The election comes after the 2026-2027 budget process, during which Wake County Public Schools proposed more than $15 million in reductions and adjustments while requesting an additional $25.3 million from the county. District officials said rising costs and uncertainty over state and federal funding contributed to the budget changes.

Other relevant topics include teacher recruitment and retention, special education funding and staffing, enrollment growth and school capacity, school construction and maintenance, and the allocation of local, state and federal education funding.

The following profiles outline the candidates' backgrounds, state positions on key issues and political endorsements ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

District 1 covers eastern Wake, including Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Zebulon and Wendell. Incumbent Cheryl Caulfield is not seeking reelection.

Background: Zavala, 31, of Wake Forest, is a Wake County public school graduate, former teacher, policy analyst and small-business owner. She taught third and fifth grades in eastern North Carolina through Teach for America and later worked as a policy analyst for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She holds degrees from Meredith College and UNC Wilmington. She also manages her family's restaurants and founded Latinos of Wake Forest.

Website: https://jasmineforwakeschools.com/

What she says: Zavala's campaign emphasizes ensuring students have access to resources and support regardless of their background or where they live. She has pointed to school funding and support for educators and families as central concerns. Her campaign has also highlighted her experience working with immigrant communities.

Political support: Zavala identifies as a Democrat. Her campaign has received endorsements from Wake Forest Mayor Ben Clapsaddle, former school board chairs Christine Kushner and Lindsay Mahaffey, state Sen. Haseeb Fatmi and current school board Chair Tyler Swanson.

Background: Pierce is a longtime Wake County resident and parent whose children attended Wake County public schools; her grandson is now enrolled in the system. She describes her professional background as being rooted in business, family collaboration and community engagement. She is making her first run for school board.

Website: https://www.votesebrinap.com/

What she says: Pierce's campaign centers on student career preparation and entrepreneurship. She wants to expand access to technical training, mentorship and business-oriented programs while increasing opportunities for students to move from school into higher education, careers or entrepreneurship. She also emphasizes teacher recruitment and retention, community input and transparency in board decisions.

Political support: Pierce has identified as a Democrat in campaign coverage.

No endorsements are publicly available.

Background: Bonnie Greaves, 51, of Knightdale, is an educator and U.S. Army veteran. She has taught special education in public schools and has experience working in both Wake County Public Schools and charter schools. Her professional background includes special education, autism and behavioral support, English language arts, and instruction for English learners. She is a mother of four.

Website: https://bonniegreavesforwake.com/

What she says: Greaves' platform is organized around three themes: supporting teachers, serving every student, and demanding accountability. She emphasizes teacher compensation, staffing and working conditions, along with special education, autism and behavioral support, individualized education programs and English-language services. She also calls for public spending and school programs to be connected to measurable results.

Political support: Greaves is endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

District 2 covers much of Garner and Fuquay-Varina as well as part of Southeast Raleigh.

Background: Gordon, 43, of Raleigh, is the incumbent. She was appointed to the school board in January 2025 after Monika Johnson-Hostler was elected to the state House. Gordon is a former Wake County teacher and currently works as a professional learning specialist with the North Carolina Association of Educators. She is a Wake County schools graduate and parent of three.

Website: https://www.christinagordonforschoolboard.com/

What she says: Gordon's campaign emphasizes student-centered policies, educator support and community involvement. She sports competitive teacher pay and professional development and says families, students and educators should have a meaningful role in board decisions. She has also opposed budget reductions affecting students and teachers, voting against the district's final budgets during her tenure.

When she was appointed in 2025, Gordon listed inclusive school communities along with stronger family and community partnerships among her priorities.

Political support: Gordon is endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party and the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE).

Background: Schubarg is a longtime Fuquay-Varina resident, parent of four and substitute teacher in Wake County Schools. Her daughters attended Wake Schools and she holds a bachelor's degree in history from SUNY Brockport.

