2022 CMS District 1: Melissa Easley | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR ...

Melissa Easley lives in Charlotte. She has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in K-12 instructional technology from Walden University She married to her husband, Jeff, with whom she has 2 children. She is a member of the National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators.

Melissa Easley unseats veteran CMS board member | Cornelius ...

Melissa is a customer support specialist at Nearpod LLC. She previously worked as a science and social studies teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for ten years.

Melissa Easley — LPAC

2022 midterm elections: CMS Board of Education results | wcnc.com

Melissa currently serves a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education in District 1. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

Plans to address building code and life safety issues, such as HVAC systems and broken windows, before addressing class sizes and obsolete facilities.

During 2022 campaign, planned to address building code and life safety issues, such as HVAC systems and broken windows, before addressing class sizes and obsolete facilities.

Plans to address "pandemic learning losses, closing achievement gaps, and broadening advanced performers opportunities to ensure all students are college or career ready."

- During 2022 campaign, planned to address building code and life safety issues, such as HVAC systems and broken windows, before addressing class sizes and obsolete facilities.
- Plans to address "pandemic learning losses, closing achievement gaps, and broadening advanced performers opportunities to ensure all students are college or career ready."

School Facilities & Resources

Supports prioritizing public education in funding and town management.

During  2022 campaign, prioritized fully funding public schools and effective town management. 

Supports keeping early literacy a top priority, so every child is reading on grade level by 3rd grade.

Wants to broaden access to advanced courses, career paths, and the arts.

Aims to "continue closing achievement gaps by directing resources and supports where they are most needed."

Aims to  close achievement gaps by directing resources where most needed. 

- During  2022 campaign, prioritized fully funding public schools and effective town management. 
- Supports keeping early literacy a top priority, so every child is reading on grade level by 3rd grade.
- Wants to broaden access to advanced courses, career paths, and the arts.
- Aims to  close achievement gaps by directing resources where most needed. 

Access to Education

Believes in ensuring teachers feel "supported, valued and trusted" to enhance student achievement.

Wants to ensure teachers feel "supported, valued and trusted" to enhance student achievement.

Voted to prioritize teacher retention strategies that reduced turnover in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Supports "competitive and sustainable pay raises that keep pace with cost of living."

Supports competitive and sustainable  teacher pay raises that keeps up  with the  cost of living.

Supports "stronger mentoring and support for new teachers to reduce early-career burnout."

Wants better mentoring and support to prevent early-career burnout for teachers. 

- Wants to ensure teachers feel "supported, valued and trusted" to enhance student achievement.
- Voted to prioritize teacher retention strategies that reduced turnover in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
- Supports competitive and sustainable  teacher pay raises that keeps up  with the  cost of living.
- Wants better mentoring and support to prevent early-career burnout for teachers. 

Teachers

Believes in improving both academic strategy and school culture to enhance student success.

Believes in improving both academic strategy and school culture for student success.

- Believes in improving both academic strategy and school culture for student success.

School Curriculum

Supports continued evaluation of school buildings to enhance physical safety measures for students.

Said in 2022, CMS has improved safety by adding body scanners and trained staff screenings with law enforcement support, and wanted to keep evaluating each school to ensure students’ physical safety. 

Plans to implement policies that address bullying, bigotry, and racism in schools.

Supported policies that address bullying, bigotry, and racism in schools.

Supports hiring more mental health professionals in schools.

Supports having a nurse and social worker in every school.

- Said in 2022, CMS has improved safety by adding body scanners and trained staff screenings with law enforcement support, and wanted to keep evaluating each school to ensure students’ physical safety. 
- Supported policies that address bullying, bigotry, and racism in schools.
- Supports hiring more mental health professionals in schools.
- Supports having a nurse and social worker in every school.

Student Wellbeing

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Melissa Easley

- During 2022 campaign, planned to address building code and life safety issues, such as HVAC systems and broken windows, before addressing class sizes and obsolete facilities.

- During  2022 campaign, prioritized fully funding public schools and effective town management. 

- Wants to ensure teachers feel "supported, valued and trusted" to enhance student achievement.

- Said in 2022, CMS has improved safety by adding body scanners and trained staff screenings with law enforcement support, and wanted to keep evaluating each school to ensure students’ physical safety. 
- Supported policies that address bullying, bigotry, and racism in schools.

