
Robert L. Edwards
Non-Partisan | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Robert L. Edwards
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2025
Election
General - School Boards
Race
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, District 4
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, Music Education, 2022
Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, Master of Music Education, 2005
Walden University, Minneapolis, MA, Doctor of Education/ Administration Leadership Teaching and Learning, 2018
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
HBCU National Band Director’s Consortium, Task Force Team, 2022
North Carolina Association for Educators, Certified Member, 2005
National Association for Educators, Certified Member, 2005
Charlotte Association for Educators, Certified Member, 2005
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Student Adviors, 2009
The American Society for Composers, Artist, and Publishers (ASCAP), Certified Member, 2025
Association of Christian Schools International Educators (ASCI), Certified Member, 20212
National Association of Community Health Centers, Certified Member, 2025
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
none
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
none
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Pending
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Schools should serve as a safe and supportive place for students facing an unwanted or crisis pregnancy. While schools are not a replacement for family or medical providers, they should ensure students have access to counseling, trusted staff, and referrals to appropriate community resources. The role of the school is to provide stability, helping the student continue their education, maintain emotional well-being, and feel supported without judgment. Every student deserves compassion, privacy, and the opportunity to stay on track academically while navigating such a difficult time.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Every human life has value and should be treated with dignity, care, and respect. My focus as an educator and leader is on ensuring that both students and families have the support they need to thrive, especially when facing difficult circumstances. Protecting life also means providing access to mental health resources, strong family support systems, and safe learning environments so that every child and family feels cared for at every stage of life.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Teachers should be required to instruct students on mandated curriculum even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Teachers should not be forced to compromise their moral or religious beliefs in the classroom. At the same time, schools have a responsibility to ensure students meet state academic standards. We must achieve a balance by offering support, flexibility, and alternative methods to deliver the required curriculum, allowing students to learn what they need without requiring teachers to compromise their deeply held values.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are vital to a strong economy. They foster innovation, responsibility, and opportunity, allowing people to build businesses, create jobs, and support their families. At the same time, we must ensure fairness so workers, families, and small businesses are not left behind. Protecting these principles while promoting equity helps create a community where everyone can thrive.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I support strong government funding for public education from Pre-K through college. Education is an investment in our students’ future, and every student deserves access to quality instruction, safe schools, and the resources needed to succeed. Adequate funding helps close opportunity gaps, supports teachers and staff, and prepares students for college, careers, and life.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender transitioning providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
I do not believe outside providers such as abortion or gender-transitioning services, including Planned Parenthood, should serve as resources for instruction or services in schools. The role of schools is to educate, support student wellness, and connect families with trusted community resources, while leaving sensitive medical decisions to parents, guardians, and healthcare professionals outside the school setting. However, providing support to ensure students’ well-being should be considered.
Consistent discipline creates a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Agree
It depends on what is defined as discipline and what type of discipline. I agree that consistency is essential for a safe and orderly learning environment. Students learn best when expectations are transparent, fair, and applied equally. Discipline should focus on accountability and growth, using restorative practices when appropriate, and ensuring that classrooms remain safe and supportive. A balanced approach promotes both learning and respect for all students and staff.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Strongly Agree
Yes, only if students can gain a clear understanding of America’s founding documents and cultivate patriotism rooted in the principles of equality, justice, and democracy.
I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Strongly Agree
In education, DEI isn’t just a concept; it’s foundational to student success. By intentionally embracing diverse perspectives, providing equitable resources, and creating inclusive learning environments, schools can unlock critical thinking, empathy, and innovation in every student.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
Simply, no. The U.S. Department of Education plays a vital role in student success by providing support to states, communities, and schools. Its purpose is to help ensure that every student has the resources and opportunities needed to achieve academically.
If a member of the public flags (challenges) a book as inappropriate and the school board disagrees, should the board impose a moratorium on when the book can be challenged again? If yes, for how long?
Yes. If a book is reviewed and the school board decides it should remain, there should be a reasonable moratorium before the same title can be rechallenged. This prevents repetitive challenges from draining time and resources while still respecting community concerns. A fair timeframe might be one to two years, allowing space for thoughtful reconsideration if circumstances change. This approach balances transparency, accountability, and efficiency while keeping the focus on student learning.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
My priorities for K-12 public schools would be: Language Arts Mathematics Science Civics & American History Personal Finances & Vocational Learning Information Technology Social Emotional Learning & Physical Fitness Art & Music Foreign Language Political activism Critical race theory, gender identity, and sexuality are topics of a broader society. They should be a focus at the advanced, graduate level or possibly as an elective during a student’s senior year, if the parent consents.
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Agree
I support parents having choices in their child’s education, but I also believe state funding must ensure strong and equitable public schools. Every child, regardless of zip code, deserves high-quality instruction, a safe environment, and the resources to succeed. If parents choose private or homeschool options, those decisions are respected, but public education must remain accessible and well-funded for all.
Which should students have: equity of outcomes or equality of opportunities?
Students should have equality of opportunities. Every child deserves access to high-quality instruction, resources, and safe learning environments, no matter their background or zip code. While outcomes may differ based on individual effort and interests, schools must ensure fair opportunities by addressing barriers, supporting diverse needs, and providing the tools each student requires to reach their full potential.
