Rhonda Mountain Enters School Board Race as Advocate for Public Education

Rhonda is married to her husband, Hank, with whom she has 3 children. 

As of July 19, 2024, Rhonda Mountain’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Rhonda Mountain's campaign for Henderson County Board of Education Member is her first run for public office. 

As of June 23, 2025, Rhonda Mountain’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Promises to support students and empower teachers. 

- Promises to support students and empower teachers. 

Teachers

School Curriculum

Plans to advocate for children's rights. 

- Plans to advocate for children's rights. 

Student Wellbeing

Rhonda Mountain

Amy was born in Kittery, Maine and raised in Homestead, Florida. She is married to Ritchie Holt and together they have five children. Amy and her husband have also served as foster parents. She is a member of the Henderson County Republican Women’s Club, United Way Board of Directors, Hope Coalition Board, and Biltmore Church. She received the Safelights Henderson County Humanitarian of the Year award in 2022.

Amy Lynn Holt currently serves on the Henderson County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2012 and is serving her third term. She has held the positions of Vice Chair and Chair. 

Candidate website

As chair, worked with county officials to renovate the Stillwell Building and complete Hendersonville High School according to community preferences.

As a board member, worked with county officials to renovate the Stillwell Building and complete Hendersonville High School according to community preferences.

As a board member, worked to prioritize and expedite the construction of Edneyville Elementary's new school.

- As a board member, worked with county officials to renovate the Stillwell Building and complete Hendersonville High School according to community preferences.
- As a board member, worked to prioritize and expedite the construction of Edneyville Elementary's new school.

As of June 23, 2025, Amy Lynn Holt’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As chair, worked with the county manager to place a police officer in every school to enhance student safety.

As a board member, worked with the county manager to place a police officer in every school to enhance student safety.

As a Commissioner, helped implement the "Safety Around Water" program for 2nd graders, teaching hands-on water safety lessons in partnership with the YMCA. Believes the program is "phenomenal" and "saves lives."

As a board member, helped implement the "Safety Around Water" program for 2nd graders, teaching hands-on water safety lessons in partnership with the YMCA. 

- As a board member, worked with the county manager to place a police officer in every school to enhance student safety.
- As a board member, helped implement the "Safety Around Water" program for 2nd graders, teaching hands-on water safety lessons in partnership with the YMCA. 

Facebook

Twitter

Amy Lynn Holt

LinkedIn

Beth holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She currently pursuing a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Western Governors University. She is married and has 3 children. She serves as a deacon at her church. 

Beth currently works as a career and technical education teacher at Wake County public schools. She previously worked as 7th grade science and math teacher at Wake County public schools. 

Ballotpedia, Beth Campbell

Beth Campbell's campaign for member of the Henderson County Board of Education is her first run for public office. 

Advocated for children to return to school to be "unmasked and back in the classroom." for the past 2 years. 

Wants to improve school breakfast and lunch quality, saying "The majority is not edible..."

- Advocated for children to return to school to be "unmasked and back in the classroom." for the past 2 years. 
- Wants to improve school breakfast and lunch quality, saying "The majority is not edible..."

As of June 23, 2025, Beth Campbell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports ensuring teachers are "well qualified and well paid," and believes in providing them with the necessary tools for success.

Wants to ensure teachers are well-paid and qualified to teach. 

Wants to ensure teachers are fully supported and provided adequate resources.

- Wants to ensure teachers are well-paid and qualified to teach. 
- Wants to ensure teachers are fully supported and provided adequate resources.

Opposes allowing sexually explicit material in schools. 

Supports school choice and parental control over their child's education.

- Opposes allowing sexually explicit material in schools. 
- Supports school choice and parental control over their child's education.

Believes that addressing the mental health crisis and preventing student suicides is crucial for student wellbeing. Plans to combat this epidemic and improve school safety and counseling services.

Wants to address student mental health and suicide. 

- Wants to address student mental health and suicide. 

Beth Campbell

Josh is from Hendersonville, where he lives today. He graduated from Hendersonville High School. He has volunteered with Henderson County schools and Cub Scouts. Josh has a child.

As of August 3, 2024, Josh Williams did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Josh Williams's campaign for the Henderson County Board of Education is his first run for public office.

Advocates improving minority representation to address "cultural bias differences" and ensure "the betterment of students who have struggles and have been singled out."

- Advocates improving minority representation to address "cultural bias differences" and ensure "the betterment of students who have struggles and have been singled out."

As of June 23, 2025, Josh Williams did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "We also need to have teachers who have been educated and trained on these issues that many students deal with on a regular basis."

- Said, "We also need to have teachers who have been educated and trained on these issues that many students deal with on a regular basis."

Supports expanding drama, art, and music programs in schools.

- Supports expanding drama, art, and music programs in schools.

Josh Williams

Q&A for Henderson Co. School Board primary candidates

Kathy received a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Carolina University. She lives in Mills River, North Carolina.

