Q&A with Cobb County Post 6 school board Democratic candidate Nichelle Davis

By Rebecca Gaunt

Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis is seeking a second term as the Post 6 representative on the Cobb County Board of Education.

She is being challenged by school counselor Jennifer Susko.

The two candidates will face off in the Democratic primary on May 19. As no Republicans qualified in the Post 6 race, the primary will determine who will serve the next term.

All primary candidates for the board were sent questionnaires by email and their responses will be published in full as submitted.

Early voting begins April 27.

Job: Senior Manager, Strategic Operations and Engagement at Achieve Atlanta

Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida; Certificate in Education Finance, Georgetown University

Related work/volunteer/community experience: Current Post 6 School Board Member; former middle school math teacher; active PTA member and volunteer; active member and leader in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Zeta Omega Chapter; and member of The PEARL Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors.

Website/contact: Nichelle4CobbSchools.com / Nichelle4CobbSchools@gmail.com

Looking back at your first term on the school board, what do you feel have been the most successful initiatives or decisions made for the district in that time?

During my term, I have been proud to support initiatives that meaningfully enhance the educational experience for our students. These include the launch of the PRISM Math Program, the opening of the ASPIRE program, the expansion of our CTAE offerings, with a second Career Academy on the way, and the approval of the charter for Power Public School. I am especially proud to have supported Georgia’s BEST program, a major investment in our educators that provides graduate degrees for teachers at no cost to them. Throughout my service, we also passed balanced budgets that strengthened student supports, increased pay and benefits for certified and classified employees, improved school safety measures, and I consistently prioritized policies and resources to better support our teachers. Finally, I am proud of the significant facility improvements made through SPLOST investments, ensuring that our students learn in safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environments.

You are being challenged in the primary by Jennifer Susko, who said your vote to extend Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s contract in 2025 was a significant factor in her decision to run. Why did you vote in favor of the extension in 2025, then against it in 2026? What metrics does the board use to evaluate superintendent performance?

Because the Superintendent’s evaluation is a personnel matter that directly affects his contract, I am unable to share specific details of that decision. What I can say is that I approach every vote with care and deliberation, guided by what I believe is in the best interest of students, our schools, and the district, based on the information available at the time. As a result, performance evaluations and contract decisions may vary from year to year depending on the data and findings presented through the evaluation process.

I remain committed to serving with principles, not politics, and to always keeping students at the center of my decision-making. While our district has much to be proud of, I also recognize that there is ongoing work to be done in the spirit of continuous improvement. Responsible leadership and sound governance require a careful consideration of all factors that impact student achievement and the long-term sustainability of the district; responsibilities I take seriously and am committed to upholding while entrusted with this role.

Are you confident in the district’s current safety initiatives, such as purchasing vapor wake k-9s to detect weapons and the agreement with Servius, in light of recent incidents in which weapons were brought onto school campuses in Cobb? 

Based on the reports I have received, I believe these safety initiatives are already making a positive impact by enabling earlier identification of potential threats and faster response times to prevent escalation or more serious outcomes. That said, I believe the full impact of these efforts has not yet been realized, as implementation is occurring in phases.

Additionally, I firmly believe that school safety requires a comprehensive, multi-layered approach with coordinated action across homes, communities, schools, and the district, supported by broader policy solutions. Stronger gun safety measures, including background checks and safe storage requirements, are essential to reducing students’ access to firearms. Within our schools, we must continue to cultivate a positive culture where bullying and harassment are not tolerated, while ensuring students have access to appropriate mental health and behavioral supports. At the district level, ongoing training for leaders to identify potential threats early and de-escalate situations is critical, along with maintaining and strengthening physical safety measures. It is the collective impact of all of these efforts that will move us toward greater prevention and safer school environments.

In 2022, when asked how the board could improve its fractured partisan relationship, you said you hoped for individual board member comments to be restored to the agenda and the policy requiring the support of four members to add an item to the agenda to revert to the original requirement of three. Neither of those things have happened. Why?

Change does not always happen as quickly as we would like, but meaningful progress can still be made. I view this work as a marathon, not a sprint, particularly as the board has had to intentionally rebuild working relationships and trust in order to move from conflict toward constructive conversation. Overall, I believe we are in a much better place than when I first began, a time when I also needed to establish my own relationships with colleagues. Through this process, I have come to believe that even when we differ or disagree on certain issues, those moments can serve as opportunities for continued dialogue. While some items raised in recent months did not pass with a majority vote, they may be revisited in the future, and I am hopeful that as trust continues to be restored, those conversations may lead to different outcomes and a stronger, more effective governance team.

Are there any other board policies you would like the board as a whole to revisit?

Yes, there are several board policies I would like us to revisit. These include restoring equity as a core component of the district’s funding policy and reinstating the broadcast of Public Comment. I would also support lowering the minimum age for public comment to 16, with parental consent/permission slip, so we can hear directly from our students, the primary beneficiaries of our decisions and efforts. In addition, I believe policy BC should be updated to allow any three board members to place items on the agenda, and I would like to see the return of board member comments to enhance transparency and dialogue.

One year ago, members of the bus fleet maintenance department spoke about safety concerns during public comment. The superintendent initiated an investigation and has since stated that all the buses are safe. However, nothing has been shared about the findings and the open records department said the investigation is ongoing. Is the board being apprised of the situation? When will the public receive the results?

We have been informed that the investigation remains ongoing; however, all buses currently used to transport students have been inspected and are confirmed to be safe for operation. In the interim, changes to the leadership of the department have been made and publicly communicated.

What else should Post 6 voters know about you? 

My professional career has been firmly rooted in improving student outcomes. From the classroom to the nonprofit sector, and now through policy and governance as a school board member, I have consistently focused on strengthening academic achievement, expanding opportunities for all learners, and ensuring our schools remain safe, supportive, and prepared for the future through thoughtful advocacy and responsible leadership.

As a full-time working board member whose daily work supports students, I am closely connected to the realities facing our working families. I remain accessible, present in our schools and communities, and committed to listening to the voices of parents and students across the district. A vote for me is a vote for steady, principled leadership that keeps students first.