George Griffin has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Duke University, a master's degree in special education from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in special education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is married and has lived in Chapel Hill since 1981. He has two adult children.

George Griffin, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education

George is a retired educator. He spent 46 years in public education, working as a special education teacher, high school principal, and program director at the local and state levels. He also served as a professor in educational leadership at North Carolina Central University and worked as an evaluator and accreditor of schools and school districts across the United States and in ten foreign countries.

George Griffin, Chair of CHCCS Board of Education, Announces Re ...

George is currently a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. He was first elected to the board in 2021 and is currently serving his second term as chair. His current term ends in 2025.

Supports developing long-term plans for instructional technology to ensure meaningful use and address AI implications.

Supports efforts to provide internet access for students without home internet.

Supports developing a written curriculum for every K-12 course and subject.

Supports the district's Newcomer program for English Language Learner (ELL) students.

Supports efforts to address the needs of all students, including special needs students.

Opposes the board's use of consultants instead of community input to inform decisions.

- Supports developing long-term plans for instructional technology to ensure meaningful use and address AI implications.
- Supports efforts to provide internet access for students without home internet.
- Supports developing a written curriculum for every K-12 course and subject.
- Supports the district's Newcomer program for English Language Learner (ELL) students.
- Supports efforts to address the needs of all students, including special needs students.
- Opposes the board's use of consultants instead of community input to inform decisions.

School Curriculum

Plans to work with the Board of County Commissioners to address unfunded capital improvement needs for schools.

- Plans to work with the Board of County Commissioners to address unfunded capital improvement needs for schools.

School Facilities & Resources

Believes schools must be safe learning environments, addressing both physical and emotional safety, and that school safety requires a team commitment from all school adults.

- Believes schools must be safe learning environments, addressing both physical and emotional safety, and that school safety requires a team commitment from all school adults.

Student Wellbeing

Opposes House Bill 324, saying it "imposes an ever-growing list of restrictions on the schools" and is an example of "politics intruding into our education system."

- Opposes House Bill 324, saying it "imposes an ever-growing list of restrictions on the schools" and is an example of "politics intruding into our education system."

Access to Education

Teachers

George Griffin

George Griffin is a retired educator. He spent 46 years in public education, working as a special education teacher, high school principal, and program director at the local and state levels. He also served as a professor in Educational Leadership at North Carolina Central University and worked as an evaluator and accreditor of schools and school districts across the United States and in ten foreign countries.

George Griffin has a bachelor's degree in sociology, a master's degree in special education, and a doctorate in special education from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has lived in Chapel Hill for 40 years. He attends St. Paul AME Church.

George Griffin is a retired educator. He spent 46 years in public education, working as a special education teacher, high school principal, and program director at both the local and state levels. He also served as a professor in Educational Leadership at North Carolina Central University and spent the last ten years of his career evaluating and accrediting schools and school districts across 25 states and ten foreign countries.

George is currently a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. He was first elected to the board in 2021 and is currently serving his second term. He is the board's chair and previously served as its vice chair.

Buket Urgen

Walter Ley

LinkedIn

Lynnee Argabright has a bachelor's degree in english literature and history from Smith College and a master's degree in information science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lynnee is a data science teaching library at North Carolina State University. She previously held positions as a research data librarian at UNCW Library and a research associate at North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, North Carolina, elections ...

Lynnee's campaign for an at-large seat on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education is her first entry into politics. 

As of September 4, 2025, Lynnee Argabright did not have a website or any information online.

Lynnee Argabright

Facebook

Melinda Manning has a bachelor's degree in political science and history, a master's degree in social work, and a law degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband.

Former School Improvement Team Parent Chair Melinda Manning ...

Improved Title IX processes at UNC Chapel Hill (opinion)

Melinda is the director of the UNC Health Beacon Program and an adjunct instructor at the UNC School of Social Work. She previously worked as a social studies teacher in Mississippi and served as the assistant dean of students at UNC Chapel Hill.

Melinda's campaign for an at-large seat on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education is her first entry into politics. 

Plans to create a Speaker’s Bureau to "establish a centralized listing of local 'experts' who are willing to come speak to classes about their careers or research. This also could be used by high school students seeking research opportunities and internships."

Proposes a Speaker’s Bureau to "establish a centralized listing of local 'experts' who are willing to come speak to classes about their careers or research."

- Proposes a Speaker’s Bureau to "establish a centralized listing of local 'experts' who are willing to come speak to classes about their careers or research."

Supports improving accessibility to school system data, conducting exit interviews with families who leave the district, and clearly communicating any financial changes.

- Supports improving accessibility to school system data, conducting exit interviews with families who leave the district, and clearly communicating any financial changes.

Aims to bolster trust through increased office hours, rules against retaliation for raising concerns, and a comprehensive review of the new high school block schedule.

Supports reinstating written comments at Board of Education meetings to ensure all families have a voice in decision-making, regardless of their ability to attend evening meetings.

- Aims to bolster trust through increased office hours, rules against retaliation for raising concerns, and a comprehensive review of the new high school block schedule.
- Supports reinstating written comments at Board of Education meetings to ensure all families have a voice in decision-making, regardless of their ability to attend evening meetings.

As of September 4, 2025, Melinda Manning’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "As we are limited by the state budget to increase salaries, we need to find other ways to retain our best educators. Manning says this can be accomplished with affordable housing, dedicated planning time, and a dedication to listen to teacher input."

Said, "As we are limited by the state budget to increase salaries, we need to find other ways to retain our best educators . . . [T]his can be accomplished with affordable housing, dedicated planning time, and a dedication to listen to teacher input."

Plans to reduce "unnecessary and redundant paperwork and non-instructional duties" for teachers.

- Said, "As we are limited by the state budget to increase salaries, we need to find other ways to retain our best educators . . . [T]his can be accomplished with affordable housing, dedicated planning time, and a dedication to listen to teacher input."
- Plans to reduce "unnecessary and redundant paperwork and non-instructional duties" for teachers.

Melinda Manning

- Aims to bolster trust through increased office hours, rules against retaliation for raising concerns, and a comprehensive review of the new high school block schedule.

- Said, "As we are limited by the state budget to increase salaries, we need to find other ways to retain our best educators . . . [T]his can be accomplished with affordable housing, dedicated planning time, and a dedication to listen to teacher input."

As of September 4, 2025, Melinda Manning did not have a website or any information online.

Melinda is the director of the UNC Health Beacon Program. She previously worked as a social studies teacher in Mississippi, served as the assistant dean of students at UNC Chapel Hill, and taught as adjunct faculty for the Public Policy Department and School of Social Work at UNC.

Supports "radical transparency" in school performance and decision-making, including improving accessibility to school system data, conducting exit interviews with families who leave the district, and clearly communicating any financial changes.

Riza Jenkins earned a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a master's in business administration from Howard University, and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. She lives in Jacksonville.

2022 Black History Month Honorees | NC AAHC

Riza Jenkins, Chair - NC Sustainable Energy Association

Riza is vice president of solar asset management at PurEnergy. She is also the principal and wwner of the Azir Group, a consulting firm. Previously, she was the senior energy consultant at ICF, the vice president of asset management for Summit Ridge Energy, and the asset manager at Strata Solar.

CHCCS Board Vice Chair Riza Jenkins Announces 2025 Re ...

Riza is currently a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. She was first elected in 2021 and is currently serving her first term.

As of September 4, 2025, Riza Jenkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports working with county commissioners to improve broadband access.

- Supports working with county commissioners to improve broadband access.

Supports the district's newcomer program for refugee students and suggests implementing a buddy program to help new students connect.

Believes the school district should provide additional social and emotional support to students and staff, and plans to creatively recruit mental health workers and collaborate with the county to implement support programs.

Believes the district should revise the Code of Character and Conduct to include social emotional support and reduce punitive measures like suspensions.

- Supports the district's newcomer program for refugee students and suggests implementing a buddy program to help new students connect.
- Believes the school district should provide additional social and emotional support to students and staff, and plans to creatively recruit mental health workers and collaborate with the county to implement support programs.
- Believes the district should revise the Code of Character and Conduct to include social emotional support and reduce punitive measures like suspensions.

Supports increasing teacher and staff diversity through intentional recruiting efforts and examining compensation and incentives.

- Supports increasing teacher and staff diversity through intentional recruiting efforts and examining compensation and incentives.

Riza Jenkins

Riza Jenkins earned a bachelor of arts in political science and international relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a juris doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives with her husband and three children in Chapel Hill. She volunteers as an elementary faith development teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Riza is a Senior Energy Consultant at ICF, where she specializes in renewable energy asset management and operations and maintenance. She is also the Principal and Owner of the Azir Group. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Asset Management for Summit Ridge Energy, managing its community solar portfolio. Before that, she oversaw the asset management department at Strata Solar, where she managed a portfolio of 900 MW of solar projects.

Riza is currently a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. She was first elected in 2021 and is currently serving her first term. She is the board's vice chair and chairs the Finance, Facilities, and Operations Committee. 

Instagram

Riza Jenkins earned a bachelor of arts in political science and international relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a juris doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her three children. She is a volunteer faith development teacher at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church.

Riza is the Senior Energy Consultant at ICF, where she specializes in renewable energy consulting, focusing on asset management and operations and maintenance. She is also the Principal and Owner of the Azir Group. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Asset Management for Summit Ridge Energy, where she managed the company's community solar portfolio. Before that, she oversaw the asset management department at Strata Solar, handling a portfolio of 900 MW of solar projects.

Supports intentional recruiting efforts to increase diversity among staff, including identifying schools, neighborhoods, and publications where candidates of various groups may be found.

Believes the district should collaborate with county commissioners to enhance broadband access.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and make decisions about the superintendent’s personnel recommendations.
- Members of the board must act as a unit based on majority rule. A member cannot make decisions or act independently.
- Board of Education members are elected to staggered four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Chapel Hill City Board of Education Member

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Chapel Hill City Board of Education Member

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