Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

James Lewis Ross II is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina.  He received an A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts from Carver Junior College, an A.B. Degree in Psychology from JC Smith University and a M.Ed. Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Charlotte University.

He is President of Ross & Associates, a Human Potential Consulting Firm.  R&A focuses on non-profits and private sector clients.  He has served as a consultant at the federal, state and local level.

Mr. Ross is a well-known speaker, lecturer, and workshop facilitator and is active in community affairs.  He has served on the boards of a variety of community and civic organizations, including: Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Boy Scouts of America, Charlotte Drug Education Center, Afro-American Cultural Center, the Mecklenburg Bar Association's Fee Arbitration Committee, Chair of JC Smith University's Urban Research Group, and Kinder mourn.

His association memberships have included, the East Charlotte Optimist Club, Red Cross Youth Council, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Mecklenburg County 4-H Youth Council, Charlotte Home Builders Association, Charlotte Senior Golfers, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Ross has received numerous civic awards.  In 1985 he was the recipient of the first annual Rosa Parks Award for Outstanding Service in Civil Rights from the Afro-American Cultural Center.  Additional citations have been received from the Charlotte Jaycees, Charlotte Police Department, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Metrolina Aids Project, Greenville, SC Business League, regional and local chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the US Department of Justice.  In 2009, the Hidden Valley Optimist Club "Friend of Youth Award."

He currently serves on the Grier Heights Community Athletic Committee, the Board of Queens Grant Charter School, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board.

Candidate Statement:

Greetings from District 3!

The election season will quickly be upon us, and I want to take this opportunity to ask for your support as I strive to continue serving you on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.  As a product of Charlotte schools, parent of CMS graduates, and grandparent of current CMS students, I am eager to continue adding to the success of the educational system that has provided the academic foundation for my family and for many others.

During my short time on the school board, we have had many accomplishments.  These include expanding the Teach for American program to 114 teachers, launching the Parent University, hosting the 2009 Magnet Schools of America Conference as a national leader and enhancing the Freedom and Flexibility with Accountability initiative that expanded to include 61 principals. In realizing the growth potential for CMS and District 3, there are four areas that I believe are central to developing and maintaining World Class educational practices and results:

• Freedom and Flexibility - empowering our principals to make critical decisions at the school level, and holding the principals accountable for the successes and shortcomings

• Team Building and Collaboration - creating a cohesive and accountable team that includes the Board of Education, elected officials, superintendent, parent, students, and the community

• Advocacy - representing the educational concerns of District 3 constituents through high accessibility and timely response to issues and concerns

• Technical and Hands-On Education - increasing vocational offerings and entrepreneurial training

It is through these four areas that I believe CMS can continue to provide a best-in-class education to our students.

There is no reason that CMS cannot be the best system in the state and I look forward to actively working towards this goal.

Thank you,

James Ross II