When Bradley Williams left Cumberland County to study performing arts in Los Angeles, he envisioned building a career on the West Coast. But after returning home, the 37-year-old said he began asking himself a different question: Why should young people feel they have to leave Fayetteville to pursue their dreams?

A Godwin native and 2007 graduate of Reid Ross Classical School, Williams studied business and computer information systems at North Carolina Central University before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.

Why Bradley Williams Is Running for Cumberland School Board

After the meeting, Williams told The Fayetteville Observer that he cares about what parents, teachers and students need or are concerned about.

Next week he’ll be sworn in as part of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Committee, and said he volunteers to help youth at his church, Lewis Missionary Baptist Church.

Residents offer feedback on Cumberland County Schools superintendent search

Bradley Williams is from Godwin. He studied business and computer information systems at North Carolina Central University before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. He volunteers to help youth at Lewis Missionary Baptist Church.

Residents say new Cumberland County Schools superintendent ...

2026 North Carolina General Election

Cumberland County Schools has faced difficult decisions involving school closures, facility maintenance, and consolidation. What principles would guide your decision-making when evaluating future facility needs?
A child is not a number, and a school is more than just a building. Before making any decision about closing a school, I believe board members should gather as much information as possible, listen to parents, teachers and principals, and fully understand how that decision will affect the community.

Cumberland County Schools has faced difficult decisions involving school closures, facility maintenance, and consolidation. What principles would guide your decision-making when evaluating future facility needs?
A child is not a number, and a school is more than just a building. Before making any decision about closing a school, I believe board members should gather as much information as possible, listen to parents, teachers and principals, and fully understand how that decision will affect the community.
I’ve seen examples where other districts chose to renovate schools instead of closing them, and I think every option deserves careful consideration before communities are disrupted.

How can Cumberland County Schools best support students with disabilities and ensure families have confidence in the district’s special education services?
The first step is listening. Parents and teachers need to feel like they’re being heard when they’re advocating for students with disabilities. Before making decisions, I think the district should communicate with families and educators to understand what classrooms need and where additional support is missing.

Calls for gathering information and community input, including considering renovations, before closing schools or disrupting communities.

Supports communicating with families and educators about classroom needs and the supports missing for students with disabilities.

- Calls for gathering information and community input, including considering renovations, before closing schools or disrupting communities.
- Supports communicating with families and educators about classroom needs and the supports missing for students with disabilities.

School Facilities & Resources

I also want students to have multiple pathways to success. College isn’t the right choice for everyone. Some students may want to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College, enter the trades, join the military, or pursue another career path. Our job is to make sure they understand those opportunities and have the support to achieve whatever dream they choose.

What are your views on year-round schools? What factors would you consider when making decisions about expanding or maintaining year-round calendars?
I support maintaining year-round schools because I believe families should have options. Every family’s schedule and needs are different, and I don’t think we should take those choices away.

When making decisions about expanding or maintaining year-round calendars, I would want to hear directly from parents, teachers, and students before making any changes. I don’t believe those options should be taken away without meaningful community input.

Supports providing students with information and support for college, technical college, trades, military service, and other career paths.

Supports maintaining year-round schools and seeking input from parents, teachers, and students before changing those calendars.

- Supports providing students with information and support for college, technical college, trades, military service, and other career paths.
- Supports maintaining year-round schools and seeking input from parents, teachers, and students before changing those calendars.

Access to Education

What steps can the Board of Education take to recruit, support, and retain high-quality teachers and staff?
It starts with competitive pay. Teachers deserve salaries that reflect the importance of the work they do and keep pace with the cost of living.

Beyond compensation, teachers need to know their voices matter. If they’re raising concerns, they should see action instead of feeling like they’re talking into the wind. When educators feel heard and supported, they’re more likely to stay.

I also believe the district should create more opportunities for professional growth. If a teacher wants to become an assistant principal, principal or district leader, there should be mentorship and support to help them reach that goal. We shouldn’t make people feel like they’ve reached a ceiling in their careers.

Cumberland County Schools currently has several schools identified by the state as low-performing. What role should the Board of Education play in improving student outcomes at those schools? What strategies would you prioritize?
That starts with supporting teachers. We should continue investing in professional development, workshops, and training so educators have the resources to adapt as technology, careers, and the world around us continue to change.

Supports competitive teacher pay that reflects teachers’ work and keeps pace with the cost of living.

Supports responding to educators’ concerns and creating mentorship and support for teachers pursuing leadership roles.

Supports continued investment in professional development, workshops, and training to help educators adapt to changing technology and careers.