Website: https://annschubarg4wakecountyschoolboard.com/

What she says: Schubarg's campaign emphasizes school safety and discipline, higher teacher pay, improved performance in reading, writing, math and history, and funding for special education and academically gifted students. She also supports healthier, locally sourced school meals and more opportunities for student physical activity.

Political support: Schubarg is endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

District 7 includes portions of northwest Raleigh, Cary and Morrisville. Incumbent Chris Heagarty is not seeking reelection.

Background: Arthur, 47, of Raleigh, is an attorney and legislative assistant in the North Carolina General Assembly. He is a Wake County public school graduate and parent. He previously ran for the District 7 school board seat in 2022. Before his legal career, he served in the U.S. Navy as a sonar technician.

Website: https://jake4wakeschools.com/

What he says: Arthur's campaign is built around "stewardship, transparency and trust." He proposes what he calls the "Wake Framework," under which major discretionary investments would be tied to measurable student outcomes, public reporting and ongoing evaluation. His platform also includes academic achievement, support for teachers and students, responsible use of taxpayer money and greater transparency.

Political support: Arthur is endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

Background: Gupta, 51, of Morrisville, is a healthcare professional, entrepreneur and parent of two Wake County students. She is president of the Mills Park Middle School PTSA. Through Wize Computing Academy, she has taught robotics and coding programs in Wake schools and has experience teaching chemistry and public health.

Website: https://amitaguptaforwake.com

What she says: Gupta's platform focuses on teacher recruitment and retention, STEAM education, digital literacy and career and technical education. She also calls for greater access to mental health and nutritional support, stronger school-safety and anti-bullying efforts, and closer partnerships among schools, families, businesses and community organizations.

Political support: Gupta's campaign lists support from Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley, and various educators, WCPSS parents and volunteers.

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Maddie Segal

Background: Segal, 39, of Raleigh is director of engagement for the Plant-Based Foods Institute and has worked for federal nutrition policy. She is a Wake County parent of two children and serves on the District 7 Board Advisory Council.

Website: https://www.maddiesegal.com/

What she says: Segal supports fully staffed schools with dedicated mental-health professionals and adequate special education and academically gifted support. She also advocates universal free school meals and policies addressing food insecurity. On technology, Segal supports an approach that emphasizes physical books and handwriting in younger grades, audits software spending and establishes guidelines for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. She also supports greater state and federal investment in public schools.

Political support: Segal has received endorsements from the Wake County Democratic Party as well as current and former Wake school board leaders, including Swanson and Heagarty.

District 9 covers much of Cary and portions of Apex and Morrisville. Incumbent Tyler Swanson is seeking reelection.

Background: Alexis is an Apex resident and first-time political candidate. She has a J.D. and a professional background in human resources, career counseling and law. Her professional experience includes work in HR consulting and career development, as well as legal credentials in New York and Illinois. She has also been involved with local HR and career-development organizations.

Website: https://www.cherylforwakecounty.com/

What she says: On her campaign's Facebook page, Alexis says that classroom needs should be a priority for Wake County's public schools. She has raised concerns about how the district allocates funding.

Political support: Alexis is endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

Background: Olson, 53, of Cary is an Army veteran, small-business owner and parent. He is vice president of the West Cary Middle School PTA and previously served on a community college school board in California.

Website: https://olsonforwakecountykids.com

What he says: Olson's campaign says he wants to increase parent involvement and communication between families and schools, as well address school funding and teacher resources.

Political support:

Background: Swanson, 32, of Cary, is the incumbent and current chair of the Wake County Board of Education. First elected in 2022, he previously worked as a special education teacher at Enloe High School. He holds a bachelor's degree from N.C. A&T and a master's in public administration from N.C. Central.

Website: https://www.swansonforwake.com/

What he says: Swanson's campaign emphasizes his experience as a classroom teacher and his focus on school funding, educator support and collaboration. He has advocated for increased state funding for public schools and opposed the expansion of private-school vouchers. His campaign also discusses school safety, including addressing bullying and violence.

Political support: Swanson has received endorsements from the Wake County Democratic Party, Progressive Democrats of Wake County and Equality North Carolina PAC.