A new superintendent has been chosen to head Cumberland County Schools, the Cumberland County Board of Education announced today.
During a special meeting on Tuesday, the board moved to unanimously appoint Eric C. Bracy to lead the school system as Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. steps down. Connelly announced his retirement in December 2024.
Bracy is currently superintendent of Johnston County Schools, a position he has held since 2020, according to a Cumberland County Schools news release.
Past experiences
The school system pointed to Bracy’s experience in fiscal management and improving student outcomes as particular strengths.
“From the outset of our search process, Dr. Bracy stood out from a deep and talented pool of candidates as the right leader at the right time for Cumberland County Schools,” said Deanna Jones, chair of the Cumberland Board of Education. “His unwavering commitment to student achievement, consistent track record of results across multiple districts and ability to build meaningful relationships reflect the type of strong, student-centered leadership our community values. We are proud to welcome him and confident that he will help take CCS to the next level.”
Bracy is scheduled to take over the position in a four-year term on July 1, depending on his release date from Johnston County, the release said.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the next superintendent of Cumberland County Schools,” Bracy said. “This district has made tremendous progress, and I am excited to work alongside the board, staff, families and community partners to build on that momentum.”
Bracy’s top priorities are increasing student achievement and instructional excellence in each classroom, the release states.
In Johnston County, Bracy has been lauded for raising the school system’s rank from 83rd to 35th in the state in grade-level proficiency. The district was one of six in the state to see improvements in grade-level proficiency when compared to performance from before the Covid-19 pandemic, the release said.
Under Bracy’s leadership, 89% of Johnston County’s 48 schools earned A, B or C performance grades while the number of low-performing schools dropped from 14 to one.
“Student achievement improved across the district, with 33 schools exceeding academic growth expectations while 30 ranking in the top 20% statewide for academic growth,” the release said.
As superintendent of Sampson County Schools from 2014 to 2020, Bracy also oversaw the district’s jump from the 66th spot to the 15th highest performing school system in the state. The school system was recognized nationally by the College Board for closing the achievement gap in Advanced Placement courses, and was one of five school districts in the state to receive the honor.
Bracy is also credited with overseeing the elimination of a $10 million budget shortfall in Johnston County Schools. According to the release, Bracy worked with the Johnston County Board of Education and county commissioners for the passage of two bond referendums, $177 million in 2022 and $120 million in 2024, to support the district’s facility needs and growth.
Bracy also has experience understanding the needs of military families, having worked with many stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
‘Thrilled to begin this next chapter’
Bracy, the son of educators, grew up in Weldon and Roanoke Rapids. He began his career in education in 1997, teaching fourth-grade in Northampton County Schools, the release states. He has served as an assistant principal and principal in Vance County Schools, also later working in Durham County Schools, where he was a principal and executive director of student support services.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from N.C. Central University, a master’s degree in education from Virginia State University and a doctoral degree in education from Nova Southeastern University.
His wife, Janelle, is a teacher; they have three daughters.
“My family and I are thrilled to begin this next chapter and look forward to becoming an engaged and visible part of the CCS community,” Bracy said. “I’m ready to get to work and help move the district to even greater heights.”
After Connelly announced his retirement last winter, the Board of Education in January selected McPherson and Jacobson LLC, a national executive search firm, to begin the search for his replacement.
Representatives from the search firm held public meetings to find out what the community wanted in a new superintendent. A district-wide survey was posted online to allow residents to provide input. Transparency, experience in the field of education, and an understanding of finance, operations and facilities were among the top community priorities for the next superintendent.