- Supports competitive teacher pay that reflects teachers’ work and keeps pace with the cost of living.
- Supports responding to educators’ concerns and creating mentorship and support for teachers pursuing leadership roles.
- Supports continued investment in professional development, workshops, and training to help educators adapt to changing technology and careers.

Teachers

What are the top two issues the Board of Education should focus on over the next four years? How would you approach them?
My biggest priority is making sure every student has the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to succeed after graduation—not just academically, but in life.
I believe financial literacy should become a much greater focus. Every student should graduate understanding how to file taxes, manage money, buy a home, understand interest rates, and explore investments. Those are life skills that too many students, including my generation, weren’t taught in school.

The world is changing quickly, especially with technology and artificial intelligence. Schools have to prepare students for the future, not just for today’s workforce. That means embracing technology, teaching skills that will still matter years from now, and giving students opportunities to explore careers before they graduate.

Supports making financial literacy a greater focus so students learn taxes, money management, homebuying, interest rates, and investments.

Advocates for technology instruction, future-relevant skills, and career exploration before graduation.

- Supports making financial literacy a greater focus so students learn taxes, money management, homebuying, interest rates, and investments.
- Advocates for technology instruction, future-relevant skills, and career exploration before graduation.

School Curriculum

I also believe every student should have someone at school they can trust—a mentor or support system they can talk to when life gets difficult. Education isn’t just about test scores. It’s about investing in students’ dreams, giving them hope, and making sure they know their community believes in them.

Mentorship is another area I would prioritize. Every student should have someone who believes in them and helps connect what they’re learning in the classroom to the goals they have for their future.

I also believe technology can play an important role in supporting students with disabilities, but we also have to recognize that sometimes one teacher can’t do it all. Providing additional classroom support and giving students the extra attention they need can make a real difference.

Creating an environment where students feel accepted and supported is equally important. Every child deserves to feel safe, included and valued at school.

Prioritizes mentorship and trusted support systems for students, including connections between classroom learning and students’ future goals.

Supports using technology and additional classroom support to give students with disabilities more individual attention.

Supports school environments where students feel safe, included, valued, and supported.

- Prioritizes mentorship and trusted support systems for students, including connections between classroom learning and students’ future goals.
- Supports using technology and additional classroom support to give students with disabilities more individual attention.
- Supports school environments where students feel safe, included, valued, and supported.

Student Wellbeing

Bradley Williams

LinkedIn

CityView's candidate profile describes Williams's local roots and postsecondary education: “A Godwin native and 2007 graduate of Reid Ross Classical School, Williams studied business and computer information systems at North Carolina Central University before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.” High-school information is retained in the source context but is not intended for voter-facing background.

Bradley Williams is originally from Godwin. He studied business and computer information systems at North Carolina Central University before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.

Discussing services for students with disabilities, Williams wrote: “I also believe technology can play an important role in supporting students with disabilities, but we also have to recognize that sometimes one teacher can’t do it all. Providing additional classroom support and giving students the extra attention they need can make a real difference.”

In the same response, Williams wrote: “Education doesn’t stop when the school day ends, so I also think we should explore additional community partnerships, workshops, and learning opportunities outside the classroom that help students continue growing.”

Supports additional classroom assistance and technology to help students with disabilities receive the attention they need.

Proposes exploring community partnerships, workshops, and learning opportunities outside the classroom to support students' continued learning.

- Supports additional classroom assistance and technology to help students with disabilities receive the attention they need.
- Proposes exploring community partnerships, workshops, and learning opportunities outside the classroom to support students' continued learning.

Williams wrote that schools should ensure students understand and can pursue varied post-graduation options: “I also want students to have multiple pathways to success. College isn’t the right choice for everyone. Some students may want to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College, enter the trades, join the military, or pursue another career path. Our job is to make sure they understand those opportunities and have the support to achieve whatever dream they choose.”

Williams conditioned calendar decisions on community input: “When making decisions about expanding or maintaining year-round calendars, I would want to hear directly from parents, teachers, and students before making any changes. I don’t believe those options should be taken away without meaningful community input.”

Wants students to have support pursuing multiple post-graduation paths, including community college, trades, military service, or other careers.

Wants meaningful input from parents, teachers, and students before expanding, maintaining, or ending year-round school calendar options.

- Wants students to have support pursuing multiple post-graduation paths, including community college, trades, military service, or other careers.
- Wants meaningful input from parents, teachers, and students before expanding, maintaining, or ending year-round school calendar options.

Asked what the board can do to recruit and retain staff, Williams wrote: “It starts with competitive pay. Teachers deserve salaries that reflect the importance of the work they do and keep pace with the cost of living.”

