{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nNatalie Bent Kitaif won the Durham Public Schools Board of Education District 1 seat in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, receiving 68.7 percent of the vote over two other candidates.\n\nKitaif supports restorative discipline practices, a $25-per-hour minimum wage for district employees, expanded school funding sources including asking Duke University to make payments to Durham in lieu of property taxes, financial accountability, and strengthened student safety. She is a vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within Durham Public Schools.\n\n## Background and education\nKitaif is a lifelong Durham resident and Durham Public Schools graduate. She attended Guilford College for her undergraduate studies and later pursued graduate work in public health.\n\n## Career\nKitaif works as a public health professional with a focus on maternal and child health. Her background is in research and consulting, and she brings a systems-level analytical approach to education governance.\n\nWhen federal immigration agents arrived in Durham in late 2024, Kitaif participated in community efforts to protect students, facilitating rides for vulnerable families and delivering necessities. She was endorsed by the Durham Association of Educators, the People's Alliance, and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.\n\n## Family\nKitaif is the mother of two daughters enrolled in a DPS elementary school. She has been closely involved in school-level organizing on issues of student safety and teacher working conditions.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Durham Public Schools Board of Education District 1: Natalie Bent Kitaif \u2013 Indy Week](https://indyweek.com/news/durham-public-schools-board-of-education-natalie-bent-kitaif-2026/)\n- [2] [Three Durham Public Schools graduates vie for District 1 school board seat \u2013 9th Street Journal](https://9thstreetjournal.org/2026/03/02/three-durham-public-schools-graduates-vie-for-district-1-school-board-seat/)\n- [3] [Newcomers sweep school board races \u2013 9th Street Journal](https://9thstreetjournal.org/2026/03/04/newcomers-sweep-school-board-races/)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_01","county":"durham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Durham County Board Of Education District 01"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Natalie","fullname":"Natalie Bent Kitaif","lastname":"Kitaif","middlename":"Bent","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_01","contest_title":"Durham County Board Of Education District 01","county":"durham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"durham","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"durham","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_01","contest_title":"Durham County Board Of Education District 01","county":"durham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"durham","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"db22787418a07b5c"}