Ebony Burnett
Ebony Burnett (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Guilford County Schools school board to represent District 4 in North Carolina. Burnett is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. Burnett advanced from the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Burnett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2026
See also: Guilford County Schools, North Carolina, elections (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Guilford County Schools, District 4
Ebony Burnett (D) and Tracy Gaskins (R) are running in the general election for Guilford County Schools, District 4 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Ebony Burnett (D)  | |
| Tracy Gaskins (R) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Guilford County Schools, District 4
Ebony Burnett (D) defeated Irish Spencer (D), Michelle Linster (D), and Sherry Smith Walker (D) in the Democratic primary for Guilford County Schools, District 4 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ebony Burnett | 50.6 | 3,580 |
| Irish Spencer | 28.2 | 1,994 | ||
| Michelle Linster | 12.0 | 852 | ||
| Sherry Smith Walker | 9.2 | 653 | ||
| Total votes: 7,079 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled. Tracy Gaskins (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Guilford County Schools, District 4 without appearing on the ballot.
Endorsements
Burnett received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ebony Burnett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Burnett's responses.
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- Ebony Burnett believes in strong school-community partnerships. Wife, mom of two GCS students, former teacher, children’s-church director, and award-winning nonprofit leader. Ebony has spent her entire career prioritizing children and families. From expanding after-school programs and coordinating COVID-19 learning recovery to leading community-wide efforts, Ebony turns passion into action. As VP of Strategic Partnerships at shift_ed, she brings people together and gets things done. She leads with a clear mantra: Dream together. Do together. Grow together. She fights for: safe, supportive environments ,universal free school meals, engaged families, supported educators and school staff and meaningful workforce pathways for every student.
- Ebony Burnett believes in strong school-community partnerships. She’s spent her career uniting educators, nonprofits, families, and local leaders to create real, lasting change for students. Ebony knows schools shouldn’t have to do it alone and when a community shows up, students thrive. From the YMCA to her work as VP of Strategic Partnerships, she builds collaborations that break silos and expand opportunities. Her priorities: strengthen partnerships that support the whole child, make collaboration easier for schools, ensure partnerships meet real needs, and elevate educator, family, and student voices.
- Students cannot thrive if they don’t feel safe, seen, and supported. Ebony Burnett has created joyful, supportive learning environments as a teacher and during COVID, when she ensured students of essential workers had a safe place to learn. Ebony believes every child deserves a space where they can focus, grow, and belong. True safety goes beyond metal detectors. Students need mental health support, caring adults, inclusive practices, and safe, well-maintained buildings. Ebony pushes for strong school staffing, positive school culture, and policies that protect student well-being.
Mental health access: expanding school-based counselors, social workers, and wraparound supports.
Staff pay and support: advocating for fair, competitive pay for teachers and classified staff so schools can attract and keep great people.
School–community partnerships: making it easier for schools to work with trusted nonprofits and community groups.
Equitable learning environments: safe buildings, universal meals, and access to basic needs for all students.
David Coates -Guilford County School Board, District 3
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Burnett's campaign website stated the following:
For Our Students
School + Community Partnerships
Schools cannot do it alone, and they should not have to. Ebony has built her career around bringing educators, nonprofits, families, and community leaders together to create real and lasting change for students.
Learn More About School + Community Partnerships
Student Success Pathways
Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every student deserves a pathway that works for them and a school system that supports it. Ebony believes there is more than one way to succeed after high school and our schools should prepare students for all of them.
Learn More About Student Success Pathways
Universal Free Meals for ALL Guilford County School Students
No student should have to learn on an empty stomach. Access to healthy school meals is a basic need, not a privilege.
Learn More About Universal Free Meals for ALL Students
Family Engagement that Works
Families are a child’s first and most important teachers, and schools must intentionally engage them in respectful, flexible, and real ways.
Learn More about Family Engagement that Works
Teacher Supplements
Great schools begin with great teachers, and great teachers deserve to be compensated like the professionals they are.
Learn More About Teacher Supplements
Classified Staff Pay
Every adult who shows up for our students deserves respect, starting with fair pay.
Learn More About Classified Staff Pay
1/4 of a Penny Sales Tax
Ebony Burnett supports the 1/4 of a penny sales tax increase in Guilford County as a strategic investment in our public education system. Investing in our educators and school infrastructure is crucial for our students' success and our community's future. This investment opportunity will be on the November 2026 General Election Ballot.
— Ebony Burnett's campaign website (March 16, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