Which type of written parental consent should be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)? (A) Opt-In. (B) Opt-Out. (C) None.
I support an Opt-In approach. Parents should have the primary voice in making this decision.
Who should make decisions about whether or not a book is appropriate for children? A) the elected school board members; B) an outsourced community committee
The elected school board should make decisions about whether a book is appropriate for children. Parents, educators, and voters choose school board members to represent their values. Despite the importance of community input, the public’s entrustment to oversee curriculum and policy should ultimately make final decisions. However, the board must comprehend the community it represents when making these decisions.
2ND AMENDMENT
The right to bear arms is fundamental and must be protected.
Agree
I agree that the right to bear arms is fundamental and must be protected. However, this right must be accompanied by responsibility. Gun ownership should require proper training and a mental health assessment to ensure individuals are capable of handling firearms safely. Not everyone is responsible, and these safeguards help protect both rights and community safety.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
In the event of a pandemic, school districts can mandate whatever health precautions they deem necessary (including masks and vaccines) to protect students and staff.
Strongly Agree
Yes. In the event of a pandemic, school districts should adhere to the recommendations of medical and public health professionals. The school district must make decisions regarding precautions, including vaccines, masks, and other forms of protection. These decisions should be based on the best interests of students, educators, and staff. The district must ensure the continuation of learning while simultaneously ensuring health and safety.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No, never
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No, never
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Liberal
I would describe myself as liberal. My views are rooted in equity, fairness, and opportunity. The government should ensure quality education, protect rights and freedoms, and address inequities so all people, especially students and families, have the tools to thrive in their own right. My focus is on transparency, wellness, and building systems that support both individual growth and strong communities.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in the church, and my beliefs and values are Christian-based. My faith has shaped my commitment to service, compassion, and doing what is right. Simultaneously, I am adamant about respecting each individual in their unique belief system and life journey. My values are rooted in fairness, unity, and respect for all people, regardless of their background. I strive to take a non-biased approach when working with and for others, because authentic leadership means serving everyone with dignity.
Children have a right to reach maturity without chemical or surgical castration, which would damage their healthy bodies through surgeries and may cause a life-long dependence on cross-sex hormones.
Strongly Agree
In my personal opinion, chemical or surgical castration should not take place until a person’s body has matured and fully developed. Children have the right to grow and reach maturity without undergoing irreversible medical procedures that could damage their healthy bodies or create a lifetime dependence on hormones. Decisions of this magnitude should be made only when an individual is fully developed, informed, and able to consent as an adult.
If sexual education is taught in schools, what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
In my opinion, sex education is best taught at home by parents or guardians. If it is taught in schools, it should begin only when pubertal changes start, focusing on age-appropriate and limited elements. Parents should have the primary voice, and instruction should require their consent before a child participates. Schools should support families with accurate information, but the responsibility for these conversations rests first with parents.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman essential to the formation and sustaining of a civil and prosperous society.
Neutral
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred, and legal union. At the same time, I recognize that marriage also reflects the beliefs, preferences, and life choices of the two people involved. My personal faith guides me, but I respect that others may see marriage differently. Just because I believe marriage is God-ordained does not mean that my view speaks for everyone else. Marriage can take many forms, and ultimately, it is a matter of the individual’s heart and belief, not my opinion or belief.
Parents have the fundamental right to raise their child in accordance with their beliefs and values, including the right to make decisions about the child's education and healthcare.
Strongly Agree
I strongly agree that parents have the fundamental right to raise their children according to their beliefs and values, including decisions about education and healthcare. That right should always be respected, as long as the child is being raised in a loving, supportive, and safe environment where their well-being is protected.
Parents should have full and timely access to any and all records, including school and medical records, associated with their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Yes, I strongly agree. Parents should have full and timely access to any and all records, including school and medical records, associated with their minor children. Every parent has this right, and the school should only restrict access if the law specifically prohibits a parent's access to this information. Transparency ensures trust and empowers parents to be active partners in their child’s education and well-being.
School children have the right to be protected from sexual grooming including drag shows and explicit materials with pictures of sex acts and graphic language.
Strongly Agree
I strongly agree that school children have the right to be protected from sexual grooming, drag shows, and explicit materials containing graphic sexual acts or language. Schools must be safe, age-appropriate environments focused on learning. If a child is not protected and someone is found involved in such acts, they should be held fully accountable and prosecuted.
Should schools be giving instruction on how to engage in sexual acts, the pleasures of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or should they instead focus on educating students about the science of reproduction?
I believe instruction on sexual acts, pleasure, sexual orientation, and gender identity should be the responsibility of parents or legal guardians. However, professionals trained in age-appropriate health education, with parental consent, should provide additional support if necessary.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I disagree. With identity theft at an all-time high, photo identification or proof of identity is necessary to protect the integrity of our elections. Ensuring the legitimacy of every vote not only safeguards the democratic process but also allows for measures that make voting accessible to all eligible citizens.
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Neutral
Schools and communities must prioritize both fairness and safety when it comes to sports and shared spaces. Everyone deserves to feel respected and protected. Decisions should be fair, private, and considerate of those affected.
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