Terry Weldon Tippett

Terry Weldon Tippett is the incumbent member of the Johnston County Schools Board of Education representing District 2 and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election as a Republican candidate ¹⁴. Board members in Johnston County are responsible for setting district policy, approving the annual budget, overseeing curriculum and facilities, and hiring the superintendent, duties that require familiarity with public‑education law and local governance ¹.

Born in Zebulon, North Carolina, Tippett earned his high‑school diploma from Smithfield‑Selma High School before attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1985. He later completed graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994 ¹. He spent his professional career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director, retiring after several decades in the school system ¹.

Tippett first entered county‑wide politics in the 2022 at‑large school‑board race, running as a nonpartisan candidate and finishing with 22 % of the vote (36,739 votes) among seven candidates ¹. He assumed office on the District 2 seat in 2024, with his current term set to end on December 7, 2026 ¹. In the March 3, 2026 Republican primary, he defeated challenger Jeremy Jenkins, capturing 73 % of the vote (12,159 votes) to Jenkins’ 27 % (4,506 votes) ¹. He is again on the ballot for the November general election ¹⁴.

While specific policy positions are not detailed in the available sources, Tippett completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2025, indicating engagement with voter‑information initiatives ¹. His background as a longtime educator and administrator suggests a focus on supporting teachers, student athletics, and maintaining fiscal responsibility for the district’s schools.

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