Board of Education District 6 candidate, answers our 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: Justin Shealy
Age: 35
Campaign website or social media page: shealyforschoolboard.com
Occupation: Attorney
Education:
Juris Doctor - Charlotte School of Law Bachelor of Arts - University of South Carolina at Aiken
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held): No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement:
Vice President - York County Bar Association; Co-Chair of the South Carolina Young Lawyer’s Division Community Outreach Committee
What are the most important issues in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools today, and how would you address them?
Our students deserve a strong foundation in reading, math, and science through evidence-based instruction and early literacy. Nearly 1 in 4 CMS students are chronically absent. We can’t raise test scores if they aren’t in the classroom. We must address the causes of absenteeism and enforce attendance policies already in place. No more passing students who haven’t done the work. Accountability and high expectations are key to student success.
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):
Improving student performance starts with fixing our attendance issues. Children cannot learn if they aren’t in the classroom. We need to work to identify and remove barriers to attendance, return to strong basic education in reading, writing and math and invest in teachers by providing the training and resources they need. Safe, focused classrooms and school-specific solutions, not a one-size fits all approach, will ensure every child receives a high-quality education.
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?
As a school district at the local level, we are often impacted by decisions at the federal level, both good and bad. When a decision by the federal government directly impacts our district, we should immediately communicate that decision with our community and let them know how it will impact our resources. Additionally, we should fight to protect the resources that we believe are owed to our community to ensure that we can continue to provide the necessary support to our students.
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?
Teacher shortages are not just a CMS issue, but a national issue. With any profession, it starts with compensation. We need to evaluate the compensation structure to ensure that we are providing competitive pay to our teachers. Additionally, teachers need to feel respected and supported. Even if their pay is not an issue, if they don’t feel like they have the support they need, they will continue to leave. We should listen to the needs of the teachers and address them to ensure that we can retain the talent we have and attract new talent each year.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?
I’m a parent who has made tough decisions about my child’s education and a professional who works daily with vulnerable children and families. I’m not a politician. I’m running to make CMS schools stronger academically and safer for students and teachers. As a parent, child advocate, and community member, I have both a personal and professional stake in our schools’ success, and that’s what makes me the best choice this November.
