2026 North Carolina General Election

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.

Candidates running this fall for Wake County school board

Brian Olson lives in Cary and is vice president of the West Cary Middle School Parent-Teacher Association.

Here are the candidates running in this fall's Wake County school ...

Brian Olson is a small-business owner and military veteran. He has worked as a project manager.

Brian Olson - Ballotpedia

Brian is a first-time candidate for political office.

Olson’s background as an army veteran instills in him a strong sense of duty and responsibility. His military experience has equipped him with leadership skills and the resilience necessary to address critical issues facing schools today. From advocating for increased funding to improving teacher resources, his campaign is centered around making impactful changes that will resonate throughout the community.

Empowering Education: Brian Olson’s Vision for Wake County Schools

- Advocates for increased school funding.

School Facilities & Resources

The education landscape in Wake County deserves a champion. Brian Olson, a dedicated community leader and army veteran, is committed to transforming our schools for the better. As he runs for the Wake County School Board in District 9, Olson stands as a true advocate for parents and students alike, ensuring that every child in Wake County has access to quality education.

Brian’s experience as a parent informs his understanding of the needs within our educational system. He believes in active parent involvement and aims to prioritize communication between families and schools. Together, we can create a supportive environment in which every parent feels empowered to engage with their child’s education.

Advocates for access to quality education for every child in Wake County.

Supports active parent involvement and prioritizes communication between families and schools.

- Advocates for access to quality education for every child in Wake County.
- Supports active parent involvement and prioritizes communication between families and schools.

Access to Education

Advocates for improving teacher resources.

- Advocates for improving teacher resources.

Teachers

As of September 2, 2026, Brian Olson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

Brian Olson

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

LinkedIn

Cheryl Alexis earned a bachelor's degree in history and science from Harvard University, and a law degree from the University of Chicago.

Republican Cheryl Alexis is yet another political newcomer. According to LinkedIn, she is a human resources consultant with past experience in career counseling and law. She doesn’t seem to have a campaign website.

Who’s Running For Wake County School Board in 2026

Cheryl works as a human resources consultant. She has experience in career counseling and law.

Who's Running: Wake County School Board 2026 - INDY Week

Cheryl Alexis - Ballotpedia

Cheryl is a first-time candidate for political office.

As of September 2, 2026, Cheryl Alexis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Cheryl Alexis

My commitment to public service began long before I was elected. I was born and raised in Guilford County and graduated from Eastern Guilford High School before attending North Carolina A&T State University, where I earned a degree in Political Science. While at NC A&T, I became deeply involved in civic engagement, volunteering on political campaigns, serving in the NAACP chapter, helping found the Greensboro College Commission, and organizing alongside students from NC A&T, Bennett College, and UNC Greensboro to oppose HB 589 through the Moral Monday Movement.

ABOUT | Swanson for Wake

After graduating, I served as the North Carolina NAACP's Youth & College Field Secretary before becoming its Communications and Policy Director. Those experiences reinforced my belief that meaningful change comes from bringing people together, listening to every voice, and standing up for what is right.

I later earned a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, strengthening my knowledge of public policy, leadership, and governance.

Tyler Swanson is originally from Guilford County. He earned a degree in political science from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.

Every decision I make is grounded in my experience as a former high school special education teacher. Before serving on the Board, I taught students at Enloe Magnet High School, where I served on the School Improvement Team, Equity Team  and Barbershop Talk advisor. My time in the classroom taught me that the best education policies are those shaped by the experiences of students, teachers, and families—not politics.

After graduating, I served as the North Carolina NAACP's Youth & College Field Secretary before becoming its Communications and Policy Director. Those experiences reinforced my belief that meaningful change comes from bringing people together, listening to every voice, and standing up for what is right.

Tyler Swanson is a former high school special education teacher who taught at Enloe Magnet High School. He also served as the North Carolina NAACP's Youth & College Field Secretary and Communications and Policy Director.

Four years ago, the voters of District 9 entrusted me with the honor of representing our community on the Wake County Board of Education. I was elected as the youngest board member in the history of the Wake County Board of Education, and I have worked every day to earn that trust by putting students, educators, and families first.

Tyler serves on the Wake County Board of Education representing District 9. He was elected four years ago.

If the NCGA fully funds Leandro, Wake County Public Schools would receive the following to support our students:

1. An additional two hundred and ninety- one million dollars.

2. An additional eight hundred and thirty-seven more teacher assistants.

3. Nine hundred seven more nurses, psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

4. . One thousand four hundred sixty-two dollars per teacher to receive professional development.
Our students cannot wait. It is time for the NCGA to fulfill its constitutional duty to fund our schools. Not only is investing in our schools a returned investment in our communities, but it is our legacy as Wake County residents and North Carolinians.

ISSUES | Swanson for Wake

Rebuilding from COVID and dealing with the interrupted learning created during the pandemic is one of my top priorities. In addition, we must address the staffing shortages we are facing in the district. The pandemic highlighted numerous issues facing our schools, and we need to use these lessons learned to rebuild and re-imagine how to overcome our losses academically and emotionally.

Calls for the North Carolina General Assembly to fully fund public schools.

Prioritizes pandemic learning recovery and efforts to address district staffing shortages.

- Calls for the North Carolina General Assembly to fully fund public schools.
- Prioritizes pandemic learning recovery and efforts to address district staffing shortages.

As of September 2, 2026, Tyler Swanson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

I am committed to the belief that every student receives quality instruction in all subject areas, including history, when our highly skilled teachers and support staff are provided with quality professional learning opportunities, meaningful feedback, instructional resources, and duty-free time for planning and grading.

School board members should be the most prominent advocate for our schools. Board members are responsible for keeping parents, the public, elected officials, citizens, and other business and civic partners informed and engaged in our school system. In addition, board members should advocate for the funding to recruit and retain the best teachers and support staff by being part of the community and actively sharing the school systems' needs, challenges, and successes!​

Believes quality instruction requires professional learning, meaningful feedback, instructional resources, and duty-free planning and grading time for teachers and support staff.

Calls for funding to recruit and retain teachers and support staff.

- Believes quality instruction requires professional learning, meaningful feedback, instructional resources, and duty-free planning and grading time for teachers and support staff.
- Calls for funding to recruit and retain teachers and support staff.

Safe schools have well-staffed cafeterias and hallways where more students interact with less structure guiding those interactions. In addition, safe schools have staff well trained in keeping the school peaceful and trained in deescalating tense situations.

Safe schools do not involve guns or arming teachers. Instead, they create a sense of belonging for every student. I support adding additional helping professionals in our schools, such as nurses, social workers, school counselors, and SROs

Our LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff are valued members of our school communities and district. Right now, as they experience more aggressive words and actions denying or degrading their humanity, our district has a responsibility to make it clear that they will not be denied or degraded in our schools. I am committed to creating safer spaces throughout our district so that all LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff have equal access to learning and working conditions that nurture student growth.

Opposes arming teachers or using guns as a school-safety measure.

Supports adding nurses, social workers, school counselors, and school resource officers.

Is committed to safer spaces and equal learning and working conditions for LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff.

- Opposes arming teachers or using guns as a school-safety measure.
- Supports adding nurses, social workers, school counselors, and school resource officers.
- Is committed to safer spaces and equal learning and working conditions for LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff.

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Tyler Swanson

- 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. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system

Wake County Board of Education Member, District 9

Candidates (3)

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing