Here are the candidates running in this fall’s Wake County school board election
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Eleven candidates filed to compete for four Wake County school board seats this fall.
- Tyler Swanson and Christina Gordon are the only incumbents on the ballot.
- Only Wake County Districts 1, 2, 7, and 9 have school board races in November.
Eleven candidates have filed to compete for the four Wake County school board seats on the November ballot.
The two-week filing period ended on Friday with board chair Tyler Swanson and board member Christina Gordon being the only incumbents on the ballot. Board members Cheryl Caulfield and Chris Heagarty didn’t file for reelection.
The school board is officially non-partisan but has a 7-2 Democratic majority. Wake has leaned heavily Democratic in recent years, but a strong showing could allow Republicans to potentially gain the majority on the board.
Districts 1, 2, 7 and 9 will be on the ballot. Only voters in those districts will be able to cast ballots.
School board candidates will be on a crowded ballot that includes federal, state and other county races. A school construction bond referendum is also expected to be on the fall ballot.
Here’s a look at who is running.
District 1: Board’s Eastern Wake member
District 1 covers Wake Forest, part of north Raleigh and much of Eastern Wake. The seat is currently held by Cheryl Caulfield.
- Bonnie Greaves, 51, of Knightdale, is a charter school teacher who used to teach in the Wake County school system. Greaves says she wants to bring more accountability to the school district while elevating special education students and the work environment for teachers.
- Sebrina Pierce, 51, of Wendell, is an account coordinator in the facility services industry. Pierce says her primary focus is the expansion of student career-led and entrepreneurship programs, which she believes are essential to building brighter, broader futures for our youth.
- Jasmine Zavala, 31, of Wake Forest, is a former teacher, policy analyst and small business owner. Zavala says she’s running because her experience as a former teacher has shown her firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing public schools.
District 2: Board’s Southern Wake member
District 2 covers part of Southeast Raleigh and much of Garner and Fuquay-Varina. Christina Gordon has represented the district since she was appointed in January 2025 to replace Monika Johnson-Hostler when she was elected to the state House.
- Christina Gordon, 43, of Raleigh, is a former Wake County school system teacher who is now a professional learning specialist with the North Carolina Association of Educators. Gordon says she’s running “to continue building strong schools through transparent leadership, meaningful community engagement, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring every student thrives, every educator is supported, and every family has a voice.”
- Ann Schubarg, of Fuquay-Varina, could not immediately be reached for comment by The News & Observer. The Wake County Republican Party said Schubarg “cares about children in Wake County getting a sound education.”
District 7: Board’s northwest Wake member
District 7 covers northwest Raleigh, Morrisville and part of Cary. The seat is currently held by Chris Heagarty.
- Jacob Arthur, 47, of Raleigh, is an attorney working in the office of Republican state Rep. Jonathan Almond. Arthur says his campaign will focus on student achievement, supporting great teachers, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and restoring public confidence through greater transparency and accountability.
- Amita Gupta, 51, of Morrisville, is a healthcare professional, entrepreneur and president of the Mills Park Middle School PTA. Gupta says her priorities are investing in the resources and people to make schools successful; helping students thrive academically, emotionally and personally; and organizing the community to support students.
- Maddie Segal, 39, of Raleigh, is the director of engagement for the Plant-Based Foods Institute and an advocate on federal nutrition policy. Segal says her priorities are empowering and retaining educators; supporting the whole child; ensuring students’ basic needs are met by combatting food insecurity; and protecting public education by lobbying for robust state funding.
District 9: Board’s Cary member
District 9 covers most of Cary and parts of Apex and Morrisville. Tyler Swanson has represented the district since 2022.
- Cheryl Alexis of Apex did not return The N&O’s requests for comment. The Wake County Republican Party described her as a Harvard graduate who is “very passionate about improving public education.”
- Brian Olson, 53, of Cary, is a military veteran, small business owner, wheelchair user and vice president of the West Cary Middle School PTA. Olson says he’ll bring a pragmatic, independent approach to the seat using his experience as a parent, project manager and a community college school board member in California.
- Tyler Swanson, 32, of Cary is a campaign strategist and former Wake County special education teacher. Swanson says his campaign will focus on Investing in and retaining outstanding teachers and school staff; protecting and strengthening public education.; expanding opportunities and improving outcomes for every student; and ensuring transparency, accountability, and strong partnerships with families and the community.
Early campaign endorsements
Some candidates have already lined up endorsements in their races.
The Wake County GOP hasn’t officially announced endorsements yet, but it’s been promoting the candidacies of Greaves, Schubarg, Arthur and Alexis. The Wake County Democratic Party is also expected to announce endorsements.
In District 1, Zavala has announced endorsements from Wake Forest Mayor Ben Clapsaddle and Democratic state Sen. Haseeb Fatmi.
In District 7, Gupta has been endorsed by Morrisville Mayor T.J. Cawley. Segal’s endorsements include school board members Chris Heagarty and Tyler Swanson; former school board member Christine Kushner; Democratic state Rep. Phil Rubin and Cary Town Council members Michelle Craig and Brittany Richards.
