{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRonda Mays is the Democratic candidate for one of three at-large seats on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 general election. The at-large seats are countywide positions that help set district policy, approve the school budget, and oversee the superintendent and district operations [1]. Mays advanced from the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with more than 14,000 votes, finishing among the top three candidates who move on to the general election, alongside Valerie Brockenbrough and Elisabeth Motsinger [1][12].\n\n## Background and education\nMays was born in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1993 and a graduate degree in 1995 from the State University of New York at Buffalo [1].\n\n## Career\nMays holds a North Carolina school social work license and has worked in the field since 1993, including as a medical social worker, lead therapist, program coordinator, and youth-detention worker [6]. For more than 25 years she has served the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school community, holding positions including Lead Graduation Coach (2021-2022), Director of Family Engagement (2022-2023), and most recently School Social Worker & Behavioral Liaison for Stokes County Schools (2023-present) [6]. She served as president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators from 2015 to 2019 [6][12].\n\n## Office history\nMays' first run for elected office came in 2024, when she won the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 31 over Laurelyn Dossett, 5,590 votes to 4,511 [13]. She lost the general election to Republican Dana Caudill Jones, who also faced independent candidate Teresa Hopper Prizer [14].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nHer 2026 campaign platform emphasizes student-centered education, transparency, and responsible budgeting, with a focus on academic programs, expanded mental-health resources, and safe school environments [7]. She has been endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, the Forsyth County Association of Educators, Gun Sense Voter, and Red Wine and Blue [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Ronda Mays -- Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ronda_Mays) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[4] [Endorsements for Ronda Mays -- North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate, Blue Voter Guide](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Ronda_Mays/526336) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[6] [The Candidate -- Ronda Mays for WS/FCS Board of Education](https://vote4mays.com/the-candidate) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[7] [Ronda Mays for WS/FCS Board of Education](https://vote4mays.com/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[9] [Ronda Mays -- LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ms-ronda-j-mays-314a0444_early-voting-is-taking-place-in-forsyth-and-activity-7167151666020995072-SLlq) (LinkedIn requires login; reflects a public post as of March 2026.)\n\n[12] [Candidates with ties to public education file together for state and county office -- 88.5 WFDD](https://www.wfdd.org/story/candidates-ties-public-education-file-together-state-and-county-office) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[13] [Election results: Democrats Paul Lowe and Ronda Mays win their primaries for State Senate Districts 31 and 32 -- Triad City Beat](https://triad-city-beat.com/election-results-democrats-paul-lowe-and-ronda-mays-win-their-primaries-for-state-senate-districts-31-and-32/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[14] [Open Senate 31 seat pits two challengers against each other -- Winston-Salem Journal](https://journalnow.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/senate-31-challengers-dana-caudill-jones-ronda-mays-joyce-krawiec-election-2024-open-contest/article_823b51b0-873b-11ef-89ec-93d72daeff96.html) -- accessed 2026-07-19","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_at_large","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large"},{"contest":"county_school_board_at_large","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Ronda","fullname":"Ronda Jean Mays","lastname":"Mays","middlename":"Jean","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_at_large","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_school_board_at_large","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"forsyth","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_at_large","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Ronda Mays, a veteran school social worker and former president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators, is the Democratic candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Winston\u2011Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"8f0ee862314fb01d"}