Terry Tippett

Terry Tippett is a member of the Johnston County Schools Board of Education in North Carolina, representing District 2. He assumed office in 2024. His current term ends on December 7, 2026.

Tippett (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Johnston County Schools Board of Education to represent District 2 in North Carolina. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Tippett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Terry Tippett was born in Zebulon, North Carolina. He earned a high school diploma from Smithfield-Selma High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in 1985, and a graduate degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1994. Tippett is a retired teacher, coach, and athletic director.^[1]

Elections

2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.

Republican primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education District 2

Incumbent Terry Tippett (R) and Jeremy Jenkins (R) are running in the Republican primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education District 2 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Terry Tippett
		Jeremy Jenkins

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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2022

General election

General election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	22.0	36,739
✔	Submit photo	Kevin Donovan (Nonpartisan)	18.3	30,544
✔	Submit photo	Michelle Antoine (Nonpartisan)	17.8	29,857
	Submit photo	Melissa Bowers (Nonpartisan)	14.4	24,075
		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	13.5	22,539
	Submit photo	Mark Lane (Nonpartisan)	13.3	22,220
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	1,345

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 167,319
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	17.3	12,472
✔	Submit photo	Kevin Donovan (Nonpartisan)	15.7	11,263
✔	Submit photo	Michelle Antoine (Nonpartisan)	14.0	10,040
✔		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	9.4	6,737
✔	Submit photo	Mark Lane (Nonpartisan)	8.8	6,339
✔	Submit photo	Melissa Bowers (Nonpartisan)	7.3	5,271
	Submit photo	Stuart Ashby Lee (Nonpartisan)	5.3	3,836
	Submit photo	Joe Preston (Nonpartisan)	5.2	3,741
	Submit photo	Aldostin Byrd (Nonpartisan)	4.0	2,904
	Submit photo	Jenn Gurley (Nonpartisan)	3.9	2,791
	Submit photo	Jennifer Slabaugh (Nonpartisan)	3.9	2,778
	Submit photo	George M. Brewer (Nonpartisan)	2.8	1,995
	Submit photo	John Fischer (Nonpartisan)	2.4	1,750

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 71,917
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

General election

General election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ronald Johnson (Nonpartisan)	16.6	53,011
✔	Submit photo	Lyn Andrews (Nonpartisan)	15.1	48,086
✔	Submit photo	Kay Carroll (Nonpartisan)	13.5	43,002
✔	Submit photo	Mike Wooten (Nonpartisan)	13.1	41,821
		Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	12.6	40,174
		Teresa Grant (Nonpartisan)	11.2	35,790
		Chuck Williams (Nonpartisan)	9.6	30,606
		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	7.6	24,265
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	1,903

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 318,658
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ronald Johnson (Nonpartisan)	13.4	16,263
✔	Submit photo	Lyn Andrews (Nonpartisan)	10.8	13,124
✔	Submit photo	Kay Carroll (Nonpartisan)	10.0	12,174
✔	Submit photo	Mike Wooten (Nonpartisan)	8.8	10,702
✔		Chuck Williams (Nonpartisan)	8.0	9,717
✔		Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	6.8	8,264
✔		Teresa Grant (Nonpartisan)	6.7	8,131
✔		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	5.6	6,866
	Submit photo	Mark Lane (Nonpartisan)	5.6	6,767
	Submit photo	Ava Atkinson Gaines (Nonpartisan)	4.7	5,710
	Submit photo	Carolyn Cash (Nonpartisan)	3.8	4,642
		Kenon Crumble (Nonpartisan)	3.6	4,350
	Submit photo	Kelly O'Hanlon-Peedin (Nonpartisan)	3.4	4,184
		Melynda Slay (Nonpartisan)	3.1	3,760
	Submit photo	Michelle Antoine (Nonpartisan)	3.1	3,732
	Submit photo	Yvonne Marlowe (Nonpartisan)	2.8	3,414

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 121,800
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Terry Tippett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tippett's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a lifelong resident of Johnston County and a product of Johnston County Public Schools, graduating from Smithfield Selma High School in 1981. I graduated from UNC Wilmington in 1985 and later earned a Masters degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1994. After finishing at UNC-W, I was employed in the Rehabilitation Department at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital until 2000. I then accepted a Special Education position at South Campus Community (alternative) School until 2003, when I accepted a Special Education position and later the Athletic Director and Softball Coach at Riverwood Middle School until 2011. I then accepted a Special Education position at Corinth Holders High School until 2013. At this time, I joined the staff at Neuse Charter School as a Special Education Teacher and became the High School Athletic Director through the 2017 school year. As retirement approached, I chose to return to JCPS at North Johnston Middle School as a Special Education Teacher while coaching softball at North Johnston High School for two years before returning ”home” to Corinth Holders High School and retired in December 2019. I am married and have two children, Lindsay and Dawson, and two grandchildren, Sutton and Jack. In addition, we have three dogs, three cats, five goats, and a donkey to keep us extra busy. I also serve as a Deacon and Treasurer at my lifelong Church, Friendship FWB. I enjoy life in the country and following Duke University athletics in my “spare” time.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

