The future of North Carolina’s public school system is in the hands of voters this year as the race for the state’s Superintendent of Education wages on. As always, there are two main candidates on the ballot for state superintendent: one Republican and one Democrat.
Michele Morrow is the Republican nominee after a surprise win over current incumbent Catherine Truitt. A nurse-turned-homeschool-parent, Morrow — who was covered in a recent QNotes Democracy column — is known for her anti-public school stance, even going as far as to call the system “indoctrination centers’’ and “socialism centers.” She was also scrutinized for unearthed social media posts calling for the public executions of former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and North Carolina’s own Governor Roy Cooper.
The Democratic candidate, on the other hand, is a known advocate and believer in the importance of public education. Meet Maurice “Mo” Green: lawyer, district superintendent, philanthropist and North Carolina’s hope for a sustainable public education system.
Green, 56, is a longtime North Carolina resident after attending Duke University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and for his law degree. Before going into public education, Green served two federal judicial clerkships — one for the middle district in North Carolina and the other for the sixth circuit court of appeals in Ohio. Green made his way back to North Carolina when he became a partner with the law firm of Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore LLP in Charlotte.
Green’s career shifted to education when he was selected as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ general counsel in 2001. In 2006, he was named chief operating officer and eventually went on to become the CMS deputy superintendent. Just a couple of years later, Green became the first Black superintendent of the unified Guilford County Schools (GCS) in 2008.
GCS is North Carolina’s third largest district, and at the time Green was superintendent, he oversaw more than 72,000 students, 127 schools, approximately 10,000 employees and a budget of more than $600 million. According to data collected by EdNC:
High school graduation rates increased from 79.7% in 2008 to 89.3% in 2015;
Gaps in the high school graduation rates between demographics decreased;
GCS students improved their performance on the ACT;
GCS students earned more industry-standard certifications;
GCS students tackled more challenging academics, for instance completing college-level classes; and
GCS students contributed more than one million hours of service and $21 million in economic impact to the community, earning district, state and national recognition as a District of Character in 2013 and District of Distinction Honoree in 2014.
The district recognized the work Green accomplished as superintendent, including guiding the system through the Great Recession, always declining the annual three percent salary increases mandated by contract and always had high approval ratings throughout his tenure. Green also has served as the president of the board of directors of the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), where under his leadership, the entity appointed the first female and first Black commissioner of NCHSAA.
Green resigned as GCS’ superintendent and went on to become the executive director of Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR), a “statewide, private, family foundation that has been a catalyst for positive change in North Carolina for more than 85 years.” It does this vastly through grant programs designed to give funding to projects or initiatives working to address the impact of racism ingrained in state institutions — including schools — and support ideas aimed at mitigating hate’s effect on policy and people.
“There are many success stories in our public school systems in North Carolina, and we should never forget the fact that we got folk who are doing amazing work everyday to educate our kids,” Green said in a 2022 interview.
“OK, now what can we do better?” he then asked.
Mo’s Plan for N.C. Schools
Green has laid out a plan for how he wants to move North Carolina’s schools forward. The former superintendent’s plan has six “pillars:” invest fully in public education; prepare each student for their next phase of life; revere public education educators; enhance community and parent support; ensure safe, secure learning environments; and celebrate the good in public education.
“There is much to celebrate about public education in North Carolina and its transformative power. However, it is long past time for our state to truly fulfill its promise to each of its students – that no matter who you are, you will receive high-quality educational opportunities that will prepare you to be successful,” Green said in his announcement. “We can make that happen if we invest fully in public education, ensure safe and secure learning environments for our students, enhance parent and community support and revere our educators.”
Green has called out his opponent for her controversial past and opinions on policy. In a campaign speech made in February, Morrow called for the state’s legislature to abolish the state’s Board of Education, which is responsible for creating policies and procedures for public schools in the state. By getting rid of the board, the state’s education agenda would be under the control of the superintendent and the state legislature, which currently is led by Republicans.
Abolishing the state education board is the least absurd of her suggestions. Morrow often refers to Democrats as “communist sympathizers,” called for the death of other Democratic elected officials, has given a platform to far-right conspiracy theorists and has stated Muslims should be barred from public office.
Citing Morrow’s lack of experience and faith with the public education system in a March press conference, Green went as far as to say North Carolina is fighting for the “soul of public education.”
“My opponent didn’t send her children to North Carolina’s public schools and now she is encouraging others to do the same,” Green said, referring to Morrow, who homeschools her children. “She calls them indoctrination centers and would defund them by sending taxpayer dollars to unaccountable private schools.”
Green has also voiced concerns about Morrow’s expressed extreme beliefs, saying she holds a darker, more pessimistic view of the world.
“It is one fueled by angry conspiracies and calls for violence, including the executions of President Barack Obama, Gov. Roy Cooper and other elected officials,” Green said. “We should not tolerate this, we cannot accept this, we cannot normalize this kind of rhetoric.”
Green has been endorsed by many notable organizations and officials, including but not limited to the North Carolina Association of Educators, former Governors Jim Hunt and Beverly Perdue, the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the People’s Alliance among others.
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton pointed out even some Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, have spoken out against Morrow’s extremism.
“Folks have to see that this isn’t about partisan politics,” Clayton said. “We can’t have someone running our public schools and its $11 billion budget who actively targets and attacks public education, public educators and those who support our public schools.”
The future of North Carolina public schools is in the hands of the people. The two choices: a candidate who has a track record of successful improvements to public education and a clear passion for equal opportunities for all students in public schools, or a candidate who has consistently attacked public education, educators and marginalized communities.
The choice is easy: Green will keep the soul of public education. With Morrow, it’s as good as dead.
“I believe that the core requirement for someone elected as State Superintendent of Public Instruction is to help ensure that each child has the opportunity to receive a sound, basic education,” Green said in a question and answer forum with Ballotpedia. “That requirement can be met by effectively overseeing the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public school system and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.”
