As publisher of Up & Coming Weekly and a dedicated community advocate, I’ve watched Fayetteville and Cumberland County grow, evolve and face more than our fair share of challenges.
I’ve introduced Truman the Dragon and read Kidsville News! stories to kindergartners who now have children—and even grandchildren—of their own. They still live happily here in Cumberland County, and they all share something important: they all have good jobs they proudly call careers, they were all educated in Cumberland County Public Schools, and they all learned to read and write in complete sentences.
Today, as adults, those same former students worry that our educational leadership in Cumberland County has drifted away from teaching these basic necessities—causing devastating harm to our children, crippling their futures and robbing them of what previous generations took for granted: a good education.
End-of-grade testing data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction shows grade-level reading proficiency for elementary students sits right around 47% to 50%. Not good. Here in Cumberland County, 50% of our children are reading below grade level, and math numbers are just as bad.
We need intelligent, experienced, educational leadership on the Cumberland County School Board that does more than make baseless promises or grandstand at public forums. True leadership is steady, consistent, and means getting involved and listening to concerns and ideas of teachers and parents while keeping the focus exactly where it belongs: on the education, success and well-being of our children.
This November, there are several concerned and qualified candidates stepping up and wanting to restore and advocate for these values. But one incumbent, in particular, has already proven herself a dedicated champion for our children. That is why Jacquelyn Brown has earned my support in her bid for re-election to the Cumberland County Board of Education.
Jacquelyn has proven herself over the last four years on the board. More importantly, she knows education from the inside out. After more than three decades in the classroom and walking the halls of Cumberland County Schools, she understands what it means to show up every single morning and face the real challenges confronting teachers and administrators. She knows firsthand how board policy decisions ripple down and impact teachers and staff and how they ultimately affect the quality of our children’s education.
During her tenure, Jacquelyn has demonstrated leadership principles that are all too rare in public service. She listens thoughtfully to her constituents and makes herself accessible to the public.
She sets ideology aside, approaches her work with humility and relates to the real-life experiences of parents, teachers and school staff. She understands that supporting Cumberland County Schools requires staying closely connected to the people who engage with education every day.
Without a doubt, CCS is at a critical juncture. We have a strong foundation of talent on the board and exceptional talent waiting in the wings, ready to make a positive difference. We need experienced educational leaders who are grounded in the Fayetteville community, who understand the operational realities and complexities of public education, and who never lose sight of their primary purpose—preparing every child in Cumberland County for a quality education and a bright, productive future.
Jacquelyn Brown embodies that spirit, skill and dedication. Her achievements are a matter of record, reflecting a deep commitment to educational excellence and fiscal responsibility.
At Up & Coming Weekly, we care deeply about this community and its children. I’ve made a career of it and built a company around it. It is rare that we personally endorse a candidate, but these are crucial times for Cumberland County education, and the futures of our children are at stake. I urge our readers—whether or not they have children or grandchildren in the school system—to take the time to study the backgrounds and qualifications of all the candidates and understand their vision for Cumberland County schools.
I know Jacquelyn Brown, and I am supporting her for the Cumberland County Board of Education. She has earned our trust, and more importantly, she has earned our vote.
She deserves yours.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo: Jacquelyn Brown is running for the Cumberland County School Board as an incumbent. She has served on the Board since 2022. Courtesy Photo)