2026 North Carolina General Election

How long have you lived
in Whiteville?:
I am a native of Whiteville
and have lived here my entire
life.

October 2022 supplement PDF (The News Reporter candidate guide)

Please describe your education:
I hold a B.A. in English
from East Carolina University
and an M.A. in English education from the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke.

Please list your immediate family members (optional):
I am the daughter of Jerry
and Suzanne Hall and the
mother of Riles, age 13, and
Porter Grace, age 10.

Anna Richardson is a native of Whiteville and has lived there her entire life. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from East Carolina University and a master's degree in English education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She is the mother of two children.

What is your current occupation?:
I am an English instructor
at Southeastern Community
College.

Please describe your professional experience:
I started my teaching career
in 2002 and taught both middle
school and high school English for 11 years. I then served
as a curriculum and instructional coach before coming to
SCC in 2015.

Anna currently works as an English instructor at Southeastern Community College. She previously taught middle and high school English and served as a curriculum and instructional coach.

Phyllis Haynes is challenging incumbent Anna Richardson for the District 1 seat on the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education. Richardson, an educator who has taught classes from middle school to higher education, was first elected to the board after beating incumbent Carlton Prince in 2018.

The seats are currently held by Anna Richardson, who represents District 1 and serves as board vice chair; David Flowers, who represents District 2; and Byron Fisher, the board's at-large member. The three were elected to the board in 2022.

Candidate filing begins for Whiteville school board races

Anna currently serves on the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education, representing District 1. She was first elected in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.

Candidate filing begins for Whiteville school board races | News

How do you plan to increase school grades and
overall student success?
The vast majority of North
Carolina schools experienced
dips in their performance
grades due to learning loss
during the pandemic. Key
strategies to address lowperforming status include:
data tracking in professional
learning communities, strategic planning for intervention
and enrichment, supplemental
instructional opportunities
outside of the school day and
a focus on strengthening Tier
I instruction for all students.

Proposes data tracking, intervention and enrichment planning, supplemental instruction, and stronger Tier I instruction to address low-performing schools.

- Proposes data tracking, intervention and enrichment planning, supplemental instruction, and stronger Tier I instruction to address low-performing schools.

School Curriculum

To ensure small class sizes,
Whiteville City Schools has
used ESSER funds to hire for
positions. We are also focusing
on targeted remediation in
small groups, as well as afterschool tutoring via our 21st
Century Community Learning
Centers. There is no quick or
easy way to address learning
loss, but we are already seeing
improvement in some areas.

Said the district focuses on small-group remediation and after-school tutoring through 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

- Said the district focuses on small-group remediation and after-school tutoring through 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

School Facilities & Resources

How would you ensure
students stay safe while at
school?
In the past year, we have
implemented multiple measures to improve safety on our
campuses. We have installed
updated security fencing and
camera systems. In addition,
all exterior doors have been
retrofitted with camera/speaker system/electronic locks
for total building security.

We have installed
updated security fencing and
camera systems. In addition,
all exterior doors have been
retrofitted with camera/speaker system/electronic locks
for total building security.

We also introduced nuisance
abatement for properties with
repeated code violations and
police service calls, resulting
in forfeiture of properties in
proximity to schools.

Finally,
school resource officers are
now in each school building
all day.

We also introduced nuisance
abatement for properties with
repeated code violations and
police service calls, resulting
in forfeiture of properties in
proximity to schools. Finally,
school resource officers are
now in each school building
all day. There is always room
to improve school security,
but we are taking significant
steps to ensure the safety of
all students.

Said Whiteville City Schools installed security fencing, camera systems, and electronic locks on exterior doors to improve campus safety.

Said the district introduced measures to address nuisances at properties near schools that had repeated code violations and police service calls.

Said school resource officers are assigned to each school building throughout the day.

- Said Whiteville City Schools installed security fencing, camera systems, and electronic locks on exterior doors to improve campus safety.
- Said the district introduced measures to address nuisances at properties near schools that had repeated code violations and police service calls.
- Said school resource officers are assigned to each school building throughout the day.

Student Wellbeing

What is another issue or
policy proposal that you
plan to address?
Learning loss from the pandemic is the most significant
issue we are facing right now.
To ensure small class sizes,
Whiteville City Schools has
used ESSER funds to hire for
positions. We are also focusing
on targeted remediation in
small groups, as well as afterschool tutoring via our 21st
Century Community Learning
Centers.

Said Whiteville City Schools used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to fund positions supporting small class sizes.

- Said Whiteville City Schools used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to fund positions supporting small class sizes.

Teachers

As of September 2, 2026, Anna Richardson did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

Anna Richardson

As of September 2, 2026, Anna Richardson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and make decisions about the superintendent’s personnel recommendations.
- Members of the board must act as a unit based on majority rule. A member cannot make decisions or act independently.
- Board of Education members are elected to staggered four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Whiteville City Board of Education Member, District 1

Candidates (1)