Mary lives in Hendersonville with her husband and 2 young children. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and 2 master's degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology and public policy. 

Mary has a background in public policy and has worked in the nonprofit sector. She also tutors math and coaches youth sports.

Mary Ellen Kustin previously ran for the Henderson County Board of Education in 2022, but did not win.

Candidate website

Believes in funding education to provide necessary resources for students and to attract top educators. Said, “Our curriculum must beRead more…”

Believes in funding education to provide necessary resources for students and to attract top educators. 

Believes school boards should prioritize providing essential resources like books, buses, buildings, and well-trained staff to support students. Supports collaboration with community partners to enhance health and safety in schools.

Believes school boards should prioritize providing essential resources like books, buses, buildings, and well-trained staff to support students, and supports collaboration with community partners to enhance health and safety in schools.

Believes schools in Raleigh deserve adequate funding and urges the school board to ensure funds are properly allocated.

Believes the public school system is crucial to the local economy in rural counties. Said, "The jobs that are cut due to a lack of funding are jobs that provide for our neighbors."

Believes the public school system is crucial to the local economy in rural counties, saying, "The jobs that are cut due to a lack of funding are jobs that provide for our neighbors."

Supports fully funding the Leandro Plan to improve school facilities and resources.

Believes in providing necessary resources to support students and families for success.

- Believes in funding education to provide necessary resources for students and to attract top educators. 
- Believes school boards should prioritize providing essential resources like books, buses, buildings, and well-trained staff to support students, and supports collaboration with community partners to enhance health and safety in schools.
- Believes schools in Raleigh deserve adequate funding and urges the school board to ensure funds are properly allocated.
- Believes the public school system is crucial to the local economy in rural counties, saying, "The jobs that are cut due to a lack of funding are jobs that provide for our neighbors."
- Supports fully funding the Leandro Plan to improve school facilities and resources.
- Believes in providing necessary resources to support students and families for success.

School Facilities & Resources

Opposes using public funds for private school tuition, stating, “We must staunch the bleeding of public dollars to wealthy families.” Supports directing tax dollars to meet public school needs.

Opposes using public funds for private school tuition, stating, “We must staunch the bleeding of public dollars to wealthy families," and supports directing tax dollars to meet public school needs.

Opposes school vouchers, stating they enable private schools to discriminate and lack oversight, potentially leading to fraud.

Believes “access to high quality public education is a cornerstone of our democracy.” Opposes North Carolina politicians “gutting funding for schools and sowing distrust in teachers and administrators.”

Believes “access to high quality public education is a cornerstone of our democracy," and opposes North Carolina politicians “gutting funding for schools and sowing distrust in teachers and administrators.”

Believes educational outcomes at voucher schools are generally worse than public schools. Said, "North Carolina does not require outcome testing for private schools."

Believes educational outcomes at voucher schools are generally worse than public schools. 

Believes private schools can legally discriminate against children based on special needs, religion, race, or family structure.

Believes that "outcomes at voucher schools are generally worse—not better—than public schools."

Believes public schools are essential community unifiers and opposes right-wing claims of “indoctrination” and “wokeism.”

Believes “public schools are the foundation of our democracy” and supports ensuring every child has access to quality education.

- Opposes using public funds for private school tuition, stating, “We must staunch the bleeding of public dollars to wealthy families," and supports directing tax dollars to meet public school needs.
- Opposes school vouchers, stating they enable private schools to discriminate and lack oversight, potentially leading to fraud.
- Believes “access to high quality public education is a cornerstone of our democracy," and opposes North Carolina politicians “gutting funding for schools and sowing distrust in teachers and administrators.”
- Believes educational outcomes at voucher schools are generally worse than public schools. 
- Believes private schools can legally discriminate against children based on special needs, religion, race, or family structure.
- Believes public schools are essential community unifiers and opposes right-wing claims of “indoctrination” and “wokeism.”
- Believes “public schools are the foundation of our democracy” and supports ensuring every child has access to quality education.

Access to Education

Believes teachers deserve full pay even when working remotely. Supports having "level-headed, compassionate, and budget-savvy people" on school boards to address teacher shortages and training needs.

Believes teachers deserve full pay even when working remotely, and supports having "level-headed, compassionate, and budget-savvy people" on school boards to address teacher shortages and training needs.

Believes in advocating for teachers despite the board of education not controlling teacher pay. Supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.

Believes in advocating for teachers despite the board of education not controlling teacher pay, and supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.

Believes in using taxpayer dollars wisely to retain hard-working teachers. Supports addressing teacher pay, shortages, and training.

Believes in using taxpayer dollars wisely to retain hard-working teachers, and supports addressing teacher pay, shortages, and training.

Supports attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff to strengthen Henderson County. Believes in ensuring all students succeed scholastically and beyond.

- Believes teachers deserve full pay even when working remotely, and supports having "level-headed, compassionate, and budget-savvy people" on school boards to address teacher shortages and training needs.
- Believes in advocating for teachers despite the board of education not controlling teacher pay, and supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.
- Believes in using taxpayer dollars wisely to retain hard-working teachers, and supports addressing teacher pay, shortages, and training.

Teachers

Believes in providing "quality, age-appropriate curriculum" and opposes censorship and book bans. Said, "If you start censoring and banning books you go down the slippery slope of what the Nazis did."

Believes in providing "quality, age-appropriate curriculum" and opposes censorship and book bans, saying, "If you start censoring and banning books you go down the slippery slope of what the Nazis did."

Opposes the "don’t say gay" bill (SB 49) and criticizes the General Assembly for imposing it on local school boards, causing disruption and pain.

Opposes the "Don’t Say Gay" bill and criticizes the General Assembly for imposing it on local school boards, causing disruption and pain.

Believes in "quality, age-appropriate curriculum" and opposes censorship. Supports teachers' efforts to select appropriate books.

Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" to help them discern fact from fiction amidst widespread misinformation. Supports empowering students with critical thinking skills.

Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" to help them discern fact from fiction amidst widespread misinformation, and supports empowering students with critical thinking skills.

Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" and supports more school time to help them distinguish fact from fiction. Said, "Giving kids permission to fail, to learn, to grow is so important."

Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" and supports more school time to avoid harmful activities. Advocates for empowering students to distinguish fact from fiction and emphasizes the importance of allowing kids to fail, learn, and grow.

- Believes in providing "quality, age-appropriate curriculum" and opposes censorship and book bans, saying, "If you start censoring and banning books you go down the slippery slope of what the Nazis did."
- Opposes the "Don’t Say Gay" bill and criticizes the General Assembly for imposing it on local school boards, causing disruption and pain.
- Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" to help them discern fact from fiction amidst widespread misinformation, and supports empowering students with critical thinking skills.

School Curriculum

Believes every child deserves to be safe at school and that preventing gun violence requires collective effort.

Believes Henderson County Public Schools should "take a proactive role" in promoting the Be SMART program for children's safety.

- Believes every child deserves to be safe at school and that preventing gun violence requires collective effort.
- Believes Henderson County Public Schools should "take a proactive role" in promoting the Be SMART program for children's safety.

Student Wellbeing

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Mary Ellen Kustin

Mary Ellen Kustin lives in Hendersonville with her husband, two young children, and dogs. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and two master's degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology and public policy. 

Mary Ellen Kustin has a background in public policy and has worked in the nonprofit sector. She also tutors math and coaches youth sports.

Mary Ellen Kustin previously ran for Henderson County Board of Education in 2022, but did not win.

Believes statewide funding decisions significantly impact local school budgets, as seen in Henderson County where over half of school funding comes from state tax dollars.

Opposes the "refusal to fully fund the Leandro Plan" for school facilities and resources.

Believes in "fully funded schools" and emphasizes that "we all benefit when our public schools shine."

Believes rural counties lack the tax base to offset diverted state funds for school facilities and resources. Said, "Diverting state funds away from rural school districts can’t easily be offset with local tax money."

- Believes in funding education to provide necessary resources for students and to attract top educators. 
- Believes school boards should prioritize providing essential resources like books, buses, buildings, and well-trained staff to support students. Supports collaboration with community partners to enhance health and safety in schools.
- Believes schools in Raleigh deserve adequate funding and urges the school board to ensure funds are properly allocated.
- Believes the public school system is crucial to the local economy in rural counties. Said, "The jobs that are cut due to a lack of funding are jobs that provide for our neighbors."
- Supports fully funding the Leandro Plan to improve school facilities and resources.
- Believes in providing necessary resources to support students and families for success.

Believes rural counties lack sufficient private school options, often requiring long commutes. Said, "in more remote areas, the choices can be almost nonexistent."

Believes the "Opportunity Scholarships" program could provide low-income families with private school tuition, potentially offering new opportunities for students in overwhelmed public schools.

- Opposes using public funds for private school tuition, stating, “We must staunch the bleeding of public dollars to wealthy families.” Supports directing tax dollars to meet public school needs.
- Opposes school vouchers, stating they enable private schools to discriminate and lack oversight, potentially leading to fraud.
- Believes “access to high quality public education is a cornerstone of our democracy.” Opposes North Carolina politicians “gutting funding for schools and sowing distrust in teachers and administrators.”
- Believes educational outcomes at voucher schools are generally worse than public schools. 
- Believes private schools can legally discriminate against children based on special needs, religion, race, or family structure.
- Believes public schools are essential community unifiers and opposes right-wing claims of “indoctrination” and “wokeism.”
- Believes “public schools are the foundation of our democracy” and supports ensuring every child has access to quality education.

The candidate's website says, "Their attacks on public schools include substandard teacher pay, discontinuing salary increases for teachers with master’s degrees, and their"

- Believes teachers deserve full pay even when working remotely. Supports having "level-headed, compassionate, and budget-savvy people" on school boards to address teacher shortages and training needs.
- Believes in advocating for teachers despite the board of education not controlling teacher pay. Supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.
- Believes in using taxpayer dollars wisely to retain hard-working teachers. Supports addressing teacher pay, shortages, and training.

Believes in funding education to provide resources for students and attract top educators. Supports a curriculum "built on truth" and opposes "narrow-minded indoctrination."

- Believes in providing "quality, age-appropriate curriculum" and opposes censorship and book bans. Said, "If you start censoring and banning books you go down the slippery slope of what the Nazis did."
- Opposes the "don’t say gay" bill (SB 49) and criticizes the General Assembly for imposing it on local school boards, causing disruption and pain.
- Believes in "teaching kids to think for themselves" to help them discern fact from fiction amidst widespread misinformation. Supports empowering students with critical thinking skills.

The candidate's website says, "Model responsible behavior around guns."

The candidate's website says, "Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes."

The candidate's website says, "Secure all guns in your home and vehicles."

The candidate's website says, "Recognize the role of guns in suicide."

Mary Ellen Kustin lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina, with her husband, two young children, and sweet dogs. She grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, which is a short drive down I-26 from Hendersonville. Mary Ellen received a high-quality public education from kindergarten through graduate school, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics and master's degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology as well as in public policy. Information about the church she attends is not provided.

Mary Ellen Kustin has a career background in public policy and has worked in the nonprofit sector. She has also spent time raising her children and working part-time. Her professional experience includes tutoring math and coaching youth sports. Specific details about her employers or job titles are not provided.

Mary Ellen Kustin is a political newcomer who ran for the Henderson County Board of Education for the first time in 2022 but lost her bid for school board. She has not held political office before, and there is no mention of any appointments or committees she serves on related to political office.

- 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. 