After the November election, North Carolina will have a new state superintendent of public instruction. That position has the power to influence policies, curriculum and funding for public education.
Many local educators are concerned about the Republican candidate, homeschooler Michele Morrow.
Forsyth County Association of Educators (FCAE) President Jenny Easter, a Republican, says she and other teachers feel that’s a dangerous position for Morrow to be in.
“I think they are very scared that she's just gonna dismantle public schools even more than what the General Assembly has already accomplished thus far," Easter said.
Just last year, state legislators voted to expand a private school voucher program, eliminating income caps.
Morrow claims there are "racially divisive and sexually explicit agendas" in public schools and has referred to them as “indoctrination centers." She has also gained national attention for spreading false claims about the LGBTQ+ community, calling for the public execution of prominent Democrats and participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
FCAE has endorsed her opponent, Democratic candidate Mo Green for the job. He’s a former superintendent of Guilford County Schools and has worked in public education for more than a decade.
Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.