JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIRES
DR. ERIC BRACY
AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT
By RANDY CAPPS
S
MITHFIELD — When a visitor walked into the Johnston County Public Schools Evander Simpson Building recently, there were plenty of new things around.
A table, with the reminder of the governor’s face covering order and several containers of hand sanitizer, was front and center. On the wall to the right was another new decoration — a banner welcoming Dr. Eric Bracy as the system’s new superintendent. On this summer morning, he was still in the process of familiarizing himself with his surroundings. “I’m getting to know everybody and meeting people,” he said. “I love meeting people. I hate the COVID restrictions because I like to get out and get amongst people, shake hands, hug people and get to know them. I’m not happy about those restrictions, but we’ve got to be safe.” Bracy, 47, is the first minority to hold the system’s top administrative job. He arrives in Johnston County after six years in the same role for Sampson County Schools. During that time, he was named 2017 N.C. Association of Educators’ Superintendent
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of the Year and oversaw a rise in student performance while helping the district build a $4 million fund balance. He hopes to repeat those feats here in Johnston County. “What I envision my role being is helping this school district become the best that it can be,” he said. “I see my role as being to restore public confidence in the school system. You can’t do that alone. You do it with the support of the board. You do it with a great staff, and you do it with wonderful community partners and parents as well. “Academically, financially, getting our financial house in order and keeping it in order, those are the key roles I think I play. ... I think it’s a great school system. Historically, great things have happened here. It’s clearly a great place to live, because everywhere I go there’s construction on new housing developments. It’s in a wonderful location. ... I think the district has great potential. I really do. I think everything’s in place for it to be one of the best school districts in the state. Without question.” Stephen Britt was Bracy’s chief financial officer in Sampson County, and JCPS hired him to
