The Wake Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators has made its picks for the four open seats on the Wake County Board of Education, putting itself in direct opposition to citizen advocacy groups pushing for change on the school board.

In a news release, Wake NCAE President Jennifer Lanane said, "This is an important race for the students and employees of Wake County Public Schools. We need school board members who show concern for all students and have an in-depth understanding of all the issues that face our school district."

Wake NCAE endorsed Rita Rakestraw from District 1; Horace Tart (incumbent) from District 2; Karen Simon from District 7; and Lois Nixon from District 9. Lanane wrote that recommendations were based on written questionnaires and in-person interviews to gauge each candidate's views on and knowledge of a wide variety of public education issues.

"Our nearly 5,000 members will work hard this election season to help each of these pro-public education candidates get into office," said Lanane. "Wake NCAE believes that our recommended candidates all have a deep appreciation for children as our most precious resource, and they'll work to bring the best to our students, educators and schools."

Wake NCAE is the largest local affiliate of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), representing 5,000 employees of the Wake County Public Schools.

Two grassroots organizations, The Wake Schools Community Alliance and Take Wake Schools Back, have endorsed candidates in the race they say will work for community schools and accountability in the school system.