Michael Lee Quinones

Current office and 2026 campaign

Michael Quinones is a Republican candidate running for an at-large seat on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education in 2026 ¹. He self-describes as having been a classroom teacher in North Carolina for 21 years and a resident of Forsyth County for 20 years ². Quinones states that he entered the race to address what he characterizes as "unprecedented financial mismanagement, ineffective leadership and lack of accountability" by the district's central office and school board ².

Quinones lists his professional credentials as including a B.S. in social science education, an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, post-master’s educational leadership training, National Board Certification, and North Carolina licenses in social studies for grades 6-8 and 9-12, as well as a principal license for grades K-12 ⁵. He currently teaches high school economics and personal finance ⁵.

In the Republican primary for the board, Quinones advanced automatically to the November general election alongside two other at-large Republican candidates ⁴. In campaign materials shared in May 2026, he emphasized a platform focused on asking difficult questions in public and holding school district leaders accountable ³.

Background and education

Michael Quinones is a Republican candidate for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education ¹. He states that he has been a resident of Forsyth County for 20 years and worked as a classroom teacher in North Carolina for 21 years ². He currently teaches high school economics and personal finance ⁵.

Quinones holds a Bachelor of Science in social science education and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction ⁵. He also possesses post-master’s educational leadership credentials and National Board Certification ⁵. Additionally, he holds North Carolina licenses in social studies for grades 6-8 and 9-12, as well as a principal license for grades K-12 ⁵.

Career

Quinones holds a Bachelor of Science in social science education and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction, along with post-master’s educational leadership credentials ⁵. He is a National Board Certified educator who has held North Carolina licenses for social studies in grades 6–8 and 9–12, as well as a principal license for grades K–12 ⁵.

He spent 21 years as a classroom teacher in North Carolina before entering the race for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education ². At the time of his candidacy, he was teaching high school economics and personal finance ⁵.

Office history

Michael Quinones is a Republican candidate seeking election to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education at-large ¹. He self-describes as having served 21 years as a classroom teacher in North Carolina and holds a B.S. in social science education, an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, post-master’s educational leadership credentials, and National Board Certification ⁵. Quinones also holds North Carolina licenses in social studies for grades 6-8 and 9-12, as well as a principal license for grades K-12 ⁵.

Quinones announced his candidacy for the WSFCS Board of Education in December 2025, citing concerns over financial mismanagement and leadership accountability within the district ². He entered the Republican primary for the at-large seat, which is scheduled to take place in the upcoming election cycle ⁴. As of May 2026, Quinones has advanced automatically to the November general election as one of two at-large Republican candidates who secured enough votes to bypass the primary runoff ⁴.

In March 2026, a mixed election night occurred for incumbents on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education, where voters addressed issues related to the district's financial crisis ⁶. Quinones is not an incumbent and is running in the upcoming general election to replace or join the board; his prior electoral history does not include a previous run for this specific office based on available records ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Michael Quinones has not held elected legislative office prior to his candidacy for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education ¹. Consequently, there is no public legislative record of sponsored bills, specific votes, or committee assignments in a legislative body. His professional background is rooted in education, where he self-describes as having spent 21 years as a classroom teacher in North Carolina and holds a B.S. in social science education, an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, and National Board Certification ². He currently teaches high school economics and personal finance ⁵.

As a candidate for the at-large seat on the WSFCS Board of Education, Quinones has articulated policy positions focused on fiscal accountability and administrative oversight. He states that he entered the race to address what he characterizes as "unprecedented financial mismanagement, ineffective leadership and lack of accountability" by the district's central office and previous school board members ². His platform emphasizes holding school district leaders accountable and asking "difficult questions in public" to support students and teachers ³.

Quinones advanced automatically to the November general election for the at-large seat following the primary process, which was scheduled six months prior to his campaign messaging ⁴. In the context of the March 2026 school board elections, he has framed his candidacy in opposition to incumbents who survived their respective primary challenges amidst a district financial crisis ⁶.

Business interests and wealth source

The provided sources do not contain information regarding Michael Quinones' business interests, wealth source, ownership stakes, or financial disclosures. The available texts focus on his background as a classroom teacher and principal, his professional credentials in education, and his 2026 campaign for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education.

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