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The Nov. 3, 2026, election for the Wake County school board District 7 seat features candidates Jacob Arthur, Amita Gupta and Maddie Segal. They want to replace Chris Heagarty, who isn’t seeking reelection for a seat representing northwestern Wake The News & Observer asked all candidates in this race to complete a questionnaire to inform voters about their opinions on key issues.
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Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 3, 2026: 48
Campaign website: jake4wakeschools.com
Current occupation: Legislative Assistant — NC House
Professional experience: I currently serve as a Legislative Assistant in the N.C. General Assembly and previously worked as a lobbyist and as Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel for a small business. I have practiced law since 2013, served as a Wake County substitute teacher, and spent four years in the U.S. Navy.
Education: I am a 1997 graduate of Wake County Public Schools. I earned my B.A. in Justice Studies, cum laude, from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 2005 and my Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law in 2009. I also attended North Carolina State University.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: I currently serve as a Legislative Assistant in the N.C. General Assembly and previously worked as a lobbyist. I served four years in the U.S. Navy and previously worked as a substitute teacher in Wake County Public Schools.
What do you see as the most important issue that you would have control over if you win, and what is your position on it? Improving student achievement is the most important issue the Board can directly influence. My focus would be on measurable progress in K–3 literacy, math readiness, attendance, teacher retention and tutoring. I believe the Board should set clear goals, track results school by school, and direct resources toward programs that are actually improving outcomes for students.
Wake’s academic performance on state exams has returned to pre-pandemic levels. What more should the district do to try to improve achievement? Returning to pre-pandemic performance is encouraging, but it should be a starting point, not the goal. Wake should focus on measurable gains in early literacy, math readiness and chronic absenteeism, while retaining strong teachers and expanding effective tutoring. The Board should track results school by school and invest in strategies that demonstrate real improvement.
Many Wake County schools have had HVAC problems. What would you do to try to address the problem? Wake needs to treat facilities maintenance as a core responsibility, not a crisis response. I would require a clear preventive-maintenance schedule for HVAC systems, prioritize the highest-risk repairs, pursue available warranty and contractor remedies, and track the maintenance backlog publicly. The Board should know what is failing, why it is failing, and whether scheduled maintenance is actually being completed.
What is your position on the $680 million school construction bond referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot? I support the $680 million school construction bond because Wake’s aging schools, HVAC failures and maintenance needs must be addressed. I may not agree with every decision that got us here, but we are here. My support is not a blank check. The Board must prioritize projects, provide clear cost and timeline reporting, and ensure preventive maintenance keeps us from repeating the same mistakes.
How should Wake County handle the distribution of computers and their use by students in school? Wake should ensure every student has access to the technology needed for learning, but computers should be a tool, not a substitute for strong instruction. Their use should be age-appropriate and tied to clear academic goals. The district should limit unnecessary screen time, evaluate whether digital programs improve outcomes, and make sure technology spending is producing real value for students.
How should the Wake County school system respond when parents want to opt their children out of a class taught by a transgender and/or non-binary teacher? Wake should treat employees fairly, but the district’s first responsibility is to students and families. When parents raise sincere concerns about sensitive issues, particularly in an elementary school, WCPSS should listen, communicate clearly and make reasonable efforts to provide an alternative. These situations should be handled with respect, common sense and a focus on minimizing disruption for students.
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 3, 2026: 51
Campaign website: https://www.amita4wake.com/
Current occupation: President, Astute Resources Inc. (Strategy Management Consulting — Accelerating Workforce Skills Agility). Co-partner in a business portfolio: Wize Academy, bringing affordable K-12 STEAM education with a teen TA/apprenticeship model; Fastest Labs, a safe, reliable drug testing lab with local employment opportunities for young graduates; and property/facilities management experience directly relevant to overseeing school buildings, HVAC systems, and capital projects.
Professional experience: 25+ years across education, business and medical/public health expertise as an Epidemiologist, educator and business leader — in management consulting, sales, operations, and entrepreneurship. Career includes roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, and ZS Associates, teaching at the University of Michigan, and now leading Astute Resources Inc. and co-managing Wize Academy, bringing affordable STEAM education to K-12 students.
Education: Trained as an Epidemiologist (Master of Public Health, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor); Multiple Sclerosis research published with the American Public Health Association (APHA), 2000. Undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin. Also completed Life Sciences/Biochemistry with Honors at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Twice-elected President, Mills Park Middle School PTSA; District 7 Board Advisory Council Representative; Hortons Creek Elementary School Improvement Team Member. NC Odyssey of the Mind Eastern Regional Board Member (19 counties), 2024 Omer Award recipient; led Mills Park Middle teams to OM World Finals top 8 three consecutive years (2023-25), earning NC delegate status to Worlds. Graduate, Cary 101 and New American Leaders, 2024 cohort. Founder, South Asian Society of Amberly. Board Member, Amberly Village Square HOA & Women’s Club.
What do you see as the most important issue that you would have control over if you win, and what is your position on it? Teacher retention/staffing: Wake County is losing experienced teachers, hurting student outcomes. As a Board member, I’d push for competitive compensation, manageable workloads, and real advocacy to the General Assembly and Commissioners for funding. I bring proven strategies to the county level: partnering with PTSAs, community leaders and local businesses countywide to fund teacher grants (professional, instructional, supplemental) and staff appreciation programs that build morale and retention district-wide.
