As of June 23, 2024, Ann B. Edwards did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Facebook

Ann has experience working as a principal for Davenport Elementary School, a teacher, and an office administrator. 

NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, ELECTION RESULTS - CALDWELL 2016

Caldwell County Schools, Board Member Profiles

Ann B. Edwards currently serves as a Caldwell County Board of Education member. She was elected to this position in 2016 and is serving her second term. 

As of June 10, 2025, Ann B. Edwards did not have a website or any information online.

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

LinkedIn

Ann B. Edwards

Caldwell Schools

Chris lives in Granite Falls, North Carolina.

As of June 22, 2024, Chris Becker did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Chris Becker currently serves as a County Board of Education Member in Caldwell County. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term.

Plans to address the distribution of funds.

Wants to seek out grants to assist with building and facility needs.

- Plans to address the distribution of funds.
- Wants to seek out grants to assist with building and facility needs.

As of June 10, 2025, Chris Becker did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to provide teachers with resources and assistance while remaining "fiscally responsible."

- Wants to provide teachers with resources and assistance while remaining "fiscally responsible."

Supports utilizing Google in the classroom, forming more online partnerships, and enhancing technology.

- Supports utilizing Google in the classroom, forming more online partnerships, and enhancing technology.

Wants to address nutritional concerns and improve meal planning, preparations, and operations.

Plans to address cyberbullying and engage parents with online resources to help monitor students.

Supports free breakfast and lunch for students.

- Wants to address nutritional concerns and improve meal planning, preparations, and operations.
- Plans to address cyberbullying and engage parents with online resources to help monitor students.
- Supports free breakfast and lunch for students.

Chris Becker

BAKER REALTY, Meet Darrell

Darell is from Caldwell County. He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Appalachian State University. Darrell resides in Lenoir, and attends the First Baptist Church of Lenoir. 

Darrell works as a realtor for Baker Realty of Lenoir Inc. He has experience working as a high school social studies teacher. 


NC SBE Contest Results

Darrell Clayton Pennell currently serves as a Caldwell County Board of Education member. He was elected to this position in 2010 and is serving his fourth term. 

As of June 10, 2025, Darrell Clayton Pennell did not have a website or any information online.

Darrell Clayton Pennell

Michael and his wife Sarah live in Caldwell County and have adult children. 

Michael is a retired English teacher who has worked at South Caldwell High School. 

Michael Barrick served one term on the Caldwell County Board of Education from 1998 to 2001. He ran for State Senator for North Carolina State Senate District 46 in 2020 and North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2000, but did not win. 

As of June 10, 2025, Michael Barrick’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate website

Believes in local control of education to provide greater opportunities for students. Plans to protect students, parents, and educators from state mandates to foster creativity and innovation in schools.

Supports local control of education and aims to avoid state mandates. 

Supports empowering local initiatives to provide students with alternatives to traditional educational methods.

Supports local initiatives to provide students with alternatives to traditional educational methods.

- Supports local control of education and aims to avoid state mandates. 
- Supports local initiatives to provide students with alternatives to traditional educational methods.

Believes teachers should have the liberty to teach freely to help students reach their potential. Supports protecting teachers' rights and ensuring they are assessed fairly by administrators.

Believes teachers should have the liberty to teach freely.

Believes teaching should encourage questioning authority and inquisitiveness. Plans to “offer voters the same” dedication to critical thinking as he demands from his students.

Believes teaching should encourage questioning authority and inquisitiveness. 

- Believes teachers should have the liberty to teach freely.
- Believes teaching should encourage questioning authority and inquisitiveness. 

Believes "liberty is the key to a sound education" and opposes state-mandated testing, advocating for local control and teacher autonomy.

Opposes state-mandated testing, advocating for local control and teacher autonomy.

Believes schools should focus on their mission of teaching children and avoid "culture wars" that distract from this goal.

- Opposes state-mandated testing, advocating for local control and teacher autonomy.
- Believes schools should focus on their mission of teaching children and avoid "culture wars" that distract from this goal.

Twitter

Michael Barrick

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 