Will Atherton earned a bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and a bachelor's degree in electrical technology from McNeese State University and a master's degree in network engineering from North Carolina State University. He lives with his wife and four children in Hillsborough.

Will is a board member of the Orange County Board of Education. He works at the Orange County Board of Education, where he serves as board chair and is seeking his third term. He previously worked at no companies.

LinkedIn

Will currently works as an executive director for the Clorox Company. He previously worked as a chief system architect for Lenovo, and chief system test engineer for IBM.

Will currently serves as a board member of the Orange County Board of Education. He was first elected in 2018 and is seeking reelection for his 3rd term.

OC School Board – Orange County Democratic Party of North Carolina

 Q&A: Atherton campaigns on experience for BOE seat 

Who's Running: Orange County County Commission and School ...

Supports providing additional extracurricular activity opportunities.

Supports career and technical education (CTE) so that students have alternatives aside from college and can learn "real hands-on skills."

Prioritizes addressing funding cuts "at all levels."

Wants to be transparent about all projects, seeks community feedback, and wants to be a "good [steward of tax dollars] in all projects."

- Supports providing additional extracurricular activity opportunities.
- Supports career and technical education (CTE) so that students have alternatives aside from college and can learn "real hands-on skills."
- Prioritizes addressing funding cuts "at all levels."
- Wants to be transparent about all projects, seeks community feedback, and wants to be a "good [steward of tax dollars] in all projects."

School Facilities & Resources

Believes every child has the right to attend public schools in their district, regardless of where they live or their immigration status.

- Believes every child has the right to attend public schools in their district, regardless of where they live or their immigration status.

Access to Education

Supports the presence of a diverse group of teachers and staff.

Supports the presence and retention of a diverse group of teachers and staff.

Supports raising local supplements pay and competitive benefits.

- Supports the presence and retention of a diverse group of teachers and staff.
- Supports raising local supplements pay and competitive benefits.

Teachers

Said, "the district needs to continue work to reduce racial disparities between students and disavows the idea that critical race theory is taught in schools."

Said schools should reduce racial disparities between students, and "disavows the idea that critical race theory is taught in schools."

Supports expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs in elementary and middle schools.

- Said schools should reduce racial disparities between students, and "disavows the idea that critical race theory is taught in schools."
- Supports expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs in elementary and middle schools.

School Curriculum

Wants to ensure schools are a place that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive to all teachers, students, and families.

Wants to ensure every student feels a sense of belonging and that they are getting the support they need.

- Wants to ensure schools are a place that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive to all teachers, students, and families.
- Wants to ensure every student feels a sense of belonging and that they are getting the support they need.

Student Wellbeing

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Will Atherton

- Supports providing additional extracurricular activity opportunities.
- Supports career and technical education (CTE) so that students have alternatives aside from college and can learn "real hands-on skills."

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

- Supports the presence and retention of a diverse group of teachers and staff.

- Said schools should reduce racial disparities between students, and "disavows the idea that critical race theory is taught in schools."

- Supports providing additional extracurricular activity opportunities.

- Said schools should reduce racial disparities between students, and "disavows the idea that critical race theory is taught in schools."
- Supports career and technical education (CTE) so that students have alternatives aside from college and can learn "real hands-on skills."

Candidate website

Will Atherton earned a bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and a bachelor's degree in electrical / electronic technology from McNeese State University and a master's degree in network engineering from North Carolina State University. He lives with his wife and 4 children in Hillsborough.

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Board of Education - Orange County School District

OCS Board of Education discusses COVID-19 guidelines, budget for ...

- 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. 