6 candidates are tracked for Randolph County Schools Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Fred Burgess, Shannon Craven Whitaker, Phillip Lanier, Eric Welch, Ernie Thalasinos and Hollie Smith. Candidate information follows official Randolph County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Nonpartisan, countywide, vote for 3 of 6. Incumbents Fred Burgess, Shannon Craven Whitaker and Phillip Lanier, all whose terms expire in 2026 per the county's official elected officials guide, face challengers Eric Welch, Ernie Thalasinos and Hollie Smith. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.
This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. Voters choose 3; the top 3 finishers win seats. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Fred Burgess, Shannon Craven Whitaker, Phillip Lanier.
North Carolina › Randolph County › Randolph County Schools Board of Education
Nonpartisan Incumbent
Fred Burgess has served on the Randolph County Board of Education since 2014 and has worked as a financial advisor with Modern Woodmen of America, per the High Point Enterprise and the county school system's official roster. He lives in Climax and is a 1991 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Nonpartisan Incumbent
Shannon Craven Whitaker is a 1995 graduate of Eastern Randolph High School and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and management from UNC Greensboro, per the High Point Enterprise. She works with her husband at their company, Whitaker Waterscapes, and has been active with the Franklinville Athletic Association and area school athletic booster groups. She has served on the Randolph County Board of Education since being elected in 2022, per the county school system's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Nonpartisan Incumbent
Lanier is a sitting member of the Randolph County Board of Education, per the county's official elected officials guide. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Phillip Lanier.
Nonpartisan
Eric Welch, of Thomasville, is a challenger for one of three at-large seats on the Randolph County Board of Education, per the Randolph Record. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Nonpartisan
Ernie Thalasinos, of Trinity, is a challenger for one of three at-large seats on the Randolph County Board of Education, per the Randolph Record. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Nonpartisan
Hollie Smith, of Pleasant Garden, is a challenger for an at-large seat on the Randolph County Schools Board of Education, per the Randolph Record. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Who is running for Randolph County Schools Board of Education in 2026?
6 candidates are tracked for Randolph County Schools Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Fred Burgess, Shannon Craven Whitaker, Phillip Lanier, Eric Welch, Ernie Thalasinos and Hollie Smith. Candidate information follows official Randolph County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Randolph County Schools Board of Education election in North Carolina?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Randolph County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Randolph County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Randolph County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
26 tracked races in Randolph County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.