Dr. Eric C. Bracy has served as superintendent of Johnston County Public Schools since July 1, 2020. As superintendent, Dr. Bracy has been an active force in providing a high-quality education for all K-12 students while also actively engaging within the Johnston County community.

Under his leadership, Johnston County Public Schools was the only district in the state that reduced the number of low-performing schools coming out of the Pandemic in the 2021-2022 school year from 14 (2019) to 5 (2022). Additionally, 85% of Johnston County Public School’s 48 schools met or exceeded growth in the 2021-2022 school year, compared to only 60% in 2018-2019.

The district was touted as a “top-performing district” due to its resounding academic growth during the 2023-2024 school year, placing 35th in the state, up from 83rd in 2018. Johnston County Public Schools had only one low-performing school and has increased its pre-pandemic proficiency percentage by 3.5 percentage points, which ranked as the third greatest increase in the state among public schools.

Dr. Bracy has enjoyed a long and very successful career in public education, spanning more than 20 years in North Carolina, including serving more than 15 years as a superintendent.

Before assuming his current position, he served as the superintendent of Sampson County Schools for six years. Under his leadership, Sampson County Schools dramatically improved student performance despite being ranked 103 out of 115 school systems in per-pupil appropriations and supplemental taxes. During his tenure, all of the schools in Sampson County met or exceeded expected growth.

Dr. Bracy also served as superintendent for Northampton County Schools for more than five years. Prior to that, he was the executive director of student support services and principal for Durham Public Schools and a principal and assistant principal for Vance County Schools. Dr. Bracy began his career in public education as a fourth-grade teacher in Northampton County.

As a career educator, he has an impressive academic background as well. He received a bachelor’s in elementary education from North Carolina Central University in Durham. He earned a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Dr. Bracy has received several notable awards for his excellent work in education. Most recently, he was recognized as the 2024 Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance Superintendent of the Year. The award is presented to a superintendent who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, innovative thinking, and a deep commitment to serving students, educators, and the community.

Additionally, Dr. Bracy was honored with the 2020 Distinguished Educator Award by the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development for his contributions to curriculum and instruction. He was honored in 2017 as the North Carolina Association of Educators Superintendent of the Year and the Southeast Education Alliance Regional Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Bracy was also a nominee for A. Craig Phillips, North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, in 2017.

He is married to his wife, Janelle, a teacher at Polenta Elementary, and together they have three daughters: Cameron, Courtney, and Camille.