Raleigh, NC – Rep. Tricia Cotham has been appointed chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee to oversee education appropriations, the largest area of the state budget. This esteemed leadership position is a testament to her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to enhancing education in our state. 

Rep. Cotham is a former teacher and assistant principal of East Mecklenburg and Independence High Schools and Northeast Middle School. Her experience and her recognition as "CMS Teacher of the Year" demonstrate her exceptional dedication to the field of education. She was also honored Most Outstanding Alumna by the University of Chapel Hill and was named a 2023 "Champion for Charters" by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. 

NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “Throughout her distinguished career, Rep. Cotham has demonstrated a profound understanding of the importance of quality education and its impact on the future of our communities. Furthermore, she has championed school choice as the sponsor of House Bill 823, “Choose Your School, Choose Your Future,” which expanded the Opportunity Scholarship Program to all North Carolina students.”