7 people applied for the Wake school board's open seat. Who are they?

They’ve applied to represent District 4, which covers east Raleigh and a bit beyond, including Knightdale.

Applicants are listed parent engagement, transportation and employee retention among several priorities for the school system.

People had until Feb. 2 to apply for the open seat on the Wake County school board.

Vice Chairwoman Tara Waters resigned from the board Jan. 2, when she was sworn in to fill the open seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

By rule, the board appoints people to seats that are vacated in the middle of a term until the next election cycle.

The nine-member school board is in charge of the employment of the Wake County Public School System’s superintendent, sets the school system’s more than $2 billion budget, approves higher-priced contracts, sets policies and approves facility plans. It doesn't have taxing authority.

Applicants submitted a letter of interest detailing three initiatives they’d like to pursue as board members.

The board will publicly interview candidates Feb. 13, then vote to select a candidate, The new board member would be sworn in Feb. 20 and would serve the remainder of Waters’ term, which runs until December. The seat is up for election in November.

Here are the candidates:

Martin’s three initiatives are providing more support for parents, engaging more college students to help out part-time in the school system, and recruiting more volunteers to help in schools year-round.

Martin has been the communications director of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs since June 2022 and also works as a consultant and broker.

Martin graduated from high school in Cumberland County and from college at North Carolina State University.

She’s spent most of her professional career since 1991 working in North Carolina state government.

Rice’s three initiatives are connecting high schools with mentors to help them for life after graduation, improving student attendance through work with families and making schools more welcoming, and improving workforce retention.

Rice has worked at imWell in Raleigh, a wellness company, since 2001 and works as a principal consultant and trainer. She is also the executive director of Track My Steps, where she’s worked since 2010.

She has an associate’s degree from Wake Technical Community College.

Williams’ three initiatives are improving equity among students by making sure schools and students have the resources they need, addressing school funding issues through resource-sharing and private and philanthropic partnerships, improving student achievement through online resources and remedial learning.

Williams is an exceptional children’s teacher at Rogers Herr Middle School in Durham, where he’s worked since 2014. He’s worked in education and counseling work since 2001.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University, a Master’s degree from Norfolk State University and an education doctoral degree from Cambridge College.

Williams applied for the position in 2022, as well.

Callahan’s initiatives are improving student transportation by potentially raising driver pay, improving teacher retention by first surveying teachers about their needs, and expanding early learning opportunities for children not in K-12 school yet. Raising driver pay, he said, may need to come from cutting other operations and shifting that money to bus driver wages.

Callahan is a research and policy associate at the North Carolina Office of the Courts, where he’s worked since 2019.

He’s worked in state government since 2016. Before that, he spent several years working as a carpenter, automotive technician and shop foreman.

After leaving the automotive industry, Callahan earned a bachelors degree from State University of New York Brockport and a Master’s degree in public administration from North Carolina State University.

Victor’s initiatives are improving student transportation, improving staff recruitment and retention, and improving student safety.

Victor is a community relations analyst with the City of Raleigh’s housing and neighborhoods department. She’s worked with the city since 2014. Before that, she spent four years in higher education communications and nine years in broadcasting.

Victor has a business degree from Markur Akademie International in Germany and a certificate in radio production from the Columbia School of Broadcasting in Virginia.

Lewis’ initiatives are improving student outcomes by analyzing data and providing supports as needed, improving student well-being by providing more social emotional learning and behavior supports, and improving employee experience by listening to employees and providing more professional learning.

Lewis is a teaching and learning manager at Panorama Education, where he’s worked since 2021. Lewis has worked for the Wake County Public School System and the Department of Public Instruction, multiple times each.

In Wake County, he was a teacher from 2008 to 2013, a learning and development specialist from 2017 to 2019 and a senior administrator for professional learning from 2019 to 2021.

Lewis has a bachelor’s degree from Elizabeth City State University, a Master’s degree from East Carolina University and a doctoral degree in education from Liberty University.

Morales’ initiatives are improving parental engagement, improving community engagement and advocating for technology in schools.

Morales is a program manager in the City of Raleigh’s human services agency, where he’s worked since 2023. He’s also worked in Durham city government, Puerto Rico’s government.

Morales graduated from high school in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and has a bachelor’s degree from Inter American University of Puerto Rico.