Mishell Williams

Questionnaire from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Note: The following responses from the candidate have not been edited.

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I am 43 years old and live in Harrisburg, North Carolina. I hold a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a focus on literacy. I am a certified teacher with many years of classroom experience, including teaching in a Title I school in Cabarrus County (2024-2025, 2025-2026 school years). Kindergarten has always been my favorite grade because I love helping children build the strong academic and social foundations they need to succeed.

I currently work as a substitute teacher, which gives me the flexibility to stay active in our schools while running for the School Board. Most importantly, it allows me to remain connected to classrooms, students, and educators and to see firsthand where our schools need support. I believe being present in our schools and understanding the day-to-day experiences of students and teachers is essential to being an effective School Board member.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.

I am running for Cabarrus County School Board because I believe our students, teachers, and public schools deserve a strong, thoughtful voice at the table. As a certified teacher, parent, and member of our community, I understand both the classroom experience and the responsibility families place on our schools.

My experience in education has taught me to listen first, look at the facts, and focus on solutions that make a meaningful difference for students. I have taught in a Cabarrus County Title I school and continue to work in our schools as a substitute teacher, giving me firsthand insight into what students and educators experience every day. I am also in my fifth year serving in the Parent-Teacher Organization, where I have worked alongside families, teachers, and school leaders to support our school community. In addition, I serve on the Superintendent’s Advisory Board, which has given me another opportunity to listen to community perspectives and contribute to conversations about the future of Cabarrus County Schools.

Tell us about 2-3 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

One of my proudest professional accomplishments is the impact I have had on students as a classroom teacher. Teaching in the early grades, including in a Cabarrus County Title I school, has required patience, adaptability, strong communication, and the ability to recognize that every child learns differently. Over the course of years as a teacher, I helped students develop foundational literacy skills and gain confidence as learners has been some of the most meaningful work of my career.

Working with students and families who may face additional barriers to success strengthened my belief that schools must meet students where they are and provide the resources and support they need to thrive. My experience in the classroom has also allowed me to stay connected to the challenges and successes educators and students experience every day.

I am also proud to have been a Fellow of the Institute of Political Leadership in Raleigh, North Carolina. Completing that program was a significant accomplishment and helped deepen my understanding of how to govern effectively and work with people who may not agree on every issue. It taught me the importance of coming together around the common good of the community. These experiences have shaped my leadership style: I listen, I learn, I build relationships, and I believe the best solutions come from working collaboratively with the people closest to the issue.

In addition to my professional experience, I pride myself on being present and engaged in the community. I believe effective leadership begins with listening, building relationships, and understanding the needs of the people you serve.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?

In my first six months, I would make it a priority to listen and learn directly from the people working and learning in our schools. I would want to visit schools across the county, meet with teachers and staff, hear from students and families, and better understand where the greatest needs and opportunities exist.

From that work, I would focus on identifying measurable priorities, particularly around teacher retention, student achievement, and managing the continued growth in Cabarrus County. I believe an effective School Board member should not assume they have all the answers on day one. The first step is listening carefully, understanding the data, and then working with the superintendent and Board to turn that information into action.

Public schools play a critical role in preparing students for both higher education and the workforce. How should the school system balance academic achievement, student growth, and Career & Technical Education to meet the needs of students and employers?

The goal should be to prepare every student for a successful future, recognizing that not all students desire to attend college and that each student’s path after graduation may look different. Strong academic foundations, particularly in reading, writing, mathematics, and critical thinking, are essential for every student. At the same time, we should recognize and support multiple pathways after graduation.

Career & Technical Education should be treated as an important part of a well-rounded education, not as a lesser alternative to college. Students should have opportunities to explore careers, earn industry-recognized credentials, participate in work-based learning, and develop skills that local employers need.

The school system should also work closely with colleges, businesses, and workforce partners to ensure our programs reflect real opportunities in our region. A successful graduate might enter a four-year university, community college, apprenticeship, military service, or directly enter the workforce. Our responsibility is to make sure students leave Cabarrus County Schools prepared and confident to pursue whichever path they choose.

School facilities and capital planning directly affect learning environments and community growth. How would you approach long-term facilities planning to ensure schools keep pace with enrollment and workforce demands?

