North Carolina › Cabarrus County › Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education
6 candidates are tracked for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Pam Escobar, William L. Barbee, Courtney Steinberg, Bubba Hartsell, Mishell Williams and Robert Kirk. Candidate information follows official Cabarrus County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Six candidates filed for three at-large seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Pam Escobar (Democratic incumbent) and William L. Barbee, Courtney Steinberg, Bubba Hartsell, Mishell Williams, and Robert Kirk. Of the three board seats up in 2026, only Escobar's incumbent seat is being sought again; sitting members Shannon Lancaster and Sam Treadaway did not file for new terms. Results are unofficial until certified.
Pam Escobar is the sitting Cabarrus County Schools board member, serving since December 2022. She is a former teacher and journalist who now works as a communications specialist, per her campaign site, and is the mother of two students in the district.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Quality of student education and teacher retention and support
- Managing district growth and advocating for public education funding
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
William L. Barbee owns S and B Real Estate, LLC and holds a degree in Business Administration, per Cabarrus Compass. He has grandchildren currently enrolled in Cabarrus County Schools. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for William L. Barbee.
2026 priorities (per the Cabarrus Compass)
- Preparing every student for life after graduation through strong fundamentals
- Competitive teacher compensation and manageable workloads
- Addressing classroom crowding from rapid population growth
Courtney Steinberg appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Courtney Steinberg.
Bubba Hartsell has spent more than 12 years working in Cabarrus and Kannapolis City Schools in roles including classroom teacher and behavioral specialist, per Cabarrus Compass. He currently serves as a Youth Education Assistant Team Leader with the NC Department of Public Safety's National Guard division and owns a real estate firm. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Bubba Hartsell.
2026 priorities (per the Cabarrus Compass)
- School safety, including bathroom and locker room policies
- Addressing overcrowding through collaboration with county commissioners
- Fiscal scrutiny and transparency in district spending
Mishell Williams is a certified teacher who works part-time in Cabarrus County Schools and serves as a PTO board member, per her campaign site. She has children in elementary, middle, and high school in the district.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Supporting policies that keep top teaching talent in the district
- Creating properly supported classrooms as the district grows
- Physical and emotional safety in schools
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
Robert Kirk's background includes military service, private-sector leadership, classroom teaching, district-wide educational administration, and prior service on the Cabarrus County Board of Education, per his campaign site.
Campaign site →
