Amanda Parsons Cook

Amanda Parsons Cook is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 60 and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹⁶. She was appointed to the seat on November 18, 2025 by Governor Josh Stein after the resignation of Cecil Brockman, and she officially began her term that same day ¹⁶. Cook’s current legislative term runs until January 1, 2027 ¹.

Born on November 2, 1982, Cook earned a Bachelor of Arts in dance education with a minor in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2008 and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Leadership from Gardner‑Webb University in July 2021 ⁸¹⁴.

Cook spent more than a decade as a classroom teacher. From 2008 to 2017 she taught dance for Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools, then moved to Guilford County Schools where she taught at Southwest Guilford High School from 2017 to 2021, eventually serving as department chair and coach of several extracurricular teams ¹⁴⁸. In 2020 she founded The Teacher’s Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides professional development and leadership resources for public‑school educators ¹⁴⁸.

Her first foray into elected office was a 2022 campaign for the Guilford County School Board (District 2), where she was defeated by Republican Chrissy Pratt ¹⁸. In November 2023 she won an at‑large seat on the High Point City Council, placing second with 26.3 % of the vote ⁸¹⁴. While on council she served on the Community Development, Transparency‑Engagement‑Communication, and several advisory boards, and she championed initiatives such as expanding childcare options, solar integration for residents, and increased arts funding ¹⁴¹⁹.

Since joining the General Assembly, Cook has said education will be a top priority, advocating for a comprehensive state budget and teacher salary increases ¹⁹. She has also pledged to address healthcare funding, including support for Medicaid budget shortfalls ¹⁹. Her legislative office lists her occupation as Founder of The Teacher’s Edge ⁶.

In the 2026 election cycle, Cook advanced from the Democratic primary with 42.5 % of the vote, defeating three intra‑party challengers ¹. She will face Republican Joseph Perrotta in the November general election ¹. Endorsements for her 2026 campaign include State Rep. Tracy Clark, the Carolina Federation PAC, the Center for Freethought Equality, and Work For Democracy ¹.

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