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Grady Coleman Bailey JR
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Grady Coleman Bailey Jr., who goes by Coleman Bailey, is a candidate for the Avery County Schools Board of Education in North Carolina in 2026 1. He was previously elected to the board in 2018 and is seeking re-election 2. He has framed his re-election campaign around restoring a culture of trust among administration, staff, and parents, and maintaining high morale and academic excellence in the district 3.
Bailey's three stated campaign priorities are student-centered excellence, teacher and staff support, and long-range planning 4. He supports investing in competitive compensation and professional development to recruit and retain educators 4. He advocates expanding Career and Technical Education pathways and rebuilding community trust through transparency, stating that "trust is built when people understand not only what decisions are made, but why" 4.
Background and education
Bailey received his teaching and administrative degrees from Appalachian State University and is a graduate of the Principal's Executive Program at UNC-Chapel Hill 2. Both of his children are graduates of Avery County High School 4.
Career
Bailey's career in public education spans more than 34 years 2. He worked for 30 years as a teacher and 5 years as an administrator, serving in roles including science teacher, director, coach, assistant principal, and cabinet member at the central office level 4. He managed athletic program budgets and secured more than $450,000 in grants for service learning and science initiatives 4. After retiring from Avery County Schools, he served as Avery County's Dual Enrollment Advisor for Mayland Community College for five years 2. He subsequently worked as an adjunct professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian State University, supervising student teachers in Avery, Mitchell, McDowell, and Forsyth counties for nine years 2.
Bailey advocates for "two-way" community engagement and commits to remaining visible and approachable within Avery County 4.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
North Carolina — campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Bailey”.
North Carolina — statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Bailey”.