Thursday, October 22, 2026
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Cleveland County, NC (WNN) – With three decades of experience in public education, retired teacher and principal Jenny White is seeking an at-large seat on the Cleveland County Board of Education. She identifies classroom instruction, teacher support, and school safety as key priorities.
White is a Democrat and a first-time candidate for public office. Her career in education began after earning an undergraduate degree in history from Appalachian State University. As a first-year teacher, she worked with exceptional students with behavioral disabilities, an experience she described as challenging. She later found a social studies teaching position, which eventually led her to pursue a career in school administration. After 18 years in the school system, White became an elementary school principal. She later finished her career as principal of Southwest Elementary in Hickory before retiring. When asked why she decided to run for the school board, White said she wanted to continue serving the public.
Jenny White, Candidate for Cleveland County Board of Education, in-studio with WNN | October 20, 2026
“I have been a public servant for 35 years, and I just want to continue public service as a school board member.”- Jenny White
During the interview, White was asked about the qualifications required to serve on the school board and the responsibilities involved in overseeing district leadership. Addressing questions surrounding the superintendent’s hiring, she said she believes current Superintendent Dr. Chris Bennett has the necessary qualifications and experience for the position. She added that establishing goals and objectives for the superintendent is the school board’s responsibility.
White also emphasized the importance of transparency in hiring decisions, personnel matters, and financial spending. She said residents should be able to trust that school officials are following through on their commitments and using public funds responsibly.
White also discussed North Carolina’s teacher pay and public education funding. She noted that the state’s national ranking in teacher salaries has dropped from 45th (actually 46th), but said per-pupil funding is another important statistic to consider. Per-pupil funding refers to the amount of money spent on each student annually.
White identified student safety as a primary concern for parents, along with ensuring students receive the education they need to prepare for life after graduation.
“Parents want to know that when they send their child to school, first and foremost, they are safe and secondly, they are getting the education they need to be able to do the things they want to do as they continue to grow and go forward in their lives.”- Jenny White
White also addressed concerns about “wokeness” in public education, explaining that schools teach students to be kind, respectful, and accepting of others, even when they disagree. She discussed bullying and the challenges students face when hurtful behavior continues through social media outside school hours. White explained that conflict between students and bullying are not always the same, noting that bullying involves a power imbalance. She said technology can make the situation more difficult because students may continue to face harassment after leaving school.
White said students should have opportunities to explore different career paths rather than being expected to follow a single route after high school. She praised the partnership between Cleveland County Schools and Cleveland Community College, pointing to opportunities for students to take career and technical courses, including automotive and culinary classes. White said college is not the right path for every student and emphasized the importance of preparing young people for skilled trades and other careers.
“Everybody doesn't need to go to college,” White said. “I still need somebody to do the electrical work. I need somebody to fix my HVAC. I need somebody to fix my car.”
- Jenny White
She said schools should continue expanding opportunities that allow students to discover their interests and develop skills for the workforce.
White said one of her primary goals, if elected, would be to focus on curriculum and instruction, which she described as the heart of education. She wants to ensure principals have sufficient time to observe classroom instruction and that teachers have the materials and support necessary to meet students’ needs. White also noted that only one current school board member has an educational background.
She said she is prepared to work with board members regardless of political affiliation, emphasizing that decisions should center on students. “As long as the board as a whole is focused on doing what's best for kids, we'll be fine,” White said.
Voters can find more information about White’s campaign through the Jenny White for Cleveland County School Board Facebook page and the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s website and social media.
Early voting runs from Thursday, October 15, through Saturday, October 31. The traditional voting day will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and final results should be announced by November 13, 2026. Check out more political interviews here on our website.
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