We have approximately 35,000 kids who attend Cabarrus County Schools and we are continuously growing. The vast majority of families send their kids to public schools. Our school facilities need to be planned with that growth in mind rather than reacting to overcrowding after it occurs. Long-term facilities planning should be based on reliable enrollment projections, development patterns, available land, transportation considerations, and the needs of the communities being served.

We also need to make addressing deferred maintenance a priority. As our schools age, the cost of repairing and replacing roofs, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical systems, and other critical infrastructure can increase over time. Proactively addressing these needs will help protect taxpayer investments, preserve safe and effective learning environments, and prevent small problems from becoming more expensive emergencies.

I would support maintaining a clear, long-term capital improvement plan that is regularly updated as growth and facility needs change. The School Board should work closely with county commissioners, municipalities, developers, and other community partners so that school capacity, maintenance, and infrastructure are considered alongside broader growth planning.

I have actively spoken at County Commissioner meetings and School Board meetings to advocate for a higher teacher pay supplement to be included in the school system’s budget before it is presented to the County Commissioners. I have also highlighted the specific needs of our schools to our county commissioners, so the public can better understand the challenges facing students, teachers, and staff. Transparency and open communication are essential to making responsible decisions about school funding, facilities, and resources.

Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers remains a challenge statewide. What strategies should be prioritized to build a stable, effective educator workforce in Cabarrus County?

This is a topic that I speak about often. Teacher retention should be a priority. We need to create an environment where excellent educators want to stay in Cabarrus County and feel respected, supported, and able to do their jobs well.

Competitive compensation matters (teachers from year 15 to 25 do not get a step up increase and this causes them not to feel valued), including a strong local supplement. Teachers need to maintain a livable wage! Teachers need adequate planning time, manageable workloads, strong school leadership, access to classroom resources, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. We should also listen to teachers about what is keeping them in the profession and what is pushing them out.

I would support strengthening mentorship for new teachers, recognizing and developing experienced educators, and creating opportunities for teachers to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their classrooms. As an educator myself, I know that feeling valued and having the time and resources to do the job well can make a significant difference.

Beyond standardized test scores, what measures do you believe best reflect school performance and student preparedness for future success?

Test scores provide important information, and student growth really does matter when we look at data and test scores. Growth helps show how much progress students are making from where they started, rather than focusing only on whether they reached a particular benchmark. At the same time, children are more than data points, and many factors that affect test scores are outside a teacher’s control.

We should also consider graduation rates, attendance, access to advanced coursework, access to programs when students need support, participation and completion in Career & Technical Education programs, industry credentials, and successful transitions into college, careers, apprenticeships, or other postsecondary pathways.

We should pay attention to indicators such as teacher retention, school climate, student engagement, and access to extracurricular and enrichment opportunities. A strong school is one where students are growing academically, feel safe and supported, and are developing the skills they need to succeed after graduation.

Most importantly, data should always be viewed in context. Numbers can help us identify where students need additional support, but they should not be used to label schools, teachers, or students as successful or unsuccessful without considering the many circumstances that influence student performance.

Strong partnerships with local governments, businesses, and community organizations can enhance educational outcomes. How would you support collaboration to strengthen opportunities for students and families?

I believe our schools should be connected to the communities they serve. The School Board must be able to communicate the actual needs of our schools clearly and honestly, even when those needs exceed a certain dollar amount. Budget decisions should reflect the realities facing our teachers, families, and students rather than limiting schools to what is easiest to fund.

Strong collaboration among the School Board, municipalities across Cabarrus County, county commissioners, businesses, colleges, nonprofits, and community organizations is essential. Working together can help provide the resources and support our schools need while ensuring that investments are coordinated, responsible, and focused on student success.

For students, community partnerships can create opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, career mentoring, job shadowing, industry credentials, scholarships, and exposure to careers they may not otherwise encounter. Businesses can also help schools understand the skills and experiences graduates need to be successful in the workforce.

For families, partnerships can help connect them with resources and support outside the classroom. I would encourage the school system to build relationships that are purposeful and measurable, with a clear focus on what each partnership provides for students and families.

As a School Board member, I would work with municipalities, county commissioners, businesses, and community organizations to understand their needs, communicate the needs of our schools clearly, and identify opportunities for collaboration. By working together, we can build stronger support for our teachers, families, and students across Cabarrus County.