The Ballot Brief
Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education

See where Escobar, Barbee, Steinberg, Hartsell, Williams and Kirk stand on schools and growth. Names follow official Cabarrus County election filings.

About this race

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.

What this office does

School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Pam Escobar, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

North Carolina › Cabarrus County › Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education

Pam Escobar

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Quality of student education and teacher retention and support
  • Managing district growth and advocating for public education funding
Biography

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.

William L. Barbee

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Preparing every student for life after graduation through strong fundamentals, per Cabarrus Compass
  • Competitive teacher compensation and manageable workloads, per Cabarrus Compass
  • Addressing classroom crowding from rapid population growth, per Cabarrus Compass
Biography

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 was found as of September 8, 2026.

Courtney Steinberg

Democratic

Biography

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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Courtney Steinberg.

Bubba Hartsell

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • School safety, including bathroom and locker room policies, per Cabarrus Compass
  • Addressing overcrowding through collaboration with county commissioners, per Cabarrus Compass
  • Fiscal scrutiny and transparency in district spending, per Cabarrus Compass
Biography

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 was found as of September 8, 2026.

Mishell Williams

Democratic

Top priorities

From 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
Biography

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.

Robert Kirk

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Address school capacity pressure on facilities, teachers, and staff from county growth
  • Maintain a quality education that prepares students for what comes next
  • Build on the district's tradition of educational excellence
Biography

Kirk's background includes military service, a private-sector leadership role, work as a classroom teacher, a district-wide educational leadership position, and previous service on a Board of Education, per the campaign site.

Next on your ballotCabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education in 2026?

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. See where they stand on schools and growth.

When is the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Cabarrus County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Cabarrus County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Cabarrus County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Cabarrus County ballot

17 tracked races in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
City of Locust MayorCity of Locust City CouncilDistrict Attorney District 25See all 17 Cabarrus County races
Candidate profiles
Pam Escobar, full profileWilliam L. Barbee, full profileCourtney Steinberg, full profileBubba Hartsell, full profileMishell Williams, full profileRobert Kirk, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office