To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Greg Mills
Birth date: Feb. 1, 1973
Campaign website or social media page: gregmills.com
Occupation: Marketing Director
Education: Central Cabarrus High School
Have you run for elected office before?
I ran for school board in 2022.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Church Youth Director, Church Deacon, Short-term International Missions, Concord United Committee, Cabarrus GOP Communications, Irvin Elementary School Improvement Team, Cabarrus Arts Council Classroom Volunteer
What are the most important issues in Cabarrus County Schools today, and how would you address them?
The two most important issues are restoring parental trust in public schools and the work environment for teachers. We can make improvements in both of those areas when we focus our school’s leadership on providing a high-quality education. When we refine the mission of schools to the fundamentals that equip students to be responsible citizens and succeed in the workplace, we will be better able to support teachers in achieving those goals and restore parents’ faith in public education.
What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the school board?
First, We must address behavior issues in the classroom. School principals should support the discipline decisions made by teachers. They should protect the parent/teacher relationship by handling conversations about behavior themselves. Second, we need to give instruction time back to teachers. Reduce the number of meetings. Lighten the paperwork load. These two things will help us improve student outcomes.
What’s your opinion of the school system’s redistricting plan approved earlier this year? And what, if anything would you have done differently?
Overall, the district-wide realignment was necessary. The plan approved by the school system prioritized utilization and proximity. I think that was correct. I have some specific complaints about the process. Also, I believe that concerns raised by a few communities weren’t handled well. I share their frustration and I will work to make sure that future realignments are less disruptive.
What is your plan to address the achievement gap in Cabarrus County?
When the school report cards came out last month, I went straight to the 3rd-grade reading results. Third grade is the point where students have learned to read and can now read to learn. There are lifelong negative outcomes that correlate with not making that transition. Despite overall gains in Cabarrus County, we are failing Black boys. Only 1 in 3 are grade-level proficient for reading in the 3rd grade. First, We have to raise awareness. Then, we need to equip families and communities to participate in remediation strategies.
What role, if any, would your political affiliation play in your decision making process for the school district?
I will make decisions based on the best information available to me and what I discern to be in the best interest of children. My party affiliation is reflective of my personal values but does not define them.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?
My grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse. My wife and I graduated from Central Cabarrus. Our daughters graduated from Mount Pleasant. My youngest is in college considering a career in education. I was an art education major. My wife is a teacher with 25 years experience. I got into this race because the struggles of our public school classrooms are personal to me. It has been discussed in home for decades, and I am uniquely positioned to advocate for Cabarrus County parents and teachers.
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