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Ebony Burnett has a bachelor's degree in social work from North Carolina and Technical State University. She is married and has two children.

Ebony is the Senior Youth Development Director. She works at the YMCA of Greensboro.

Black History in the making: Child advocacy leaders - NC Child

Ebony is currently vice president of strategic partnerships at shift_ed. She is also a former classroom teacher, senior youth development director for the YMCA of Greensboro, after school director, and unit director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

Ebony's campaign for Guildford County School Board of Education is her first run for public office. 

Supports universal free meals for all county students.

Supports a 1/4 of a penny sales tax increase to invest in public education.

Support partnerships that expand access to local, fresh, and nutritious food options.

- Supports universal free meals for all county students.
- Supports a 1/4 of a penny sales tax increase to invest in public education.
- Support partnerships that expand access to local, fresh, and nutritious food options.

School Facilities & Resources

As of January 2, 2026, Ebony Burnett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

Supports competitive, livable wages for all teachers and school staff.

- Supports competitive, livable wages for all teachers and school staff.

Teachers

Believes in school-community partnerships.

Believes in providing resources and programs that expose students to various career pathways and options. What

- Believes in school-community partnerships.
- Believes in providing resources and programs that expose students to various career pathways and options. What

School Curriculum

Aims to build school environments where every student—regardless of their background, race, or identity—feels seen, safe, and supported to reach their full potential.

- Aims to build school environments where every student—regardless of their background, race, or identity—feels seen, safe, and supported to reach their full potential.

Student Wellbeing

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Ebony Burnett

- Supports universal free meals for all county students.
- Supports a 1/4 of a penny sales tax increase to invest in public education.

Ebony is a wife and a mother of two students currently enrolled in Guilford County Schools. She has been recognized with several honors, including the NC Lt. Governor’s Community Empowerment Leader Award and the NC Center for Afterschool’s Lifetime Afterschool Champion Award.

Ebony’s professional career is defined by over 24 years of direct service to children and families across educational and nonprofit sectors. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at shift_ed, where she bridges the gap between schools, businesses, and community organizations to improve student outcomes. Her extensive resume includes serving as a former classroom teacher across all grade levels, as well as holding leadership roles such as the Senior Executive Leader of Youth Development for the YMCA of Greensboro and the Director of the Smith Homes Unit of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. Throughout her career, she has managed critical programs, including a federal feeding program that provided 36,000 free meals to children.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Dr. Irish Spencer | whitehouse.gov

Irish is a radio host. She works at 90.1 WNAA FM, where she hosts a weekly #1 show mixing old-school and new-school R&B with news listeners can use. She previously spent 25 years working as a radio broadcaster at various stations.

Irish is the President of FASK (Families Against Senseless Killings), an organization she founded following the murder of her son. She previously worked in the radio industry. She also worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA and as the president and chief executive officer of Welfare Reform Liasion Project Inc.. 

Irish Spencer's campaign for Guilford County Board of Education Member, District 4, Democratic Primary is her first entry into politics.

Irish's campaign for Guilford County Board of Education Member, District 4, is her first entry into politics.

Supports increased community resources for schools.

- Supports increased community resources for schools.

As of January 2, 2026, Irish Spencer’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports initiatives that protect and uplift young students and their educators.

Supports sponsoring grants for classroom materials, offering professional workshops, and creating wellness programs for educators.

- Supports initiatives that protect and uplift young students and their educators.
- Supports sponsoring grants for classroom materials, offering professional workshops, and creating wellness programs for educators.

Supports creating student leadership opportunities, such as peer mentors and student-led clubs.

Believes in creating strong school-community partnerships and bringing community members into the classroom.

- Supports creating student leadership opportunities, such as peer mentors and student-led clubs.
- Believes in creating strong school-community partnerships and bringing community members into the classroom.

Supports student wellbeing through advocacy against gun violence and providing support to families who have lost loved ones.

Supports advocacy against gun violence and providing support to families who have lost loved ones.

- Supports advocacy against gun violence and providing support to families who have lost loved ones.

Instagram

Irish Spencer

Dr. Spencer is the President of FASK (Families Against Senseless Killings), an organization she founded following the murder of her son. Through FASK, she works closely with law enforcement and political agencies to end gun violence and assist families dealing with trauma. She is a dedicated advocate for the "least of these" and focuses her efforts on strengthening vulnerable communities.

Dr. Spencer has over 30 years of experience in developing corporate, public, and philanthropic funding sources. She has a proven record of managing portfolios and building relationships that sustain financial support and community partnerships. Notably, she was honored by President Barack Obama as a "Champion of Change" for her community leadership and outreach. 

- Supports initiatives that protect and uplift young students and their educators.
- She supports sponsoring grants for classroom materials, offering professional workshops, and creating wellness programs for educators.

- Supports student wellbeing through advocacy against gun violence and providing support to families who have lost loved ones.

Linkedin

Michelle L. Linster graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a mother of three.

‘I Understand the Entire System’

Michelle has been the Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Consulting and Coaching for over four years. She previously worked at Bennett College, first as a professor, then as a dean and provost.

As of January 2, 2026, Michelle L. Linster did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to expand professional development opportunities for teachers.

- Supports higher teacher pay.
- Wants to expand professional development opportunities for teachers.

Advocates for addressing school safety by identifying struggling students early on.

- Advocates for addressing school safety by identifying struggling students early on.

Michelle L. Linster

Michelle L. Linster is a candidate for the Guilford County Board of Education District 4 in North Carolina. She filed as a Democratic candidate on December 19, 2025.

Sherry Smith Walker has a bachelor's degree from Purdue Global and a master's degree in elementary education and teaching from Greensboro College.

Sherry is a teacher at Guilford County Schools and the director of Diamonds and Pearls Child Care.

As of January 2, 2026, Sherry Smith Walker did not have a website or any information online.

Sherry Smith Walker

As of January 2, 2026, Sherry Smith Walker’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Guilford County Board of Education Member, District 4, Democratic Primary

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing