Ryan Jackson, candidate for Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board

Six newcomers are running in November for one of three seats on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board.

Ryan Jackson, a senior application analyst for UNC Health Care, is competing in the Nov. 2 general election against George Griffin, Riza Jenkins, Meredith Pruitt, Mike Sharp and Tim Sookram.

Board member Lisa Kaylie, who was appointed earlier this year to serve out now-Orange County Commissioner Amy Fowler’s term, and board members Mary Ann Wolf and Joal Broun, who was appointed to be a District Court judge, are not seeking re-election.

Early voting in the nonpartisan Nov. 2 election begins Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 30.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit co.orange.nc.us/1720/Elections or contact the Board of Elections at 919-245-2350 or vote@orangecountync.gov.

Name: Ryan Jackson

Age: 54

Residence: Chapel Hill, NC

Occupation: Senior application analyst

Education: Bachelor of Fine Art, Rochester Institute of Technology; Master of Fine Art, University of Memphis

Political or civic experience: To be on the Board of Education is to be an honest and truthful public servant who listens to the desires of the community they serve. It should not be “political” nor should our students be used as stepping stones for a candidate’s political ambitions. The most relevant qualification any candidate needs is a sincere commitment to ours students, their education, and all forms of student success. I believe my experience teaching and advising students in higher education, demonstrates my commitment to education and ultimately to greater student success.

Campaign website:

What do you think are the district’s top three priorities? Choose one and describe how you will work to address it.

▪ Reducing the disparity of educational opportunities and resource distribution among the various schools within the district.

▪ Greater transparency regarding Board of Education policy decisions and an acknowledgment that BOE members serve the community who elected them as representatives.

▪ Creating a broader understanding of “student success.”

Too often “student success” is only measured in terms of academic performance — grades. The theory being high grades open more doors to higher education. This can, and does, lead to artificial grade inflation and the lowering of standards, which, ironically, can lead to student failure as they are granted admission into universities with academic rigor beyond the student’s preparedness. As a former college professor, I believe the focus on grades is appropriate for some students, but it is unnecessarily narrow in terms of defining “student success.” We need to recognize that even in CHCCS, there are students who do not aspire to a four-year degree from a prestigious university. They have other goals, other dreams, and other ambitions that do not require a 4.5 GPA or come with a $200K+ price tag. How are we helping these students achieve their goals, helping them prepare for success? I will advocate for the development of curricular offerings and industry partnerships to serve these often unrecognized students so they too can succeed.

What is the school district doing right, and wrong, to support student education?

Improved student access to technology (student laptops) has been an enormous accomplishment for the district. The flip side of that is the potential over-reliance on technology. Technology should be one of many tools a student uses to solve problems. It should not become the crutch used to eliminate foundational education or the ability to recognize errors.

What skill or life experience do you have that would bring diversity to local government?

My family moved often when I was young, which resulted in my attendance at eight different schools in three states before graduating from high school. While it was difficult staring over so often, it did allow me to see there are a variety of approaches to education and to understand there is no, one right answer.

I served in the United States Navy earning a Humanitarian Service Medal for assisting with Puerto Rico’s recovery from the devastating effects of Hurricane Hugo and the Coast Guard Special Operations medal for my small role in stemming the flow of illegal drugs from Central and South America. My time stationed in Italy provide me with the great honor of photographing Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa as they interacted with other U.S. service members.

After receiving my graduate degree, I taught at colleges in Tennessee, western New York, and North Carolina. In addition to my instructional obligations, I advised students on course selection, college admission requirements, college transfer opportunities, and career options while voluntarily serving on Budget and New Hires committees.

If elected, the mixing of these formative experiences should bring a broadly based perspective to the Board of Education.

This story was originally published October 5, 2021 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Ryan Jackson, candidate for Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board."