WS Chronicle

Former chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ Board of Education, Malishai Woodbury, has announced that she is running for a seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. 

Woodbury made the announcement on Tuesday, Feb. 2, on Facebook Live. While chatting with Allan Younger, president of the Forsyth Tech Small Business Center, and other people from the community, Woodbury said she was excited about the opportunity to serve. She said she was inspired to run by local icons like Earline Parmon, Vivian Burke, Maize Woodruff, and others. 

Woodbury currently serves as an instructor of history at N.C. A&T State University and is scheduled to receive her doctorate later this month. She is also certified as a Priority School Leader through the Principal Executive Program of the Kenan-Flagler Business School and is secretary of the N.C. Caucus of Black School Board Members.

During her time as the first African American chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board, she collaborated with county commissioners to pass 1/4 cent sales tax to increase teacher pay supplements, resulting in WS/FCS having the highest new teacher supplement in the state. She was also instrumental in the creation of the  African American and Multicultural Infused Curriculum policy, Equity policy, Office of Community Engagement, and the creation and hire of the district’s first director of equity. Before she was elected to the board, Woodbury was known as an advocate for education as a member of the Carver High School Alumni Association and several grassroots organizations in the area.

Eric Martin, president of the Big 4 Alumni Association, said he is confident that Woodbury will lead District A in the right direction. 

“A lot of people put on a show, but Shai has a heart,” Martin continued. “It’s nothing artificial about Shai … and with this venture moving forward, I’m hoping that the community will come and support her because she is not about herself, she’s not about grandstanding, it’s about the whole and I’m looking forward to that … I just think she has vision, foresight, and she’s somebody we need moving forward.” 

District A represents communities and neighborhoods within the city limits. Woodbury, who is a Democrat, will be running against incumbents Fleming El-Amin and Tonya McDaniel, whose terms will end in December. 

For more information on Woodbury’s campaign, visit “Shai Woodbury – Leadership You Can Trust” on Facebook.