Meet Our Board

Bill Howell, Board of Education

Mr. Bill Howell, District 2 - Chairman

Mr. Bill Howell was elected to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education in December 2016.  Mr. Howell graduated from Wingate College with an Associate in Science degree and Catawba College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Mr. Howell taught biology and coached for 30 years in North Carolina and during his tenure served as the Athletic Director at North Iredell High School. After retiring in 2004, Mr. Howell worked for the Department of Homeland Security for TSA as a Behavior Detection Officer.

Mr. Howell believes that Iredell-Statesville Schools has gone light years into the future since he left education in 2004 and strongly believes Iredell-Statesville Schools is one of the leading school systems in the nation.  He believes that one of the biggest challenges the system is facing is the need for increased funds and to get the word out to parents that public education in Iredell County is the best for their children.  Mr. Howell believes that one word to describe him would be "Tenacious" and his favorite place to eat in Iredell County is Outback.

Mr. Howell is married to Deborah.  They have two children: one daughter, Danielle Abbott and one son, Andy Howell.  Danielle and husband Joe Abbott have two children, Maggie and Eli.

District 2: Scotts, Sharon, West Iredell High, West Iredell Middle, Cloverleaf

Email Mr. Bill Howell  |  Mailing Address  |  District Map

 

Charles Kelly 2022

Mr. Charles Kelly, District 6 - Vice-Chairman

Mr. Charles Kelly was elected to the board in 2004 and is currently serving his fifteenth year on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education.  He describes himself as a listener and chose to run for this office to make a contribution to the community.  He believes the biggest accomplishment of the school district since becoming a member of the board of education has been the improvement of the communication among the school board members, the superintendent, the administration, and the schools.  One thing Mr. Kelly explained that he has learned since joining the school board is how much is being done to ensure that all the students in Iredell-Statesville Schools are successful.

Mr. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Science and a Master of Science degree in Biology.  He served as an instructor of biology at Mitchell Community College for 33 years along with his wife, Carolyn (deceased).  They have two children; a daughter, Crystal Kelly, who currently works at Forest Pharmaceuticals and a son, Justin Kelly, who is an entrepreneur.

District 6: Cool Spring, Shepherd, Coddle Creek

Email Mr. Charles Kelly  |  Mailing Address  |  Phone Number  |  District Map

 

Doug Knight 2022

Dr. Doug Knight, District 4 

Dr. Doug Knight was elected to the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education in December 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

District 4: Celeste Henkel, Third Creek, shares South Iredell High

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Mike Kubiniec District 5

Mr. Mike Kubiniec, District 5

Captain Mike Kubiniec, U.S. Navy (Retired) was elected to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education in December 2022.  He graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. During a 12-year active-duty career, he served on three different nuclear-powered submarines, deploying to the western Pacific, eastern Atlantic and South America. He earned his submarine warfare and nuclear engineer qualifications and qualified for command of nuclear submarines. Captain Kubiniec left active duty in 1995, continued his Navy Reserve service, and earned a Master of Science Degree in Planning and Strategy from National Defense University. He was selected to command four Reserve units. In 2013, he retired as a Navy Captain after more than 30 years of service.

In his profesional civilian career, Captain Kubiniec worked for two high-technology companies: semiconductor manufacturing capital equipment and fiber optic cabling and hardware systems, while leading business organizations in the areas of global manufacturing operations, product line management, product engineering, quality and reliability, new product introduction and brand experience program management.

Captain Kubiniec believes the five biggest challenges facing the school district are: 1) Developing innovative solutions to attract and retain teachers; 2) Turning around the poor-performing schools; 3) Addressing student mental health issues; 4) Improving student behavioral issues and discipline; 5) Building new schools.

A few personal "factoid:" Captain Kubiniec's favorite book is "Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding, his favorite restaurant in Iredell County is Caruso's, and one word to describe himself would be: "passionate." 

He is married to Michele and they reside in Mooresville, NC. Their daughter, Ashley, lives in Charlotte, NC and is an Assistant Vice President, Channel Development Manager for Bank of America.

District 5: Coddle Creek

Email Mr. Mike Kubiniec  |  Phone Number  |  District Map


 

Anita Kurn 2022

Mrs. Anita Kurn, District 7

Mrs. Anita Kurn was elected to the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education in December 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

District 7: 

Email Mrs. Anita Kurn  |  District Map

 

Brian Sloan 2022

Mr. Brian Sloan, District 1

Mr. Brian Sloan was elected and sworn into the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education on December 5, 2022. As a resident of North Iredell, Mr. Sloan attended Central Elementary, Brookwood School, and North Iredell High School. After graduating in 1988, Mr. Sloan entered the workforce for a few years before obtaining his general contractor's license from Mitchell Community College. He works now as a farmer (approximately 40,000 chickens) and does carpentry work during his "free" time.

Mr. Sloan decided to run for the school board for some of the same reasons he has coached—to benefit our children. 

Mr. Sloan believes the board's biggest accomplishment, so far, has been bonding with one another and realizing that even though the board members are different, they will be able to work together, make wise decisions, and be a benefit to our future generations.  He believes that the biggest challenge ahead is making our teachers feel appreciated as they make a huge difference in the next generation. 

One word that Mr. Sloan would use to describe himself would be "forgiven." He explained that with that word, a lot of words have to go with it like guilty and thankful.

Mr. Sloan said that he doesn't read often,  but when he does find the time to read, the only book he reads in the Bible. He enjoys watching Duck Dynasty and you can find him eating at Randy's BBQ, which is his favorite place to eat in Iredell County. One interesting fact about Mr. Sloan is that he started competitive shooting in 1984 on the North Iredell High School skeet shooting team and has won fifteen NWTF World Championships. 

Mr. Sloan married his best friend's sister, Tina Abee in 1993. They have three sons. Eli and Joseph currently attend Western Carolina University and James currently attends the IB program at South Iredell High School. They have a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy named Smith after the gunmaker L.C. Smith.

District 1: 

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Abby Trent 2022

Ms. Abby Trent, District 3

Ms. Abby Trent was sworn in as a member of the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education on December 5, 2022.  She is a South Iredell High School graduate and holds an AAS in Criminal Justice Technology and an AAS in Accounting. Ms. Trent is currently employed as a staff accountant.

Ms. Trent wanted to serve on the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education because she noticed a need for a diversified school board in Iredell County and for individuals to step forward to serve in the community. 

Since becoming a board member,  Ms. Trent has learned that I-SS is facing many challenges. From funding issues to policy changes, Ms. Trent believes the board will be making the tough decisions while continuing to put the best interests of the staff, students, and parents first. She believes the biggest challenges will be building additional schools and ensuring the needs of every student in I-SS are met.

Ms. Trent says that one word she would select to describe herself is "detail-oriented." Her favorite book is "Hunger Games" and her favorite television show is "Yellowstone." One interesting fact about Ms. Trent is that she has a twin brother. Her favorite place to eat in Iredell County is Outback Steakhouse and she has four dogs that she loves very much.

District 3:  

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