Lisa Spence Byrd

Lisa Spence Byrd is the Republican candidate for the Jones County Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 election. The board governs the Jones County Public Schools system, setting policy, approving budgets, and overseeing the superintendent to ensure quality education for the county’s students.

Byrd was born and raised in Jones County; her family has long been connected to the local schools, and her daughter graduated from Jones County High School in 2021. She and her husband Thomas own and operate Byrd’s Trucking & Towing in Maysville, a small family‑run business that has been a fixture in the community for years. In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Byrd serves as treasurer for Maysville Fire & EMS, volunteering her time to support emergency services in the area [10].

Her public‑service career began in 2019 when, as a concerned parent, she started communicating with the Jones County Board of Education to advocate for students and families. She was elected to the board in 2022 and has served as a board member for the past three years, focusing on student safety, academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, and strong leadership. During her tenure the board placed school‑resource officers in every school, hired a superintendent noted for decisive leadership, and earned Gold Bell status as a whole board. These actions helped lift the district out of low‑performing status for the first time in seven years, saw the Career & Technical Education program rise to #5 statewide, and secured a clean audit—an uncommon accomplishment for public schools [9].

Byrd’s platform emphasizes continued investment in safety measures, expanding career‑technical education opportunities, and ensuring transparent, honest governance. She champions the College‑to‑Career Promise program, which allows every Jones County student to earn a free associate’s degree while in high school, and she pledges to protect and expand such pathways. Her campaign message, described as “Through a Mother’s Eyes,” stresses fairness and equity for all children, parents, and educators, and she promises to serve with honesty and transparency [10].

If elected, Byrd intends to build on the board’s recent successes, maintain the district’s improved academic standing, and continue advocating for programs that give Jones County students the same opportunities as those in larger neighboring districts.

Sources

• [9] Meet your Jones County Candidates for the 2026 Election
• [10] Lisa Byrd: Candidate for Jones County Board of Education — Neuse News