The race for North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction has captured national attention due to the sharp contrast between candidates Mo Green, a Democrat with extensive experience in public education, and Michele Morrow, a Republican who brings a non-traditional background to the race.
Mo Green has spent 15 years in the public school system, including leadership roles as superintendent of Guilford County Schools and deputy superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
His platform emphasizes strengthening public education, addressing teacher shortages, and increasing funding for public schools to improve educational outcomes statewide.
Green’s campaign underscores his belief that experience within the school system is critical to effectively leading it.
Michele Morrow, on the other hand, is a former nurse from Cary who homeschooled her five children. Her surprise win over incumbent Catherine Truitt in the GOP primary has spotlighted her campaign’s appeal to voters seeking change.
However, Morrow has faced scrutiny for remarks that some have interpreted as inflammatory regarding schools and political violence.
While she contends that these statements were either jokes or misinterpretations, Green has pointed to them as evidence of her unsuitability for overseeing North Carolina’s public schools.
With each candidate representing differing visions for the future of North Carolina’s education system, voters face a choice that could significantly shape public education policy and priorities across the state.