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Wake’s academic performance on state exams has returned to pre-pandemic levels. What more should the district do to try to improve achievement? Returning to pre-pandemic averages isn’t the finish line. Teachers and local leaders have told me kids who started kindergarten during COVID are now struggling in middle school, and that some schools are seeing Black and Brown students lag in reading comprehension. As an epidemiologist, I’d push the district to use real data to confirm these patterns and target support by school and student groups. Plus invest in STEAM and enrichment that build engagement beyond test scores.
Many Wake County schools have had HVAC problems. What would you do to try to address the problem? With hands-on property/facilities management experience, I understand how deferred maintenance becomes a crisis. I’d push for a districtwide maintenance accountability system. Even newer buildings aren’t immune, as parents told me Green Level High School, just seven years old, had an HVAC breakdown with no clear communication to families. This means proactive tracking, prioritizing high-risk buildings for repair, a parent-communication protocol for emergencies, and public reporting on fixes and funds.
What is your position on the $680 million school construction bond referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot? I support the $680 million bond with conditions. Wake County’s growth and aging facilities, including HVAC failures like Green Level High School, make this investment necessary. But support must come with real accountability: clear public reporting on how funds are prioritized and spent, independent oversight of capital projects, and transparency with families when timelines or scopes change. Voters are being asked to trust the district with significant funding; that trust has to be earned, not assumed.
How should Wake County handle the distribution of computers and their use by students in school? Equity comes first, Every student needs a device and reliable internet, regardless of ZIP code or income. That’s not just logistics, it’s access to opportunity. In classrooms, device use should be balanced: purposeful and limited. In elementary grades protect foundational skills to expand for workforce readiness in high school. Digital literacy and online safety must be taught alongside hardware rollout. Every investment needs budget stewardship and accountability to families.
How should the Wake County school system respond when parents want to opt their children out of a class taught by a transgender and/or non-binary teacher? Every Wake County teacher deserves to be treated with professionalism and respect, and every student deserves a safe, inclusive classroom. Our schools should follow existing nondiscrimination policies and not permit opt-outs based on a teacher’s identity. If a family has a genuine concern, our schools already have processes through counselors and administrators to address it respectfully, without compromising any teacher’s dignity or any student’s right to a quality education.
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 3, 2026: 39
Campaign website: https://www.maddiesegal.com/
Current occupation: Director of Industry Engagement at the Plant Based Foods Institute
Professional experience: For the past six years, I have led industry and stakeholder engagement for a national nonprofit focused on nutrition security at the state and federal levels. Prior to that, I led grassroots advocacy campaigns for a national nonprofit and worked for Meals on Wheels. In all my work I have built high-trust relationships through responsive constituent service, and I will bring the same commitment to the Wake County School Board.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, North Carolina State University
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: As a WCPSS parent, PTA volunteer, District 7 Board Advisory Council member, and NC Alliance for Health board director, I am deeply rooted in local education advocacy. I have earned endorsements from Wake NCAE, Moms Demand Action (Gun Sense Candidate), and a majority of sitting school board members, including former Chair Chris Heagarty and current Chair Tyler Swanson. I bring proven policy experience, community trust, and a parent’s perspective to fight for WCPSS families.
What do you see as the most important issue that you would have control over if you win, and what is your position on it? The most critical issue within school board control is protecting student nutrition amid rising living costs and the end of universal meal programs. Rising meal debt strains both family budgets and district finances. Because hungry children cannot learn, my position is clear: I strongly champion Free School Meals for All. To achieve this locally, we must maximize district funding, expand community partnerships, and engage non-profits so every child has the nutritional foundation to succeed.
Wake’s academic performance on state exams has returned to pre-pandemic levels. What more should the district do to try to improve achievement? Our educators and school board should be proud of their progress! To build on this momentum, I am committed to prioritizing support staff to work with classroom teachers to meet the individual needs of every student. Unaddressed student trauma and mental health challenges significantly impact classroom performance. Investing in professional development for trauma-informed strategies and expanding community-based support services will foster classroom conditions where all students can thrive.
Many Wake County schools have had HVAC problems. What would you do to try to address the problem? Recent HVAC failures reflect systemic backlogs from years of underfunding critical infrastructure. For students and staff in 80-plus degree classrooms, this is an urgent quality-of-life issue. While complex repairs take time, our community deserves full transparency. I will advocate for a public facilities dashboard showing repair priorities and work-order timelines. Clear communication builds essential trust with families and staff while keeping us accountable to safe, comfortable schools.
What is your position on the $680 million school construction bond referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot? I fully support the $680 million bond referendum on the November ballot as a critical investment in healthy learning environments for our growing student population. Because this bond addresses only a portion of our long-term facility needs, strict project prioritization and planning remain essential. I will work collaboratively with local and state leaders to advocate for reliable, ongoing capital funding so Wake County’s school facilities can keep pace with our community’s growth.
How should Wake County handle the distribution of computers and their use by students in school? Balancing technology, safety, and wellness is a core pillar of my platform. We should re-evaluate 1:1 device reliance in elementary grades to prioritize active learning over excessive screen time. I support a district-wide review of required EdTech platforms to ensure transparency for parents. Additionally, WCPSS needs clear AI guardrails. I support restricting student-facing AI in elementary and middle grades while establishing guided, age-appropriate AI literacy in high school.
How should the Wake County school system respond when parents want to opt their children out of a class taught by a transgender and/or non-binary teacher? WCPSS policy empowers principals to evaluate class reassignments by balancing parental requests against the needs of all students and school operations. Under board policy and state law, families may opt out of specific curriculum materials conflicting with religious beliefs, but neither grants a right to opt out based on a teacher’s identity or attire. WCPSS must fulfill its legal obligation to uphold district policies, state laws, and non-discrimination protections for all employees.
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