{"biography":"Jennifer Lee Hodgson is the Democratic candidate for the Pitt County Board of Education District\u202f5 seat in the 2026 general election. The District\u202f5 seat is an elected, nonpartisan position on the Pitt County Board of Education, where members represent their district\u2019s families and help guide policy and oversight for the county\u2019s public schools [1].\n\nHodgson has lived in Pitt County for 22\u202fyears. She and her husband have three children who attend Pitt County Public Schools, including a recent graduate of JH\u202fRose High School in 2022. In 2000 she moved to Greenville to join East\u202fCarolina University faculty, where she helped write and launch the first nationally accredited doctoral program in Medical Family Therapy, which has produced nearly 50 graduates since 2008. She holds a doctorate in the field and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, trained to work with individuals, couples, families, and systems [10].\n\nHer professional experience spans direct service and education. She has volunteered extensively in the community and worked in pre\u2011K, elementary, middle, high\u2011school, and early\u2011college settings, gaining a broad perspective on the K\u201112 pipeline. Hodgson emphasizes collaboration, compassion, and tenacity, qualities she says will inform her work on the board. Her stated mission is to support Pitt County Schools in \u201cinnovating, elevating, and growing,\u201d advocating for safe, well\u2011supported schools equipped with the resources needed for students and teachers to thrive [10].\n\nHodgson previously ran for the same District\u202f5 board seat in the 2022 general election, appearing on the ballot alongside Levi\u202fC.\u202fSmith\u202fSr. and Lee\u202fWilliamson [1]. Although she did not complete Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey at that time, she remains active in local education advocacy and is again seeking election in 2026. Her campaign platform centers on expanding access to high\u2011quality education, ensuring community voices are heard in decision\u2011making, and fostering opportunities for change rather than fearing it [10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jennifer Hodgson (Pitt County Board of Education District 5, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Hodgson_(Pitt_County_Board_of_Education_District_5,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [10] [District 5: Dr. Jennifer Hodgson | Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County](https://ppspittcounty.org/newsletter/district-5-dr-jennifer-hodgson/)\n- [11] [Jennifer Hodgson - Board Member, District 5 at PITT COUNTY SCHOOLS | The Org](https://theorg.com/org/pitt-county-schools/org-chart/jennifer-hodgson)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_05","county":"pitt","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Pitt County Board Of Education District 05"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Jennifer","fullname":"Jennifer Lee Hodgson","lastname":"Hodgson","middlename":"Lee","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_05","contest_title":"Pitt County Board Of Education District 05","county":"pitt","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"pitt","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"pitt","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_05","contest_title":"Pitt County Board Of Education District 05","county":"pitt","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"pitt","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Jennifer Lee Hodgson, a longtime Pitt County resident and therapist, is running as a Democrat for the Pitt County Board of Education District\u202f5 seat in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"667497d96b9c968c"}