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

THE STAR, Cleveland County Board of education candidates talk priorities, challenges and team work

Wants to develop trust and "collaborate with teammates" to foster teamwork.

Plans to set goals and establish roles for the team she works with.

Supports communication and receiving feedback from coworkers.

- Wants to develop trust and "collaborate with teammates" to foster teamwork.
- Plans to set goals and establish roles for the team she works with.
- Supports communication and receiving feedback from coworkers.

School Facilities & Resources

As of June 9, 2025, Tracy Ross did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

Plans to establish teacher policies aimed to address "the learning crisis", including increased teacher compassion and empathy, providing active listening instruction, and developing stronger student and parent relationships.

- Plans to establish teacher policies aimed to address "the learning crisis", including increased teacher compassion and empathy, providing active listening instruction, and developing stronger student and parent relationships.

Teachers

School Curriculum

Believes "learning crisis, bullying, and parent involvement" are the most important issues for County Schools.

Plans to install policies aimed to minimize bullying.

- Believes "learning crisis, bullying, and parent involvement" are the most important issues for County Schools.
- Plans to install policies aimed to minimize bullying.

Student Wellbeing

Facebook

Tracy Ross

Cleveland County Democratic Party, SAVE THE CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

The Star, Former Crest coach honored

Coleman is from Boiling Springs and graduated from Crest High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from Gardner-Webb University. He has two children. 

Coleman was previously a teacher, principal, coach, and athletic director.

Ballotpedia, Coleman Hunt

Coleman Hunt is currently a Cleveland County Board of Education member. He was elected in 2017 and is serving his second term.

As of June 9, 2025, Coleman Hunt did not have a website or any information online.

Coleman Hunt

David is from Shelby, North Carolina, and lives there now with his wife, Julie. He attended Shelby High and studied business administration at Cleveland County Community College. 

David previously worked for the City of Shelby's Parks & Recreation Department. 

David Fisher’s campaign for the Cleveland County Board of Education is his first run for public office.


As of June 9, 2025, David Fisher did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "I have conservative values and promise to represent all students and fight for higher standards of education."

- Said, "I have conservative values and promise to represent all students and fight for higher standards of education."

David Fisher

Gloria earned her bachelor's degree in elementary and middle grades education and her master's degree in K-12 school administration from Gardner-Webb University. She and her husband Steve have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Gloria previously worked as a community in schools program director, an adjunct professor at Garner-Webb University, a principal, an elementary and middle school teacher, and a teacher assistant.

Gloria Sherman's campaign for Cleveland County Board of Education is her first run for public office.

As of June 9, 2025, Gloria Sherman did not have a website or any information online.

Plans to support advancements in all departments and teachers achieving advanced degrees.

Advocates for teacher support in instruction, classroom management, and curriculum support.

- Plans to support advancements in all departments and teachers achieving advanced degrees.
- Advocates for teacher support in instruction, classroom management, and curriculum support.

Plans to put in measurable goals to increase student achievement.

- Encourages parental engagement.
- Plans to put in measurable goals to increase student achievement.

Wants to make sure schools have the tools to respond to emergency situtations.

- Wants to make sure schools have the tools to respond to emergency situtations.

Gloria Sherman

LinkedIn

Joel is from Shelby, North Carolina. He earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University.

Joel is retired. He previously worked as a Major at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and as an instructor at Cleveland Community College.

Cleveland County Schools, Board of Education

Joel Shores is currently a Cleveland County Board of Education member. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term. He is currently the vice chairperson. He previously served as a Shelby City council member, serving 2 terms from 2005 to 2013. 

As of June 9, 2025, Joel Shores did not have a website or any information online.

Helped create student managment assistance response teams that are trained in suicidial ideation and risk assessment.

Said, "Security will always be a top priority for me."

- Helped create student managment assistance response teams that are trained in suicidial ideation and risk assessment.
- Supported weapon detectors.
- Said, "Security will always be a top priority for me."

Instagram

Twitter

Joel Shores

Kenneth is from Casar, North Carolina, and attended Burns High School. He later attended Western Carolina University

Kenneth has experience working with Cleveland County Schools. 

Ballotpedia, Kenneth A. Ledford

Kenneth A. Ledford's campaign for the Cleveland County Board of Education is his first run for public office. 

As of June 9, 2025, Kenneth A. Ledford did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to mandate the Superintendent implement policies and procedures that received board approval by providing instructions and evaluations to the Superintendent.

- Wants to mandate the Superintendent implement policies and procedures that received board approval by providing instructions and evaluations to the Superintendent.

Believes the most important issues for County Schools are "developing a board [that]...can work together for the betterment of our children, discipline in the schools, [and] bulling and eliminating inappropriate books in school libraries..."

- Believes the most important issues for County Schools are "developing a board [that]...can work together for the betterment of our children, discipline in the schools, [and] bulling and eliminating inappropriate books in school libraries..."

Wants to develop community trust by installing an Open Door Policy for students, parents, teachers, school staff, and administrators.

