School Board Home - Catawba County Schools

Don Sigmon earned an Associate Degree in Sacred Literature from Covington Theological Seminary. He has a wife and four children.

Don is a Pastor at Eastside Baptist Church in Newton, North Carolina.

Don Sigmon is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education, representing Catawba County. He was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term.

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Don is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education, representing Catawba County. He was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term.

Dave Kistler Post

Believes strong schools start with supporting our teachers and staff.

- Believes strong schools start with supporting our teachers and staff.

School Facilities & Resources

As of January 2, 2026, Don Sigmon did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

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Student Wellbeing

Don Sigmon

Don Signmon earned an Associate Degree in Sacred Literature from Covington Theological Seminary. He has a wife and four children.

As of January 2, 2026, Don Sigmon’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Matthew Tomas

Buket Urgen

Endorsed by Laura Blackwell of Cabarrus County, Don Sigmon and Tim Settlemyre of Catawba, Angie Todd and Louis Rogers of Onslow, Melissa Mason of New Hanover, Robert Levy of Moore, and Keith Locklear of Bladen.

Greg is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. He was appointed to fill a vacant seat.

Greg Whitener to fill seat on Catawba County school board

Greg is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. He was appointed in 2025 to fill a vacant seat.

As of January 2, 2026, Greg Whitener did not have a website or any information online.

Facebook

Advocates for "unified support, vision, and fellowship" amongst teachers and faculty to grow successful educators for future generations.

- Advocates for "unified support, vision, and fellowship" amongst teachers and faculty to grow successful educators for future generations.

Greg Whitener

Greg is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. He was appointed to fill a vacant seat. Greg’s campaign is centered on the "SUCCESS" vision: Students Unified with Committed Communities and Educators Striving for Success. Greg identifies as a "Christian Common Sense Conservative" and references Proverbs 16:3 as a guiding principle.

As of January 2, 2026, Greg Whitener’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ballotpedia

Jack R. Young's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education member is his first run for public office. 

Supports "full transparency and higher standards."

- Supports "full transparency and higher standards."

As of January 2, 2026, Jack R. Young’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in "teaching patriotism not protesting."

- Believes in "teaching patriotism not protesting."

Jack R. Young

Jack is originally from Vale, North Carolina. He studied at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina State, and the University of Carolina at Charlotte. He lives with his wife, Jill, in Claremont.

As of January 2, 2026, Jack R. Young did not have a website or any information online.

Jill L. Young is originally from Moorefield, West Virginia, but currently lives in Claremont, North Carolina with her husband Jimmy.

Jill L. Young - Ballotpedia

Jill’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is her first run for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Jill L. Young did not have a website or any information online.

Jill L. Young

Jill L. Young is originally from Moorefield, West Virginia, but currently lives in Claremont, North Carolina with her husband Jim.

Jill’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is her first run for public office

2026 Elections - Candidate Committees

Mathew was a former officer in the US Navy.

Matthew Fox's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

Matthew's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

As of January 2, 2026, Matthew Fox did not have a website or any information online.

Matthew Fox

As of January 2, 2026, Matthew Fox’s website did not contain information on this issue.

LinkedIn

Michelle Teague has an associate's degree in business administration and management from Catawba Valley Community College. She is a mother and attends Lakeview Baptist Church as a church service volunteer.

She previously worked as technical recruiter and account manager for Globalpundits. She also worked for Verizon Wireless and Corning Cable Systems.

Michelle Teague is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Catawba County Schools, North Carolina, elections - Ballotpedia

Michelle currently serves as a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Michelle Teague did not have a website or any information online.

Catawba County school board changes book challenge policy ...

Catawba County schools board of education votes on book bans ...

For Candidate Michelle Teague on Issue school-curriculum: Supports a policy change that emphasizes majority rule in handling book challenges in schools.

Supported a policy change that prioritized majority rule in handling "book challenges" in schools.

Supports restricting access to books that discuss gender, race, or sexuality that some parents may deem inappropriate.

- Supported a policy change that prioritized majority rule in handling "book challenges" in schools.
- Supports restricting access to books that discuss gender, race, or sexuality that some parents may deem inappropriate.

Michelle Teague

Michelle Teague is from Catawba County, She earned an associate's degree in business administration and management from Catawba Valley Community College and a bachelor's degree in secretarial science from Kings College. She is a co-founder of Mama Bears of Catawba County, a parents' rights group. Michelle lives with her husband, Mark, in Hickory and attends Lakeview Baptist Church as a church service volunteer.

She previously worked as technical recruiter and account manager for Globalpundits, a staffing and recruiting agency for engineering, IT, and technical consulting roles. She also worked for Verizon Wireless and Corning Cable Systems.

- Supported a policy change that prioritized majority rule in handling book challenges in schools.
- Supports book bans, which restrict access to books that discuss gender, race, or sexuality that some parents may deem inappropriate.

