The article's candidate profile states: “Demetrius Stocks, of Fayetteville, is a Cape Fear High graduate, operations manager for logistics firm NFI and a former data manager for Cumberland County Schools, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages. He is also a foster parent and child advocate, according to his campaign announcement.”

One incumbent, 15 challengers vie for Cumberland County school board seats

Demetrius Stocks is from Fayetteville. He graduated from Cape Fear High School. He is a foster parent.

One incumbent, 15 challengers vie for Cumberland County school ...

Demetrius Stocks works as an operations manager for logistics firm NFI. He previously worked as a data manager for Cumberland County Schools.

Demetrius works as an operations manager for the logistics firm NFI. He previously worked as a data manager for Cumberland County Schools.

LinkedIn

Demetrius is a first-time candidate for political office.

2026 North Carolina General Election

In response to a question about school closures, maintenance, and consolidation, Stocks said: “Decisions about school closures, consolidation, and facility improvements should always put students first. I would rely on enrollment trends, building conditions, safety, transportation, and long-term financial planning while ensuring the process is transparent and informed by community input.”

Why Demetrius Stocks Is Running for School Board

In response to a question about low-performing schools, Stocks said: “The board’s role is to provide strong governance, accountability, and support by ensuring district leaders have clear improvement plans, measurable goals, and the resources needed for success. This includes using data to identify challenges, strengthening literacy and math support, investing in teachers and school leaders, and building stronger partnerships with families and the community.”

Plans to weigh enrollment, building conditions, safety, transportation, long-term finances, and community input in school closure, consolidation, and facility-improvement decisions.

Supports requiring improvement plans, measurable goals, and resources for low-performing schools, along with family and community partnerships.

- Plans to weigh enrollment, building conditions, safety, transportation, long-term finances, and community input in school closure, consolidation, and facility-improvement decisions.
- Supports requiring improvement plans, measurable goals, and resources for low-performing schools, along with family and community partnerships.

School Facilities & Resources

In response to a question about special education services, Stocks said: “Every student deserves access to a high-quality education, including students with disabilities. Cumberland County Schools should continue strengthening individualized support through effective Individual Education Plans, open communication with families, and ensuring educators have the training and resources needed to help every student succeed.”

In response to a question about year-round school calendars, Stocks said: “Decisions about year-round schools should be focused on what best supports student success while considering the needs of families, educators, and the community. A balanced calendar may provide opportunities for additional academic support, tutoring, and reduced learning loss, but decisions should be based on research, student outcomes, and community feedback.”

Supports strengthening individualized special-education services through effective Individual Education Plans, family communication, and educator training and resources.

Promotes strengthening individualized special-education services through effective Individual Education Plans, family communication, and educator training and resources.

Said year-round school calendar decisions should reflect research, student outcomes, and community feedback while considering families and educators.

- Promotes strengthening individualized special-education services through effective Individual Education Plans, family communication, and educator training and resources.
- Said year-round school calendar decisions should reflect research, student outcomes, and community feedback while considering families and educators.

Access to Education

In response to a question about the board's top priorities, Stocks said: “Great schools begin with great educators. Recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers must remain a priority by creating a supportive work environment, investing in professional development, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensuring educators have the tools they need to help students succeed.”

In response to a question about recruiting and retaining teachers and staff, Stocks said: “Just as important is creating a culture where teachers and staff feel valued, respected, and heard. My experience has taught me that the best solutions come from listening to the people closest to the work. By supporting our educators, we invest directly in student success and the future of Cumberland County.”

In response to a question about recruiting and retaining teachers and staff, Stocks said: “Great schools are built by great educators. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining high-quality teachers and staff must remain a top priority for Cumberland County Schools. We must continue strengthening partnerships with educator preparation programs, supporting competitive compensation and benefits, and providing professional development and resources that help employees succeed.”

Supports teacher retention through supportive work environments, professional development, reduced administrative burdens, and a culture where staff feel valued and heard.

Supports partnerships with educator-preparation programs, competitive compensation and benefits, and professional development to recruit and retain school staff.

Wants competitive compensation and benefits, and professional development to recruit and retain school staff.

- Supports teacher retention through supportive work environments, professional development, reduced administrative burdens, and a culture where staff feel valued and heard.
- Wants competitive compensation and benefits, and professional development to recruit and retain school staff.

Teachers

In response to a question about the board's top priorities, Stocks said: “Every child in Cumberland County deserves the opportunity to succeed. While our district has made progress in graduation rates, career and technical education, and student achievement, we must continue closing learning gaps and ensuring every student is prepared for college, the military, a career, or skilled trades. As a board member, I will use student performance data to support evidence-based decisions, strengthen literacy and math instruction, expand intervention programs, and ensure resources reach the classrooms where they are needed most.”

In response to a question about declining enrollment, Stocks said: “Student enrollment reflects the confidence families have in Cumberland County Schools. The best way to attract and retain students is by providing safe schools, strong academic achievement, expanded career and technical education, and extracurricular opportunities that prepare students for success after graduation.”

Plans to use student performance data to strengthen literacy and math instruction and expand intervention programs.

Said that strong academic achievement and expanded career and technical education can help attract and retain students.

- Plans to use student performance data to strengthen literacy and math instruction and expand intervention programs.
- Said that strong academic achievement and expanded career and technical education can help attract and retain students.

School Curriculum

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

Student Wellbeing

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>Application Error</title>
    <style media="screen">
      html,body,iframe {
        margin: 0;
        padding: 0;
      }

      html,body {
        height: 100%;
        overflow: hidden;
      }

      iframe {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        border: 0;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <iframe src="https://www.herokucdn.com/error-pages/application-error.html"></iframe>
  </body>
</html>

Demetrius Stocks

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

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Bradley Williams

Broxie P. Pone

Bryan Moore

Carol Stubbs

Chris Young

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