Charlotte Observer endorsements: Our choices for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education

November’s elections for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education aren’t quite as contentious as they have been in the recent past. Though it’s a crowded ballot, it’s not really a heated one.

That’s in part a testament to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which has reached a state of relative stability under a new superintendent and almost completely new school board. CMS is better off now than it was two and three years ago. The district made historic gains in student performance last school year, and it reduced the number of low-performing schools.

That’s not to say the district doesn’t still face challenges. Teacher shortages remain an issue, and the board will continue to grapple with the fallout from state and federal leadership that doesn’t value public education nearly as much as it should.

Here are our recommendations in contested district races:

District 1

Incumbent Melissa Easley seeks a second term in this north Mecklenburg district. Easley, a former teacher and public education advocate, has been a strong voice on the board for students, teachers and parents, and she’s also been an independent one. She values transparency and community involvement — a welcome addition to a board that once operated in secrecy.

Two other candidates are on the ballot. Bill Fountain, a former teacher and Air Force veteran, has run for school board before. Charlitta Hatch, the chief data and analytics officer for the city of Charlotte, is particularly focused on using technology and innovation to improve opportunities for students.

Hatch is a solid candidate with a strong resume, but Easley has earned another term. We recommend Easley.

District 2

There’s no incumbent running in this west Charlotte district, but both candidates in the race have run for school board before. Shamaiye Haynes is a community organizer and nonprofit leader who is endorsed by current District 2 board member Thelma Byers-Bailey. Juanrique Hall is a former volunteer coach at West Charlotte High School and community advocate for youth violence prevention.

Haynes brings a breadth of experience in various roles around the education community, including as a member of the CMS Title I advisory board and the CMS Bond Oversight Committee. She is particularly focused on improving family and community engagement with CMS, which she believes will help narrow achievement gaps. Her background and perspective would be a true asset to the board. We recommend Haynes.

District 4

Board chair Stephanie Sneed has two challengers in this east Charlotte race. Jillian King is a parent and former teacher who is pushing for more transparency and communication from the district. Robert L. Edwards is a teacher for exceptional children at CMS and says he’s passionate about improving student mental health and wellness.

Sneed has been a strong advocate for the district, particularly during a politically uncertain time for education. She’s pushed back against state and federal funding decisions that negatively impact CMS, and she’s made communication with parents a priority in times of uncertainty. That’s the kind of vocal leadership CMS needs right now. We recommend Sneed for another term.

District 5

Voters in Myers Park and Matthews have a choice between incumbent Lisa Cline and retired educator Cynthia Stone.

Cline has been a valuable member of the board during her first term. She’s someone who is willing to ask tough questions when needed and hold district leaders accountable, particularly when it comes to budget decisions and teacher pay. While the school board is officially a nonpartisan entity, Cline is the only Republican currently on the board, which provides important representation. Stone, who has a background as both a business executive and an educator, is passionate about education and views it as a tool to eliminate poverty.

We recommend Cline.

District 6

This south Mecklenburg district has three candidates seeking to fill the seat left open by board member Summer Nunn, who chose not to run for re-election. Toni Emehel is a CMS parent with a demonstrated commitment to the community through various volunteer positions. She is particularly focused on improving communication with district employees and the public. Anna London is the president and CEO of Charlotte Works, Mecklenburg County’s workforce development board. London says she wants to be a “bridge” between education and opportunity to set CMS students up for success upon graduation. Justin Shealy is a parent and family law attorney who says he wants to restore parental rights in education.

We recommend London, who has valuable experience with navigating large organizations. Her background in workforce development would be both a unique and useful addition to the board.

This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.