As of January 2, 2026, Michelle Teague’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Robert Lopez currently works in the electrical distribution and renewable sectors field. He is the founder of Wesco Renewables. He previously worked in commercial construction. 

Robert Lopez's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education member is his first time running for public office.

Robert's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education member is his first run for public office. 

Plans to build upon current career technical education programs and leverage federal, private, local, and national company funding as support.

Wants to "increase developer fees 'pay to play'" for school renovations and public safety.

- Plans to build upon current career technical education programs and leverage federal, private, local, and national company funding as support.
- Wants to "increase developer fees 'pay to play'" for school renovations and public safety.

As of January 2, 2026, Robert Lopez did not have a website or any information online.

Plans to increase teacher retention and pay.

- Plans to increase teacher retention and pay.

Supports basic financial literacy being a graduation requirement.

- Supports basic financial literacy being a graduation requirement.

Robert Lopez

- Plans to build upon current career technical education programs and leverage federal, private, local, and national company funding as support.
- Plans to "increase developer fees 'pay to play'" for school renovations and public safety.

As of January 2, 2026, Robert Lopez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Tim is a member of the Catawba County Board of Education.

Tim Settlemyre is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education, representing Catawba County. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Tim Settlemyre did not have a website or any information online.

Supports proactive safety measures for students, teachers, and administrators, utilizing both advanced and common-sense solutions to protect schools.

Supports taking "proactive steps to ensure the safety of every student, teacher and administrator, relying on both state-of-the-art and common-sense solutions to protect our schools."

For Candidate Tim Settlemyre on Issue student-wellbeing: Prioritizes the health and well-being of students by implementing state and federally recommended safety measures and encouraging those who are unwell to stay home.

Prioritizes students' health and well-being by implementing state- and federally recommended safety measures and encouraging those who are unwell to stay home.

- Supports taking "proactive steps to ensure the safety of every student, teacher and administrator, relying on both state-of-the-art and common-sense solutions to protect our schools."
- Prioritizes students' health and well-being by implementing state- and federally recommended safety measures and encouraging those who are unwell to stay home.

Tim Settlemyre

As of January 2, 2026, Tim Settlemyre’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Twitter

Instagram

Election 2020, Tom Dees, Catawba County commissioner candidate

Tom Dees lives in Claremont, North Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Carolina University. 

There is no professional background information available for Tom Dees based on the provided sources.

District 10 Newsletter-Volume 11 - NC GOP

Tom works as the owner of Century Campaigns, a political consulting and fundraising firm. He has also worked as a substitute teacher with Hickory City Schools. In addition, Tom has professional experience in political communications, government affairs, and campaign operations. 

Tom Dees's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

Tom previously ran for public office in 2020 as a candidate for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, but did not win. 

As of January 2, 2026, Tom Dees did not have a website or any information online.

Supports expanding alternative and vocational education pathways, including trade-focused programs and apprenticeships, to ensure students have multiple post-graduation options beyond traditional college tracks. 

- Supports expanding alternative and vocational education pathways, including trade-focused programs and apprenticeships, to ensure students have multiple post-graduation options beyond traditional college tracks. 

Supports a values-based approach to curriculum, including removing books deemed as inappropriate and reshaping sex education to emphasize " a pro-life culture."

- Supports a values-based approach to curriculum, including removing books deemed as inappropriate and reshaping sex education to emphasize " a pro-life culture."

Emphasizes stricter cellphone policies, internet safety education, and limits on exposure to content considered harmful.

- Emphasizes stricter cellphone policies, internet safety education, and limits on exposure to content considered harmful.

Tom Dees

Tom Dees lives in Claremont, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Carolina University. 

Tom Dees works as the owner of Century Campaigns, a political consulting and fundraising firm. He has also worked as a substitute teacher with Hickory City Schools. In addition, Dees has professional experience in political communications, government affairs, and campaign operations across multiple states.

Tom Dees is currently running for the Catawba County Schools Board of Education. He previously ran for public office in 2020 as a candidate for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, but did not win. 

- Supports expanding alternative and vocational education pathways, including trade-focused programs and apprenticeships, to ensure students have multiple post-graduation options beyond traditional college tracks

- Supports a values-based approach to curriculum, including removing books he views as inappropriate, restricting access to certain digital content, and reshaping sex education to emphasize pro-life and family-centered values

- Emphasizes protecting students’ moral, emotional, and digital wellbeing through stricter cellphone policies, internet safety education, and limits on exposure to content he considers harmful

As of January 2, 2026, Tom Dees’s website did not contain information on this issue.

William R. Barnabas currently lives in Conover, North Carolina.

William previously ran for Catawba County Board of Education member in 2026 but did not win.

William R. Barnabas - Ballotpedia

William’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is his first run for public office. 

As of January 2, 2026, William R. Barnabas did not have a website or any information online.

William R. Barnabas

William’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is his first run for public office

As of January 2, 2026, William R. Barnabas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Catawba County Board of Education Member, Republican Primary

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Catawba County Board of Education Member, Republican Primary

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