Gary Leonard
Board of Education, District 5
The Chatham County Board of Education is a non/partisan office.
TIMELINE
1974
Graduate of Chatham Central High School - Attended grades 1-8 at Bennett Elementary School.
1978 Graduate - Bachelor of Arts in History - Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C. (Played Baseball while at Guilford)
1978 - 2000
Taught Language Arts, Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, and Science at Bennett Elementary School. I also coached girl’s and boy’s basketball, baseball, and softball.
2000 - 2007
Taught English I and was Athletic Director at Chatham Central High School. I also coached baseball, girl's tennis, assisted in varsity football, and assisted in girl's basketball. (Head Baseball Coach at Chatham Central 1995-2001, 2002-2003, State Championship in 1997.)
June, 2007
Retired from Chatham County Schools
2007 – 2018
Taught sixth grade language arts and social studies at Chatham Charter School
February, 2010
Appointed to Board
November, 2011
Elected to Board
2018
Retired from teaching
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Member of Bennett Baptist Church - Chairman of Deacons, Sunday School Director, Trustee, Budget Committee
Finance Committee South Chatham Lion's Club
Past Chairman of Chatham County Recreation Advisory Board - Bennett Recreation Park
Past President of Bennett School PTA
Recreation Volunteer Coach - basketball, softball, baseball
Region 5 State Games - Asst. Coach and Head Coach in Baseball
Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach - Chatham Central High School 2007-2008 and 2008-2009
FAMILY
My wife, Debbie, is a retired Bennett Elementary School fifth grade teacher. We have two children, Brandon, a Public Defender in Charlotte, and Erin, a Physical Therapist in Fayetteville. My wife and I have both taught our entire careers in Chatham County, and our son, Brandon, taught one year at Chatham Central High School after graduating from college. Both of our children were educated in Chatham County Schools.
