Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools
Dr. Eric C. Bracy began his tenure as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools on July 1, 2025, bringing more than 25 years of experience in public education and a proven record of raising student achievement, strengthening instruction and improving school performance. A North Carolina native and the son of educators, Dr. Bracy was raised in Weldon and Roanoke Rapids. He began his career in 1997 as a fourth-grade teacher in Northampton County Schools.
Throughout his career, he has served in a range of leadership roles, including assistant principal and principal in Vance County Schools, principal and executive director of student support services in Durham Public Schools, and superintendent in Northampton, Sampson and Johnston counties. In each district, Dr. Bracy has led focused efforts to increase student achievement, strengthen classroom instruction and reduce the number of low-performing schools.
Most recently, he served as superintendent of Johnston County Public Schools, where the district improved from 83rd to 35th in the state for grade-level proficiency. Under his leadership, 89 percent of schools earned School Performance Grades of A, B or C, and the number of low-performing schools fell from 14 to just one. He worked closely with the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners to eliminate a $10 million budget shortfall, implement a five-year strategic plan and pass two school bond referendums totaling nearly $300 million.
From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Bracy served as superintendent of Sampson County Schools, leading the district from the 66th to the 15th highest-performing school system in North Carolina. The district was nationally recognized by the College Board for closing the achievement gap in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, one of only five districts in the state to earn that distinction. Earlier, in Northampton County Schools, he oversaw districtwide increases in state assessment results at all grade levels.
Dr. Bracy is known as a hands-on instructional leader with a strong focus on student outcomes. He is well-versed in the needs of military-connected families and prioritizes sound financial stewardship to ensure resources directly benefit students and staff.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Education in administration and supervision from Virginia State University, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. His leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including Durham Public Schools Principal of the Year in 2007, North Carolina Association of Educators Superintendent of the Year in 2017, and Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year in 2024.
Dr. Bracy and his wife, Janelle, who is also an educator, have three adult daughters: Cameron, Courtney and Camille.