Mr. Joel Lillard
Titles: Vice Chairman Board of Education, District 2 - Term Expires 2026
Email:

Board Members

Joel Lillard currently serves on the Caswell County Board of Education for District 2.

Board Members - Caswell County Schools

2026 North Carolina General Election

Both boards agreed with a suggestion made by Board of Education Vice Chair Joel Lillard for the school system to develop a direct communication channel with County Planning and/or Central Permitting, so they begin regularly receiving data and information related to housing development to better inform their own decision-making around elementary school districts.

Commissioners and Board of Education Focus on Future

Proposed a direct channel with county planning offices to receive housing-development data for elementary-school district planning.

- Proposed a direct channel with county planning offices to receive housing-development data for elementary-school district planning.

School Facilities & Resources

As of April 6, 2026, Joel Lillard did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

Employee Morale
Nicole Smith shared she would like to look into areas that we can help our teachers noting if a teacher has requested a transfer to a school and it was denied that we should look into this and try to accommodate staff that wish to transfer. Dr. Carter shared that all transfer requests may not be a good fit for the school. Nicole Smith shared that she would like to see this occur if it was a good fit.
Mel Battle shared that we are a small system and transfers are not always available. Nicole shared that we need to find a way to improve our relationships with the central office staff and our schools. Dr. Carter shared the central office should be helping and we all have to work together. It was suggested that these areas need to be worked on.
Joel Lillard shared that even when a transfer or an interview takes place with employees or anyone, someone should follow-up with them. He is hearing that staff may express interest for an opening and are never given the opportunity to interview and if they do, they never hear anything as a follow-up. He felt that all staff, if interested, should receive an interview. Information is not being trickled down to the employee and there is a gap in communication.

CASWELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES — January 23, 2023 (Work Session Minutes)

Exit Interview Process
Discussion took place on exit interviews and how they are handled. Exit interviews are mailed with a self-addressed stamp return envelope.
Joel Lillard shared he has spoken with someone in Human Resources from another district to see how they handle it. He shared that exit interviews are given face to face to employees that are leaving within three days of their last day of employment. There were just a few basic questions included that asked:
• Are we doing well
• Areas to improve upon
• Would you consider staying
• How do we do with communication
• Did leadership have anything to do with your reason to leave
Joel Lillard asked if we can revamp our process to gain more input and find out why our teachers are leaving.
Trudy Blackwell shared that some have fear of retaliation if recommendations are needed from employer. Nicole Smith shared that she thought legally there are only certain questions that you can answer.
Action: Dr. Murray is to revamp the exit interview process and bring a plan back to the board.

Four-day work week
Joel Lillard felt this needed to be discussed; however, Mel Battle asked to hold and discuss at the next work session. Dr. Carter shared she is hearing that the schools looking to do this only have a four-hour cushion in the entire school calendar and there are several concerns to look at regarding implement weather and extending the work day. Joel Lillard suggested sending out a survey to receive teacher input.
Trudy Blackwell shared she would like to hear an update on academics and where we are at the next meeting or the next work session.

Dr. Barker recommended to use the new scale with the $50.00 increase and pay out to the people who have already worked and then look at determining a new listing at the work session.
Joel Lillard moved, seconded by Gladys Garland, to pay coaches off the approved 2013-2014 supplemental position salary scale and look at putting a new salary scale in place with allocation of coaches for the next school year. The motion was 3 to 3 (Nicole Smith, Vennie Beggarly, and Tracy Stanley voted “No” and Trudy Blackwell was absent). Motion died due to tie vote.

december.pdf

Advocates interviewing all interested staff and following up after staff transfers or interviews.

Calls for revamping exit interviews to gather more input and identify why teachers leave.

Proposes surveying teachers for input on a potential four-day school week.

Moved unsuccessfully to pay coaches under the approved salary scale and develop a new coach salary scale for the following school year.

- Advocates interviewing all interested staff and following up after staff transfers or interviews.
- Calls for revamping exit interviews to gather more input and identify why teachers leave.
- Proposes surveying teachers for input on a potential four-day school week.
- Moved unsuccessfully to pay coaches under the approved salary scale and develop a new coach salary scale for the following school year.

Teachers

Joel Lillard questioned how much time a curriculum coach is in the classroom? Dr. Carter shared she cannot give an exact time as it depends on the needs. In general, they should be in the class the majority of the time. Joel questioned what funds these are paid out of. It was shared that Federal funds pay for curriculum coaches. Joel shared that the curriculum coach at the high school is actually teaching one block and felt this is a good thing. Trudy Blackwell questioned if coaches give input on evaluations. Dr. Carter shared they may give input to the principal; however, it is not a part of the evaluation.

Supports having the high school's curriculum coach teach one class period.

- Supports having the high school's curriculum coach teach one class period.

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

LinkedIn

Joel Lillard

As of April 6, 2026, Joel Lillard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Joel is currently the Vice Chairman of the Caswell County Board of Education, District 2.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS | Caswell County | NC

Candidates throw their names in the hat in county | News

Joel is currently the Vice Chairman of the Caswell County Board of Education.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- 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. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system