- Wants to develop community trust by installing an Open Door Policy for students, parents, teachers, school staff, and administrators.

Kenneth A. Ledford

Rod is originally from Anderson, South Carolina. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his master's degrees in gifted education and secondary gifted education and teaching from Lenoir-Rhyne University. He and his wife Kim live in Casar.

Rod is retired. He previously worked as a teacher leader at Mooresville High School and as a social studies educator at West Lincoln High School.

Rod Powell's campaign for the Cleveland County Board of Education is his first run for public office.

Said, "I will fight to keep our tax dollars in our county public school system."

- Said, "I will fight to keep our tax dollars in our county public school system."

As of June 9, 2025, Rod Powell did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "I will ensure that our students have the digital survival skills and critical thinking skills to navigate our modern high-tech world."

- Said, "I will ensure that our students have the digital survival skills and critical thinking skills to navigate our modern high-tech world."

Said, "I will embrace, promote, and celebrate diversity in Cleveland County schools."

- Said, "I will embrace, promote, and celebrate diversity in Cleveland County schools."

Rod Powell

Ron is originally from Shelby, North Carolina. He serves as vice-chair on the Kings Mountain Planning and Zoning Board. He lives with his wife, Mercedes, in Kings Mountain and they are members of First Baptist Church. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Ron currently works as a consultant at TGS Engineers. He previously worked as a professional land surveyor, assistant locating engineer, and engineering aide at the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Ron Humphries currently serves as County Board of Education Member in Cleveland County. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term. 

Candidate website

Supports funding and staffing the maintenance department to properly maintain and improve school assets and infrastructure.

Supports funding and staffing the maintenance department to maintain and improve school assets and infrastructure.

Plans to ensure the School System operates effectively and promises to be a good steward of tax dollars by allocating funds to meet students' needs and drive improvement.

Plans to effectively use funds to meet students' needs.

- Supports funding and staffing the maintenance department to maintain and improve school assets and infrastructure.
- Plans to effectively use funds to meet students' needs.

Believes categorizing students by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status in education is harmful and perpetuates biases. Supports removing grouping and labels from educational institutions to prevent irreparable harm.

Supports removing groupings and labels, such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, in education to prevent harm and biases.

Believes delegating "close the gap" responsibility to local school districts will better address educational disparities. Said, "accountability occurs after the fact," while "responsibility requires taking continuous ownership."

Believes delegating "close the gap" responsibility to local school districts will better address educational disparities. 

Believes providing a "sound basic education" is a complex task requiring local and state collaboration. Supports investment in education as vital to the future health and well-being of the community.

- Supports removing groupings and labels, such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, in education to prevent harm and biases.
- Believes delegating "close the gap" responsibility to local school districts will better address educational disparities. 

Believes teachers should be treated as professionals and opposes increased governmental oversight. Supports equipping and supporting teachers to improve student outcomes.

Opposes increased governmental oversight of teachers.  

Believes teachers should be respected as professionals and granted autonomy. Opposes excessive government oversight and standardized test-based evaluations.

- Opposes increased governmental oversight of teachers.  

Believes schools should focus less on standardized testing and more on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Said, "Every new education reform enacted in the US since the 1970s has increased testing and made it increasingly difficult for teachers to teach."

Wants schools to focus less on standardized testing and more on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Believes the US school curriculum is "inflexible and stringent" compared to Finland's flexible, teacher-developed approach. Supports a broad-based guideline allowing local adaptation to meet students' needs.

Supports Finland's flexible, teacher-developed curriculum that allows "valuable class time to promotes inquiry, analysis, and application."

Believes all graduates should be equipped with critical thinking skills, practical knowledge, and a strong academic foundation to pursue college, trade school, or the workforce.

Wants all students to have critical thinking skills, practical knowledge, and a strong academic foundation for college, trade school, or the workforce.

Believes in meeting the diverse needs of students and teachers through differentiated instruction and culturally responsive education. Supports educational equity by providing equal opportunities rather than identical treatment.

Said, "To achieve educational equity our students need the same opportunities, not the same treatment. Our curriculum should incorporate differentiated instruction and culturally responsive education."

- Wants schools to focus less on standardized testing and more on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 
- Supports Finland's flexible, teacher-developed curriculum that allows "valuable class time to promotes inquiry, analysis, and application."
- Wants all students to have critical thinking skills, practical knowledge, and a strong academic foundation for college, trade school, or the workforce.
- Said, "To achieve educational equity our students need the same opportunities, not the same treatment. Our curriculum should incorporate differentiated instruction and culturally responsive education."

Believes in prioritizing the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the public. Plans to seek necessary funding for personnel, training, and equipment to ensure school safety.

Prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the public. 

Believes Cleveland County Schools should provide a "safe, supportive learning environment" and exceptional care for students and staff.

Believes in prioritizing the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff.

Believes the school system must openly share relevant information when problems arise, except for personnel or student issues protected by confidentiality laws.

Believes the school system must share relevant information when problems arise.

- Prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the public. 
- Believes the school system must share relevant information when problems arise.

Ron Humphries

- 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. 