At a March 2025 community meeting about Cumberland County Schools' superintendent search, the article reported: “Bradley Williams, a 2007 Reid Ross Classical High School graduate, attended Thursday night’s meeting and told moderators that he thinks teacher pay should be addressed, along with having curriculums that set students up for success and counselors who inform students about all the funding opportunities for college.”

In his teacher-retention response, Williams wrote: “Beyond compensation, teachers need to know their voices matter. If they’re raising concerns, they should see action instead of feeling like they’re talking into the wind. When educators feel heard and supported, they’re more likely to stay.”

Williams identified career advancement as another teacher-retention strategy: “I also believe the district should create more opportunities for professional growth. If a teacher wants to become an assistant principal, principal or district leader, there should be mentorship and support to help them reach that goal. We shouldn’t make people feel like they’ve reached a ceiling in their careers.”

When discussing year-round calendars, Williams wrote: “I also think year-round schools can benefit teachers by giving them time throughout the year to recharge. Teaching is demanding, and those breaks can make a difference.”

On improving low-performing schools, Williams wrote: “That starts with supporting teachers. We should continue investing in professional development, workshops, and training so educators have the resources to adapt as technology, careers, and the world around us continue to change.”

Supports competitive teacher pay that reflects the importance of teachers' work and keeps pace with the cost of living.

Wants school leaders to act on teachers' concerns so educators feel heard and are more likely to remain in their positions.

Supports mentorship and career-development opportunities for teachers seeking to become assistant principals, principals, or district leaders.

Believes year-round school calendars can benefit teachers by providing breaks throughout the year to recharge.

- Supports competitive teacher pay that reflects the importance of teachers' work and keeps pace with the cost of living.
- Wants school leaders to act on teachers' concerns so educators feel heard and are more likely to remain in their positions.
- Supports mentorship and career-development opportunities for teachers seeking to become assistant principals, principals, or district leaders.
- Believes year-round school calendars can benefit teachers by providing breaks throughout the year to recharge.
- Supports continued investment in professional development, workshops, and training to help educators adapt to changing technology and careers.

In response to CityView's question about the board's top two priorities, Williams wrote: “My biggest priority is making sure every student has the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to succeed after graduation—not just academically, but in life. I believe financial literacy should become a much greater focus. Every student should graduate understanding how to file taxes, manage money, buy a home, understand interest rates, and explore investments. Those are life skills that too many students, including my generation, weren’t taught in school.”

In his response on board priorities, Williams connected curriculum and career preparation to technology: “The world is changing quickly, especially with technology and artificial intelligence. Schools have to prepare students for the future, not just for today’s workforce. That means embracing technology, teaching skills that will still matter years from now, and giving students opportunities to explore careers before they graduate.”

In his response on state-designated low-performing schools, Williams wrote: “I also believe we should look at whether our curriculum is preparing students for the future instead of only focusing on what worked years ago.”

Advocates for greater emphasis on financial literacy so students learn skills including tax filing, money management, home buying, interest rates, and investments.

Advocates for a curriculum focused on the future that embraces technology, builds lasting skills, and gives students opportunities to explore careers before graduation.

- Advocates for greater emphasis on financial literacy so students learn skills including tax filing, money management, home buying, interest rates, and investments.
- Advocates for a curriculum focused on the future that embraces technology, builds lasting skills, and gives students opportunities to explore careers before graduation.

Williams identified mentoring and student support as part of his first priority: “I also believe every student should have someone at school they can trust—a mentor or support system they can talk to when life gets difficult. Education isn’t just about test scores. It’s about investing in students’ dreams, giving them hope, and making sure they know their community believes in them.”

Williams described mentorship as part of his strategy for improving low-performing schools: “Mentorship is another area I would prioritize. Every student should have someone who believes in them and helps connect what they’re learning in the classroom to the goals they have for their future.”

In the same response, Williams wrote: “Creating an environment where students feel accepted and supported is equally important. Every child deserves to feel safe, included and valued at school.”

Prioritizes trusted mentors and support systems for students, including mentoring that connects classroom learning to their future goals.

Believes every child should feel safe, included, valued, and supported at school.

- Prioritizes trusted mentors and support systems for students, including mentoring that connects classroom learning to their future goals.
- Believes every child should feel safe, included, valued, and supported at school.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Broxie P. Pone

Bryan Moore

Carol Stubbs

Chris Young

Demetrius Stocks

Franklin Matthew Crockett

Jacquelyn Brown

Johnathaun Lee

Karelle Ward

Keith Byrd

Quincei Lovejoy

Rebecca (Becky) West

Robyn Chadwick

Theodore Lee Miller

Tom Hatch

- 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