It is imperative that we prepare our students for the next chapter of their life. We must continue to provide academic programs to prepare students to further their education at the collegiate level or community college. However, we must recognize that not all students will choose this path and prepare them for vocational programs to meet career choices. In addition, we must make sure our ROTC programs are assisting students who choose the military path. The JOCO WORKS program has proven vital for Middle School Students and we must continue to expand the CTE program with more partnerships with both the academic and business community.
We must continue to provide needed resources to our teachers through curriculum and other classroom needs in order to meet the academic expectations placed upon us by state and federal policy. It is imperative that we maintain quality staff members in order to maintain the level of excellence JCPS expects. While JCPS offers one of the most competitive salary schedules around, maintaining a working environment that encourages staff to remain in the system is critical in achieving and maintaining excellence.
JCPS must continue to streamline its county office positions and put emphasis on being in the schools and not in offices. The business side of the system cannot be overlooked or taken for granted. As the landscape changes around us, we must adapt and adjust our “business” model to meet new expectations in an ever changing academic world.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am determined to make sure we get input from all our stakeholders in developing policy. Financial accountability is critical and we have to find ways to meet the needs while spending tax dollars in a conservative, directed manner. We must make sure the end product justifies the expense. Public Schools must seek ways to ensure parental input is taken into consideration as policies are developed and implemented.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials must be trustworthy and demonstrate a high level of integrity, ethics, and morals.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A Board of Education member must be committed to knowing what is happening in schools and be there to support staff and students in their efforts. Policies must be clear and focus on maintaining the values expected from our stakeholders.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working on farm was first “job”.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible is my favorite book because it contains the pathway of life and will direct one through any situation presented. It presents the gift of salvation and directs those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior in ways we should live. It is the inspired word of the one true living God.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Be a part of the school system in terms of supporting the work done at respective schools, events, and the community. Develop and enforce policies that will lead to a productive school system while maintaining accountability in expenditures.

Who are your constituents?

the residents of Johnston County

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

All staff and students will be treated fairly and given the opportunity to be successful by the provision of a level playing field that treats everyone equally.

Are there any areas of school curriculum you would like to see changed?

Continue to add to CTE trade/vocational programs and partnerships with academic and business groups.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Terry Tippett did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Terry Tippett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tippett's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Terry Tippett, a lifelong resident of Johnston County. I graduated from Smithfield-Selma HS in 1981 and UNC-W in 1985. After graduating from UNC-W, I was employed at Dorothea Dix Hospital in the Rehabilitation Therapies Dept. from 1986 until March 2000 and attended graduate school at UNC-CH while there. I began working in JCPS in March 2000 as a Special Education Teacher and have been an Athletic Director and Coach for many years as well. I taught at South Campus Community School, Riverwood MS, North Johnston MS, Corinth Holders HS, as well as Neuse Charter School before retiring December 1, 2019. My wife, Peggy, was also a Special Education Teacher for 30 years in JCPS. I have two children, Lindsay (27) and Dawson (21). I am committed to assisting in making JCPS the best in the state and confident that I have the knowledge and experience to make that happen. Through attending JCPS, having children attend JCPS, and recently working in the "system", I am able to see and fix things "from the inside out". I will not rest until every student has the opportunity to be successful and is provided the resources to move to the next chapter of their lives following graduation. There can be no excuses and failure will not be an option. The status quo of the past will no longer be acceptable.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Streamline central office staff and eliminate duplication of responsibilities. Evaluate position responsibilities and need for position. Focus on meeting need for psychologist and nurse positions.
Empower teachers to adjust curriculum to meet student needs. Increase vocational/trade opportunities and follow NCDPI requirement of 22 credits for graduation and allow additional elective time for specific vocational classes for students not attending college.
Increase accountability and transparency through town hall meetings throughout the county to ensure taxpayers are aware of where tax dollars are spent. Visit every school in the county at least every other month to gain input from school staff.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Assure the opportunity for every student to achieve his or her potential and to challenge each student as we prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, open to stakeholders, willing to accept criticism, able to achieve goals and meet expectations, fairness

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, integrity, fiscal conservative, able to get things done

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bible. Offers guide for living.

Who are your constituents?

Students, Parents, school staff, taxpayers, community groups

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

In school visits at least every other month to meet with school staff, PTA/Booster/Advisory meetings on a regular basis

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Town hall meetings to share info and gain insight to stakeholders concerns/suggestions. Focus on community groups as well as individuals. The school system drives the economy in our local communities.

What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 4, 2020

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 4, 2020

[1]

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Terry Tippett

Contents

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

Democratic primary

Republican primary

Republican primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education District 2

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (3 seats)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (3 seats)

2020

General election

General election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2026 Elections

2025 Elections

Election analysis

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