School board

Board of Education, Moore County Schools

Member at-Large

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A board of education member helps set policy, the budget and the superintendent's direction for Moore County Schools.

Residency district: every voter in the school district votes for this seat (the district is where the member must live; State Board March 3, 2026 primary precinct results). Nonpartisan.

Candidates Compare by issue

Don Zawlocki

No party listed

High school math teacher and basketball coach

The gist

Supports focusing on grade-level reading in grades K-3
Supports a strong career and technical education program
Supports an armed security officer in every school
Supports a transparent long-term capital plan with county commissioners

More about Don

View sources (1)

Supports focusing on grade-level reading in grades K-3
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“It is important to emphasize the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic with our focus on reading literacy at grade level in grades K-3”
Supports a strong career and technical education program
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“A strong career and technical education program can help our students be career-ready for jobs in various trades.”
Supports an armed security officer in every school
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“Zawlocki wants to see an armed security officer in each school.”
Supports a transparent long-term capital plan with county commissioners
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“It is important for the school board to be transparent and work with local communities and county commissioners when discussing future building plans.”

Jim Pedersen

No party listed

Former director, Moore County Department of Veteran Services

The gist

Supports full school resource officer coverage and classroom discipline
Opposes district leadership's spending and lack of transparency
Opposes inappropriate library materials and co-ed athletics safety risks
Supports competitive teacher pay and fewer bureaucratic burdens

More about Jim

View sources (1)

Supports full school resource officer coverage and classroom discipline
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“Teachers are not social workers. They should be allowed to teach without constant disruption, and parents must be held accountable for student behavior.”
Opposes district leadership's spending and lack of transparency
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“deeply concerned and frankly appalled by the incompetence, wasteful spending, lack of transparency and poor leadership at the top of Moore County Schools”
Opposes inappropriate library materials and co-ed athletics safety risks
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“Inappropriate materials in school libraries, safety risks in co-ed athletics, and serious discipline and violence issues are brushed aside”
Supports competitive teacher pay and fewer bureaucratic burdens
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“He says recruiting and retaining teachers requires competitive pay, benefits and “cutting bureaucratic burdens.””

Olivia Oxendine

No party listed

Retired educator; State Board of Education member

The gist

Supports eliminating reading and math achievement gaps
Supports shielding students from indecent instructional materials
Supports local policies upholding parents' and community rights
Opposes lowering academic standards and relaxing rules
Pledges to review the district's long-range plan

More about Olivia

View sources (1)

Supports eliminating reading and math achievement gaps
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“eliminate achievement gaps in reading and math; ensure every graduate is a proficient reader, critical thinker and prepared for adulthood”
Supports shielding students from indecent instructional materials
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“safeguard students from instructional resources that cross the line of decency”
Supports local policies upholding parents' and community rights
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“ensure local policies uphold the rights of parents and the community”
Opposes lowering academic standards and relaxing rules
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“lowering standards and relaxing rules are irrational solutions that ultimately harm students”
Pledges to review the district's long-range plan
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“If elected, I will meet with the board chair to review the existing long-range plan.”

Anthony B. McCauley

No party listed

Moore County Transportation employee; peer support specialist

The gist

Supports early intervention and wraparound services for students
Opposes practices feeding the school-to-prison pipeline
Proposes stronger communication between schools and families
Supports teacher recruitment and planning for enrollment growth

More about Anthony

View sources (1)

Supports early intervention and wraparound services for students
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“I really feel that we need to advocate for early intervention and wraparound services”
Opposes practices feeding the school-to-prison pipeline
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“I have seen the devastating consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline.”
Proposes stronger communication between schools and families
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“McCauley has established a platform that he calls “Strengthen Families, Not Separating Families,” aimed at building communication between schools and the families they serve.”
Supports teacher recruitment and planning for enrollment growth
Board of Education Races Feature Full Slate of Candidates
News coverage · The Pilot (Southern Pines) · thepilot.com
“Regarding his top priorities, McCauley highlighted expanding mental health and “wraparound services,” teacher recruitment and retention, and population growth and facilities capacity.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.