Davit Melikian

Davit is from Durham, North Carolina. He attended Githens Middle School and Jordan High School. He has a bachelors degree in operations management and a bachelors degree in finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He lives with his wife, Arielle, their son, Noah, and their dog, Bear, in Durham.

Who's Running: Durham Public Schools Board of Education

Davit is the founder and owner of Ark Homes, a custom home building company focused on quality construction, responsible budgeting, and efficient project delivery. He previously founded Element Juice, Durham’s first raw juice delivery service serving customers across the Triangle and partnering with local small businesses. Davit began his career at Credit Suisse in the Prime Brokerage department, where he managed a team of six.

Davit Melikian’s campaign for Durham County Board of Education Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. He previously ran for Durham County Board of Education Member, District 1 in 2024 as an unaffiliated candidate and did not win.

2026 Statewide Primary and Election Candidate Filing Update ...

Plans to prioritize facility repairs, long-term maintenance planning, and smart capital spending to protect schools and the community’s investment.

Said, "Every child in Durham deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of background or zip code. I will work to close opportunity gaps and ensure resources reach the students who need them most."

As of January 2, 2026, Davit Melikian’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports transparency, public engagement, and accountability in the school system.

Buket Urgen

Davit Melikian is from Gyumri, Armenia. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Davit serves as the First Vice Chair for the Durham Democratic Party. He lives with his wife, Arielle, and their son in Durham.

Davit is the founder and owner of Ark Homes, a custom home building company. He previously founded Element Juice, a raw juice delivery service. Davit also worked in the Prime Brokerage department at Credit Suisse.

Davit Melikian previously ran for an unspecified office in 2024, but did not win.

Said, "I will prioritize facility repairs, long-term maintenance planning, and smart capital spending to protect our schools and our community’s investment."

- Said, "I will prioritize facility repairs, long-term maintenance planning, and smart capital spending to protect our schools and our community’s investment."

School Facilities & Resources

- Said, "Every child in Durham deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of background or zip code. I will work to close opportunity gaps and ensure resources reach the students who need them most."

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

- Supports transparency, public engagement, and accountability in the school system.

Student Wellbeing

Instagram

Dilcy Burton

Dilcy Burton is from Durham, North Carolina. She holds degrees from North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Liberty University in Virginia. She is a parent of graduates from Durham Public Schools. 

Dilcy is an assistant attorney general for North Carolina's Department of Justice. She previously worked for the Alabama Department of Labor and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. She also ran her own law practice in Durham. 

Dilcy previously ran for Durham County Commissioner in 2012. She is currently an assistant attorney general for North Carolina's Department of Justice.

LinkedIn

Black Women's Leadership Collective North Carolina – The ...

Advocates for "dependable and consistent" transportation services for students, as well as livable wages for bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and instructional assistants.

Supports working with state legislators, county commissioners, and federal stakeholders to increase funding for Durham Public Schools.

- Advocates for "dependable and consistent" transportation services for students, as well as livable wages for bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and instructional assistants.
- Supports working with state legislators, county commissioners, and federal stakeholders to increase funding for Durham Public Schools.

Supports adequately funding pre-K programs in Durham.

- Supports adequately funding pre-K programs in Durham.

Supports equitable pay for Durham Public Schools staff, teachers, and administrators.

- Supports equitable pay for Durham Public Schools staff, teachers, and administrators.

Plans to provide curriculum support to teachers and increase recruitment of special education teachers.

- Plans to provide curriculum support to teachers and increase recruitment of special education teachers.

Supports a DPS academic calendar that reflects the diversity of its students.

- Supports a DPS academic calendar that reflects the diversity of its students.

Natalie Bent Kitaif

As of January 2, 2026, Natalie Bent Kitaif’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of January 2, 2026, Natalie Bent Kitaif did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "I hears this fear from my kindergartner, who discusses friends’ concerns that they may come home from school and find their parents missing. “They seem to know that adults are being targeted. It deeply concerns me to know how afraid they are for their parents."

- Said, "I hears this fear from my kindergartner, who discusses friends’ concerns that they may come home from school and find their parents missing. “They seem to know that adults are being targeted. It deeply concerns me to know how afraid they are for their parents."

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 