Craven County Board elects Lee Kirkman chair and Amy Davis vice chair amid criticism of board process

The Craven County Board of Education elected Lee Kirkman as its board chair and Amy Davis as vice chair during an organizational special meeting on Dec. 1, 2025.

In a roll-call vote, Lee Kirkman secured the chairmanship with five votes to two. Jennifer Dacey and Laura Kitzinger voted against Kirkman; Amy Davis, Darlene Gibbs, Lee Kirkman, Patty Mason and Lori Spies voted in favor. After the chair vote, members nominated and then elected Amy Davis as vice chair in a 6-1 vote; Laura Kitzinger was the lone No vote.

The nominations and votes followed a series of short candidate remarks and critiques of the board’s internal communications. Laura Kitzinger, a board member who offered a detailed prepared statement, criticized the process of nominations and the board’s communication practices, saying the current approach is “a pristine example of why this board is so inherently dysfunctional.” She said nominees should explain their reasons for seeking leadership to both district staff and the public.

Supporters of Kirkman emphasized his background with the district and argued the chair’s responsibilities include running efficient meetings and ensuring clear communication with the public. Amy Davis, nominated for vice chair, said serving in the role would be “more than a title to me” and described her priorities as collaboration, transparency and advocacy for students and staff.

The meeting began with routine organizational business including roll call and adoption of the agenda, and closed with the board moving into a closed session later in the meeting.

The board’s new leadership will preside over upcoming work for Craven County Schools for the coming year.