Charles Wright Sr. seeking seat on school board
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 13, 2016 1:46 PM
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Charles Wright Sr.
Charles Wright Sr. is running for the District 3 seat on the Wayne County Board of Education.
The 62-year-old private duty nurse previously ran for the seat then held by Thelma Smith in 2008 and 2012. When she passed away in 2014, Wright was among the candidates vying for the appointment to complete her unexpired term.
The board appointed Patricia Burden, who is now one of four seeking the post. Others include Trebor Jackson and Taj Polack. A primary in March will narrow the candidates down to two.
Wright, who is retired from the Air Force, was previously education chairman for the local NAACP chapter and directed an afterschool dropout prevention program. He and his wife, Mary J. Wright, have four sons and five grandchildren.
"This is my third time running for the privilege to represent the children, families and citizens of District 3," he said. "In 2012 I received nearly 3,000 votes in my defeat which represented good broad community support. In fact, the amount of votes in my defeat represented more votes than some past winning candidates now on the school board.
"I'm the only candidate that has run for District 3 school board in the past. I owe my supporters my continued commitment to represent them."
For the past 18 years, Wright has demonstrated a "caring, proactive ethical attitude" toward the county's youth, addressing not only the school board, but the commissioners and city council and more than 100 political and civic groups on issues affecting the youth.
"Several of these presentations have resulted in positive and beneficial changes," he said. "I have never been a person to proclaim my concerns for our school publicly just during election season, but during all seasons and for many years."
Wright said he has a broad knowledge of federal and state statutes, as well as local policies and data reporting systems as they pertain to schools. Plus he is an effective speaker and communicator, he added.
"These skills, abilities and behavior were developed over years and will help serve the citizens of District 3 very well," he said. "I've always looked from a pragmatic point of view -- what are we doing and what are the results that we have? What are other school districts doing and what are the results they have?" he said. "And if we have similar demographics, similar problems but different approaches and their approach is working better than ours, then let's try to adopt theirs.
"We all want to try to have the best results and the best outcome."
He also would like to see more cohesiveness on the school board itself, he said.
"I truly believe a lot of board members have in their heart some of the same concerns that I do as far as our Wayne County school system," he said. "It's been a challenge, I think, for some of the board members to articulate these particular areas that we probably should address for a variety of reasons.
"Maybe they don't feel their comments would be taken well by former board members, maybe they don't possibly know how to capsulize the subject area and to present it in a non-threatening, non-polarizing manner, to say, 'Here's what I think, this is why I think it. Let me know and tell me what you think.'"
Wright said he would like to exchange ideas and suggestions and take a more active approach on issues affecting the district.
"For whatever reason, it hasn't happened. Maybe it wasn't the right climate. That may change with this election," he said. "I feel very optimistic because we do have some new people on board, including the new superintendent. We do have some new people in new positions.
"I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that the (base) wing commander recently came out and admitted that there are problems with our Wayne County school system and that garnered a lot of attention. I wish I could say that he's not saying anything I didn't say 15 years ago but in all reality when a wing commander says there's problems and key members of his staff, there on a temporary assignment or using temporary housing, then that tends to resonate."
Such comments may have provided a "wake-up call" to all entities, Wright said. And the sentiments did not end there.
"(Goldsboro Mayor) Mr. Chuck Allen mentioned in his acceptance speech that one of his key concerns was the schools," he said. "So if you know you have that support out there, try to utilize. That's why I put that as my No. 1 goal to bring together those entities, because the timing is right. You have people now who have publicly come out and said that's a big concern.
"Now all you have to do it work it. These entities might not agree with every position of the school board but use them for support on joint goals in the city and the county and the base."
Wright is ardent about his efforts to improve the district, even if the election does not go his way.
"This is my third and final time (running). Win or lose, Charles Wright is going to be here today, tomorrow, speaking on issues affecting the youth," he said. "I do think I can have a bigger impact possibly as a member of the school board.
"I haven't been here during election and then gone. I've been here talking about these issues. Now I'm seeing some of the students that I've met now are graduated."
For the candidate, it is not just about politics -- it's about the kids, he says.
"School can be about learning and also schools can be about having a good experience," he said. "I remember going through school, I was fortunate. I did good, learned what I had to learn but I enjoyed the experience, whether it's sports of clubs, friends and what have you. I think it's important.
"And I think we have the opportunity to be more vocal for them."