NC school board member who resigned over degree questions loses election endorsement
An Orange County school board member’s resignation and news that she lied about her doctoral degree continued to churn on social media and in the community Thursday, as early voting started in a runoff election.
Jennifer Moore, who is on the May 14 ballot for a second term on the Orange County Board of Election, announced she was stepping down for health reasons in an April 17 email to the board chair. Board members voted to accept her resignation Monday, but Moore remains on the ballot, which was already printed.
Moore sent the email after The News & Observer contacted her on April 16 to ask about her degree from Bellevue University in Nebraska. The university registrar confirmed on April 9 that Moore did not attend the school or graduate with a doctorate in business administration.
Moore did not respond to emails or a phone call from The N&O seeking comment.
Emails provided this week by the district show that Moore did not mention her plan to resign in an email to board Chair Anne Purcell sent at 9:28 p.m. April 15. In the email, Moore agreed to a phone call with Purcell at 2 p.m. April 16 to talk about the county’s pending $300 million school bond. Her resignation was sent to Purcell at 3:03 p.m. April 17.
Moore released a statement this week on her campaign website thanking her supporters and citing “several serious health issues” for her decision to resign. In response to allegations she lied about having a doctorate, Moore said, “Lastly, I accept responsibility for not clarifying that I do not have a Ph.D.”
Moore updated the statement Wednesday to make it clear that she does not plan to return to the board if she wins the May 14 runoff election against fellow board member Bonnie Hauser. The school board will be able to appoint someone to fill her seat until the next election if Moore wins the runoff vote.
Former Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver, who was among several former and current elected officials publicly supporting Moore, posted Thursday on Facebook that she is withdrawing her endorsement but will still vote for Moore to support her vision for the 7,000-student district.
“The statement from Jennifer Moore confirming that she does not have the doctoral degree she claimed is painful and heartbreaking,” Weaver posted, and has distracted from the need to elect candidates who stand “proudly for safe, equitable, and inclusive schools where all children thrive.”
“In her time as a member of the school board, (Moore) consistently put students first, asked the important questions, and treated teachers and district staff with dignity and respect, and I am grateful for her service,” Weaver said. “Yet misleading the community and voters in this way is clearly unacceptable.”
