School board

Board of Education, Stokes County Schools

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A board of education member helps set policy, the budget and the superintendent's direction for Stokes County Schools.

Candidates Compare by issue

John Turpin

Republican

The gist

Opposes closing schools
Supports expanding Forsyth Tech workforce courses for new employers
Opposes curriculum changes imposed through the Leandro case
Pledges to direct school funds to classrooms

More about John

View sources (1)

Opposes closing schools
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“We do NOT need to close schools.”
Supports expanding Forsyth Tech workforce courses for new employers
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“I would like to continue this relationship with Forsyth Tech by increasing Work Force readiness”
Opposes curriculum changes imposed through the Leandro case
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“I do not support any liberal woke curriculums forced on us through this potential change.”
Pledges to direct school funds to classrooms
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“I will maximize school funds to the classroom, not bureaucracy.”

Thomas Sands

Republican

The gist

Opposes closing more schools at this time
Proposes busing upperclassmen to Forsyth Tech's Stokes campus for courses
Supports a state school funding formula fair to rural districts
Proposes modernizing existing schools to grow enrollment

More about Thomas

View sources (1)

Opposes closing more schools at this time
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“No, we do not need to close any more schools at this time.”
Proposes busing upperclassmen to Forsyth Tech's Stokes campus for courses
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“implement a busing schedule designed to pick up upperclassmen during their schedule gaps”
Supports a state school funding formula fair to rural districts
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“advocating for a state funding formula that accounts for this reality while ensuring that a child's zip code doesn't determine their future.”
Proposes modernizing existing schools to grow enrollment
Board of Education Candidates Q & A
Candidate questionnaire · The Stokes News · Feb 20, 2026 · thestokesnews.com
“identify opportunities to modernize and improve the facilities we currently have.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.