Former N.C. State Representative Appointed to Hunt Institute Board
November 25, 2008
Rocky Mount resident and former N.C. State Representative Gene Arnold has been appointed to the James B. Hunt, Jr., Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Foundation’s Board of Directors. A University of North Carolina-Wilmington graduate, he served five terms in the House of Representatives between 1992 and 2002, representing portions of Nash and Wilson counties.
Former Governor Jim Hunt, chairman of the Hunt Institute, acknowledges Arnold as a superb leader. “Gene cares deeply about the quality of education in North Carolina. He has always been deeply committed to maintaining accountability in the classroom and helping all children achieve higher levels of performance. I know we can count on Gene to be an outspoken member of our Foundation Board and help take educational improvement to even greater heights,” Hunt said.
Arnold currently chairs the Jay Robinson Leadership Award Committee, named for the distinguished educator who served as a former school superintendent and chair of the State Board of Education. The committee oversees the selection and recognition of outstanding education leaders in North Carolina.
During his tenure in the State House, Arnold was senior chairman of the Education Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the Finance Committee. Additionally, he has served on the state’s Lobbyist Reform Commission, which developed new standards for lobbyist reporting and ethical standards for legislators. Arnold helped author the current ABC legislation holding schools accountable for student performance.
A retired executive of the Hardee’s Food Systems, Arnold is an executive board member of the North Carolina Public School Forum, a think tank providing recommendations on education policy to the state. Arnold is a frequent guest panelist on NC SPIN, a television program highlighting state-wide political issues.