Charleston County School Board District 5 Candidate

Charleston County School Board District 5 Candidate – Re-Elect Carlotte Bailey
Looking for the Charleston County School Board District 5 candidate on your ballot this November? That's Carlotte Bailey — a proven trustee who has spent decades putting local students and families first. A wife, mother of six, grandmother, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves veteran, and 16-year Teacher's Assistant, Carlotte is running for re-election because she believes District 5's progress over the last four years is only the beginning, and she wants to keep guiding it forward with the same faith-driven, family-first leadership her constituents have come to trust.
A District 5 Candidate Rooted in Real Classroom Experience
Carlotte's connection to this district isn't recent — it spans more than 51 years of living, raising a family, and serving here. She and her husband raised six daughters, and today she's a grandmother watching the next generation come up through many of the same schools she's spent decades supporting as an elected trustee.
Before she ever sat on the school board, Carlotte served her country in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, spent 16 years as a Teacher's Assistant inside Charleston County classrooms, and ministered to children and families for more than 25 years. That combination — veteran discipline, hands-on classroom experience, and a heart for community — shapes a leadership style that's community-first, not politics-first, and it's exactly what District 5 needs at the board table.

Representing Every Neighborhood Inside District 5
District 5 isn't one neighborhood — it's a wide stretch of communities across North Charleston, and Carlotte believes every one of them deserves the same quality of education, the same school safety standards, and the same strong voice on the board. Her work touches families throughout areas including:
Whether your family lives near the historic streets of Park Circle, the quiet blocks of Windsor Hill, or the growing corridor around Northwoods, Carlotte's approach is the same: listen first, then lead with what's best for students and families in that specific neighborhood.
Advocating for Students in District 5 Schools
Carlotte's decisions on the board are shaped by what's actually happening inside District 5's classrooms — from early elementary years through high school graduation. As a sitting trustee, her attention spans elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the district, including:
Elementary Schools
- North Charleston Elementary School
- Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori School
- Pepperhill Elementary School
- A.C. Corcoran Elementary School
- Matilda F. Dunston Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Morningside Middle School
- Northwoods Middle School
- Jerry Zucker Middle School
High Schools
- North Charleston High School
- R.B. Stall High School
- Military Magnet Academy
Investing in Teachers and Educational Excellence
Having spent 16 years as a Teacher's Assistant herself, Carlotte doesn't view teacher support as a talking point — she's lived the demands of the classroom firsthand. Her priorities as a District 5 board member include:
- Recruiting strong teaching talent into District 5 schools
- Retaining experienced teachers through competitive pay and real respect
- Expanding access to professional development
- Ensuring classrooms have the resources teachers need to succeed
- Championing the day-to-day respect teachers deserve from both parents and the district
Building Strong Partnerships with Parents
Carlotte believes parents aren't outsiders in their children's education — they're partners in it. On the board, she pushes for:
- Clear, consistent communication between schools and families
- Transparency in what students are being taught and how
- Real avenues for family involvement in school decisions
- Accountability from the district when families raise concerns
- A collaborative model where student success is a shared responsibility between home and school
The Record Behind District 5's Progress
Since 2023, District 5 has posted measurable, verifiable progress under Carlotte's leadership:
- 62% of schools now rated Good or Excellent, up from 45% in 2022 — a gain of 17 schools
- 64.5% of 3rd graders met or exceeded ELA expectations, up from 53.9% in 2022
- Starting teacher pay over $55,000, up more than $12,000 since 2022
- District 5's first-ever national budget transparency award, earned in 2025

A District Carlotte Has Called Home for Decades
District 5 is more than a set of boundary lines for Carlotte — it's home. From family outings at Riverfront Park to concerts at the North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center, from the shops at Tanger Outlets Charleston to community gatherings around Park Circle and civic business at North Charleston City Hall, these are the everyday places where District 5 families live their lives. Add in the steady hum of Charleston International Airport, the local flavor of Firefly Distillery, and family weekends at Wannamaker County Park, and you have a community with real identity and real pride — one Carlotte has called home for over five decades and is committed to serving well.

Why District 5 Families Support Carlotte Bailey
As the Charleston County School Board District 5 candidate on the ballot, Carlotte's support comes from a track record voters can see and verify, not just campaign promises:
- Proven leadership — four years of measurable results on the board
- Community trust — decades of visible presence in District 5 neighborhoods and churches
- Family values — a mother and grandmother who has lived the parent experience in District 5 schools
- Education experience — 16 years inside the classroom as a Teacher's Assistant
- Veteran leadership — discipline and service instilled through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Who is the Charleston County School Board District 5 candidate this year?
Carlotte Bailey is the incumbent trustee running for re-election to represent District 5 on the Charleston County School Board. She's a 16-year Teacher's Assistant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves veteran, mother of six, and current Vice Chair of the board, running on measurable gains in student achievement, teacher pay, and district transparency since 2023.
What areas does District 5 cover?
District 5 covers a stretch of neighborhoods primarily within North Charleston, including areas like Park Circle, Windsor Hill, and Northwoods. Because County Board District lines don't always match city or neighborhood boundaries exactly, residents should confirm their specific district using Charleston County's official voter and district-lookup tools.
How does Carlotte Bailey support teachers?
Carlotte champions competitive pay, professional development, classroom resources, and a culture of respect for teachers — informed by her own 16 years as a Teacher's Assistant working directly in the classroom alongside students and educators.
How does Carlotte work with parents?
She prioritizes transparent communication, parental involvement in curriculum decisions, and district accountability to the families it serves, treating parents as genuine partners rather than outside observers in their children's education.
When is Election Day for the District 5 school board race?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. Voters are encouraged to confirm their polling location and district eligibility ahead of time through the Charleston County Board of Elections website.
How can I volunteer or support the campaign?
Visit the campaign's Volunteer page to sign up, attend an upcoming event, or reach out directly to the campaign team. Supporters can also help by sharing the campaign within their own neighborhood networks across District 5.
Vote for Carlotte Bailey in District 5
Ready to keep proven, community-first leadership on the school board? Here's how to help:
- Volunteer — knock doors, host an event, or join the campaign team
- Donate — support the campaign's outreach across District 5
- Attend campaign events — meet Carlotte in person at upcoming community gatherings
- Share the campaign — help spread the word to fellow District 5 voters
- Vote on Election Day — Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026
As the Charleston County School Board District 5 candidate with results to show for it, Carlotte Bailey is asking for your vote to continue the work already underway for District 5's students, teachers, and families.

Support Carlotte
Putting Families First.
Join the campaign team and help re-elect Carlotte Bailey for Charleston County School Board, District 5. Together we'll keep our schools moving forward for every child.
Join the Campaign Team
Volunteer sign-up & general inquiries