Melissa Easley is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a bachelor of arts in history and a master of arts in K-12 instructional technology from Appalachian State University. She lives with her two children in Charlotte. She is a member of the National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators.

Melissa is currently a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, representing District 1. She is completing her first term after being elected in 2022.

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Walter Ley

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Bill Fountain holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Mississippi State University and a master's degree in business management and supervision from Central Michigan University. 

Bill is retired. He previously worked as a Middle & High school teacher and a program and marketing manager at Northrop Grumman. He served in the US Air Force for 20 years, where he was a fighter pilot. 

In CMS District 1 school board race, a longtime incumbent faces four ...

Bill's campaign for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics.

Believes CMS has prioritized "social and political agendas over core academics," saying it "steered children toward a victimhood mindset, undermined parental values, and tolerated code of conduct violations."

- Plans to prioritize academic excellence.
- Believes CMS has prioritized "social and political agendas over core academics," saying it "steered children toward a victimhood mindset, undermined parental values, and tolerated code of conduct violations."

Supports "school choice", which are programs and policies that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools. 

Believes in keeping education decisions local and promoting traditional values and respectful behavior in classrooms.

Wants to keep  education decisions local. 

- Supports "school choice", which are programs and policies that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools. 
- Wants to keep  education decisions local. 

As of September 5, 2025, Bill Fountain’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes discussions of sexuality in schools.

Believes in prioritizing academic excellence, protecting parental rights, ensuring safe learning environments, and upholding American principles to make opportunity possible.

Wants to ensure learning spaces are safe and supportive. 

- Opposes schools discussing sexuality. 
- Wants to ensure learning spaces are safe and supportive. 

Bill Fountain

As of September 5, 2025, Bill Fountain did not have a website or any information online.

Charlitta Hatch is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Hampton University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she is also currently pursuing a Ph.D. with a certificate in Qualitative Research and Social Systems Transformation. She is married to her husband, Mark, and they have two children.. She is also Baptist and a member of Chappell Memorial Baptist Church. 

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Charlitta currently serves as Chief Data and Analytics Officer and Deputy Director of Innovation and Technology for the City of Charlotte. She is also a Senior Director of Slalom and an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina, elections ...

Charlitta Hatch's campaign for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education Member, District 1 is her first entry into politics.

Supports trust and transparency for families by advocating for open communication, clear decisions, and stronger school-family partnerships.

Wants trust and transparency for families and plans to advocate for open communication, clear decisions, and stronger school-family partnerships.

- Wants trust and transparency for families and plans to advocate for open communication, clear decisions, and stronger school-family partnerships.

Believes every student, regardless of zip code, should have access to safe, inclusive, and future-ready schools.

Believes every student, regardless of zip code, should have access to safe, inclusive, and innovative schools.

- Believes every student, regardless of zip code, should have access to safe, inclusive, and innovative schools.

As of September 5, 2025, Charlitta Hatch’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports teaching children how to use artificial intelligence safely and ethically.

- Supports teaching children how to use artificial intelligence safely and ethically.

Plans to invest in mental health, inclusive school climates, and tools that support belonging.

Believes in leading with empathy and centering students and families in decision-making, saying, "Every child matters."

Supports advocating for "equity and fairness" to ensure all children have the resources they need to learn and thrive.

- Plans to invest in mental health, inclusive school climates, and tools that support belonging.
- Believes in leading with empathy and centering students and families in decision-making, saying, "Every child matters."
- Supports advocating for "equity and fairness" to ensure all children have the resources they need to learn and thrive.

Charlitta Hatch

Charlitta Hatch is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Hampton University, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. with a certificate in Qualitative Research and Social Systems Transformation at the same university. She is married to her high-school sweetheart, Mark, and they have two children. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and Chappell Memorial Baptist Church.

Charlitta's campaign for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education Member, District 1 is her first entry into politics.

As of September 5, 2025, Charlitta Hatch did not have a website or any information online.

Charlitta Hatch is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Hampton University, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and is pursuing a Ph.D. with a certificate in Qualitative Research and Social Systems Transformation at the same university. She lives with her husband, Mark, and their two children in Charlotte. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and Chappell Memorial Baptist Church.

- 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. 