Natalie Bent Kitaif is a lifelong Durham resident, a Durham Public Schools graduate, and a DPS parent raising her daughters in the same public school she once attended. She is running for School Board because she believes Durham’s public schools should be safe, transparent, and worthy of the trust families place in them every day.

As a parent organizer and community advocate, Natalie has shown up when it mattered most—working alongside other parents to push back against overreliance on law enforcement to address student behavior, supporting immigrant families when ICE threatens the community, and advocating for safer, more supportive learning environments for students and teachers alike. She believes discipline should teach, not punish, and that restorative practices—done with real training and support—are essential to student wellbeing and equity.

Professionally, Natalie brings a background in maternal and child public health and a systems-level approach to governance. She understands that strong outcomes require strong structures: transparent budgets, accountable leadership, and decision-making grounded in both data and lived experience. She is committed to rebuilding trust through clear communication, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful community engagement.

Natalie is running to fight for fully funded public schools, real budget transparency, and school environments where every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.