Incumbent board member and former vice chair Sarah Smylie is one of six candidates running for four seats on the county school system’s Board of Education this spring, saying she entered the race to continue the school district’s current path of progress.
Smylie responded to a series of questions 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com asked each candidate, and provided details into her goals, campaign and vision for the future, speaking on — among other things — what spurred her to actively seek reelection. The parent of two students in the district said it was not an easy decision to seek a third term, but said she believes she can “do the most good” for the community by continuing to serve on the board.
“I’m running because I’m excited about where we’re headed, and I want to make sure our progress keeps going,” said Smylie. “I want Orange County Schools to be a place where every student gets what they need to succeed academically and thrive personally, every staff member experiences a supportive, collaborative workplace, and every family is embraced as a true partner.”
Highlighting the “positive momentum” gained by the Board of Education in recent years and focusing on “lasting improvements,” Smylie’s expectations come from her experiences with the board so far.
“While we’re focused on expanding excellence, I also expect that the state and federal governments will continue to take actions in the coming years that make things harder for our students, their families, and our staff, whether that’s cutting funding for public schools or targeting vulnerable members of our school communities,” said Smylie. “I can be an advocate for continued focus on creating welcoming, inclusive schools, and for tackling the inequities that hold us back, and I can advocate for the resources our schools need. I also know the board will continue to have difficult decisions ahead, and my experience and perspective will be helpful as we move forward.”
Over the past eight years, Smylie said she believe she has navigated issues of value, clarity, purpose and her own role in helping to address and solve issued face by the education system, its staff and its students. The former public school teacher and talent management consultant acknowledged the difficult landscape all public schools, including her local district, are facing.
“In the coming years,” Smylie added, “the tough decisions will keep coming. Orange County Schools will need to do the first true redistricting in something like 25 or 30 years. The federal government could very well cut funding we rely on to provide essential services, in which case we’d need to make trade-offs no one wants to make. Tough decisions, and often unpopular decisions no matter the outcome.
“But that’s the job,” she concluded. “So, I’m grateful that these years have taught me how to ground myself in my values in times of ambiguity and challenge.”
The Orange County Schools Board of Education race is a non-partisan election, but will be on voters’ ballots alongside the primary races in March. Smylie is joined by challengers Saru Salvi, Lori Russell and Brian Edwards, as well as fellow incumbents Will Atherton and Anne Purcell. One seat is open as single-term Board of Education member André Richmond will depart the board after four years in the role. Winners of the election in March will be sworn into the Board of Education over the summer ahead of the new academic year that starts in July.
Voter registration for those participating in the 2026 election cycle is underway and runs through Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. in North Carolina. Early voting for the primary and non-partisan Board of Education election begins on Feb. 12 and runs through Feb. 28, with Primary Election Day set for Tuesday, Mar. 3. More details about key dates and deadlines for voters can be found on the North Carolina Board of Elections website.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