Kathy currently works as a part-time adjunct professor for the Gardner-Webb University College of Education. She previously worked as an assistant superintendent, high school and elementary school principal, high school assistant principal, and a high school math teacher.

Henderson County Board of Public Education

Kathy G. Revis currently serves as a Henderson County Board of Education member, and the Vice Chairperson of the Board. She was elected in 2020 and has served one term.

As of June 23, 2025, Kathy G. Revis did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to increase access to pre-K programs.

- Wants to increase access to pre-K programs.

Advocated the recruitment of a diverse staff through the Teaching Fellows program.

Supports the recruitment of student teachers.

Advocates the encouragement of students towards seeking teaching education programs.

Emphasized the importance of state salary and local supplement increases for staff members.

- Advocated the recruitment of a diverse staff through the Teaching Fellows program.
- Supports the recruitment of student teachers.
- Advocates the encouragement of students towards seeking teaching education programs.
- Emphasized the importance of state salary and local supplement increases for staff members.

Emphasized the importance of an effective literacy program for elementary school students.

- Emphasized the importance of an effective literacy program for elementary school students.

Supports increasing access for student participation in programs such as middle school arts.

Emphasizes student safety on school campuses.

- Supports increasing access for student participation in programs such as middle school arts.
- Emphasizes student safety on school campuses.

Kathy G. Revis

Leslie holds a bachelor's degree from Columbia College in Chicago. She has 4 children. She serves as a volunteer in local public schools.

Leslie currently works as a stress management facilitator. She previously worked as a massage therapist. 

Leadership Profile: Leslie Carey, Chair

Leslie Carey's campaign for County Board of Education Member is her first run for public office. She currently serves as the chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party. She also served as president of the Parent Teacher Association. 

Believes local school funding disparities should be minimized and urges community advocacy to support schools.

Believes in reversing the defunding of schools. Supports increased funding for school construction and maintenance.

Believes school funding can be improved, noting local spending increased from $1801 per pupil in 2008 to $1885 last year. Said, "I think we can do better, do you?"

As of June 23, 2025, Leslie Carey’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in focusing on equity in classrooms to ensure every student is "seen and heard."

Wants to place a greater emphasis on student equity in the classroom. 

- Wants to place a greater emphasis on student equity in the classroom. 

Believes in prioritizing "adequately paid" teachers and addressing teacher shortages. Supports fully staffing school districts to improve education quality.

Holds fully staffing the school district and providing adequate salaries as a priority. 

Believes schools should be "staffed properly and paid adequately" to benefit children and the community. Supports addressing teacher shortages and ensuring fair teacher compensation.

The candidate's website says, "Let's make sure that ALL children thrive in school and that our teachers have the tools they need to prepare students for a competitive world."

Supports ensuring teachers have adequate resources for student support. 

Believes investing in educators is crucial to address teacher pay, shortages, and training. Said, "we need to invest in our educators and students now" to improve the school system.

Supports investing in teachers and students. 

Believes in ensuring teachers have "up-to-date information" on classroom dynamics. Supports addressing teacher pay, shortages, and training.

Wants to ensure teachers have current information on managing classroom dynamics. 

Believes in investing in educators to address teacher pay, shortages, and training.

The candidate's website says, "fully staffed school district a priority."

- Holds fully staffing the school district and providing adequate salaries as a priority. 
- Supports ensuring teachers have adequate resources for student support. 
- Supports investing in teachers and students. 
- Wants to ensure teachers have current information on managing classroom dynamics. 

Supports using tax dollars to invest in programs that improve math and reading proficiency.

Wants to use tax funds to invest in programs to improve math and reading proficiency.

- Wants to use tax funds to invest in programs to improve math and reading proficiency.

Believes in providing free breakfast and lunch for every child.

Supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all students. 

- Supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all students. 
- Wants more parental involvement.

Instagram

Leslie Carey

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mary Ellen Kustin

Candidates introduce themselves at Moms for America forum

Robert received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, and education specialist degree in administration from Western Carolina University. He lives in Henderson County with his family.

Robert has worked as an an elementary and middle school teacher, guidance counselor, and assistant principal.

School Board candidate profile: Robert Bridges

Robert M. Bridges currently serves as a Henderson County Board of Education member. He was elected in 2020 and has served one term.

Advocates an early start date for schools.

- Advocates an early start date for schools.

As of June 23, 2025, Robert M. Bridges did not have a website or any information online.

Supports the employment of diverse staff members.

Advocates for the increase of state salaries and local supplements for the retainment of staff members.

- Supports the employment of diverse staff members.
- Advocates for the increase of state salaries and local supplements for the retainment of staff members.

Supports an emphasis on teaching reading and math to elementary school students.

- Supports an emphasis on teaching reading and math to elementary school students.

Emphasizes safety and security for all schools.

Said, "I love and care for the children of our county and want to make decisions that impact them positively to be well-informed, contributing members of society."

- Emphasizes safety and security for all schools.
- Said, "I love and care for the children of our county and want to make decisions that impact them positively to be well-informed, contributing members of society."

Robert M. Bridges

- 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. 