A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Chestnut grew up vacationing on Ocracoke. She graduated cum laude from The George Washington University in 2017 where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Peace Studies.

Rachael Chestnut sworn in as new Hyde County school board member

Rachael has been a board member for the Ocracoke Friends of the Library since summer of 2022. She has volunteered for the 21st Century program at Ocracoke School for the last two years where she assists with the cheer club for third, fourth and fifth graders.

Rachael Chestnut is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in peace studies from The George Washington University. She has volunteered with the 21st Century program at Ocracoke School, assisting with a cheer club for students in third through fifth grade.

Rachael Chestnut sworn in as new Hyde County school board ...

She has been a resident of Ocracoke for four years and enjoys being part of a community. Her full-time job is managing all of the outdoor experiences and rentals for Ride the Wind Surf Shop, where she also leads kayak tours from spring through fall. She and Robert Chestnut, the Ocracoke School art teacher, married in April of 2023.

She stayed in San Francisco for another year and a half working as a legal assistant before moving back to the East Coast.

She has been a resident of Ocracoke for four years and enjoys being part of a community.

During her time as an undergrad, she was able to study abroad in the former Yugoslav countries of Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo in a peace and conflict studies program. After graduation she completed a term of service with AmeriCorps working with the organization Rebuilding Together and was based in the Bay Area of California.

Rachael Chestnut manages outdoor experiences and rentals and leads kayak tours for Ride the Wind Surf Shop. She previously worked as a legal assistant in San Francisco and completed an AmeriCorps term with Rebuilding Together in the Bay Area of California.

Rachael manages outdoor experiences and rentals and leads kayak tours for Ride the Wind Surf Shop. She previously worked as a legal assistant in San Francisco and completed an AmeriCorps term with Rebuilding Together in the Bay Area of California.

Ocracoke Island resident Rachael Chestnut was sworn in today (March 7) as the Ocracoke representative on the Hyde County Board of Education. She replaces Angela Todd, who resigned her seat in January to take the position of magistrate on Ocracoke.

Rachael Chestnut sworn in as new Hyde-county-school-board-member

The Board of Education for Hyde County Schools has recently added a couple of new board members
who are now set and sworn in to fill the seats emptied by Ms. Angie Todd, who is now a Hyde County
Magistrate, and the late Mrs. Aleta Cox. They will both complete their terms through 2026.

HYDE COUNTY SCHOOLS WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO THE FAMILY! (PDF)

Rachael was sworn in as the Ocracoke representative on the Hyde County Board of Education in March 2024. Her term runs through 2026.

2026 North Carolina General Election

As of January 5, 2026, Rachael Chestnut did not have a website or any information online.

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

She believes that all students have a right to a safe school that challenges them to learn and grow.
Schools are places where students' unique interests and interpersonal skills can be taught along with
traditional curriculum, and Hyde County Schools excels in that aspect. On Ocracoke, the school is both
figuratively and literally the heart of the village.

Believes schools should help students explore their unique interests and develop interpersonal skills alongside a traditional curriculum.

- Believes schools should help students explore their unique interests and develop interpersonal skills alongside a traditional curriculum.

School Curriculum

She believes that all students have a right to a safe school that challenges them to learn and grow.
Schools are places where students' unique interests and interpersonal skills can be taught along with
traditional curriculum, and Hyde County Schools excels in that aspect.

“We are so lucky to have hardworking staff, supportive volunteers, and a community that lifts the students up, and I am simply one of the many who make Hyde County Schools strong.

“I believe school is a place for students to learn interpersonal skills and grow their self identity, while at the same time gaining crucial knowledge that will set them up for a bright future. Together with the rest of the board I hope that I can help to facilitate these bright futures.”

Believes all students have the right to attend a safe school that challenges them to learn and grow.

Believes schools should help students learn interpersonal skills, develop a sense of identity, and gain knowledge for their futures.

- Believes all students have the right to attend a safe school that challenges them to learn and grow.
- Believes schools should help students learn interpersonal skills, develop a sense of identity, and gain knowledge for their futures.

Student Wellbeing

Rachael Chestnut

As of January 5, 2026, Rachael Chestnut’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Believes schools should help students learn interpersonal skills, develop a sense of identity, and gain knowledge for their futures.

Rachael is from Jacksonville, Florida. She attended The George Washington University. She has a bachelor of arts degree in Peace Studies from The George Washington University. She lives with her husband in Ocracoke.

Rachael is a member of the Hyde County Board of Education, representing Ocracoke Township, where she has served since March 2024.

Rachael Chestnut is currently a member of the Hyde County Board of Education representing Ocracoke Township. She was sworn in in 2024 and is serving her first term.

For Candidate Rachael Chestnut on Issue school-services-resources:  
Joined the school board in March 2024 and serves as Vice Chair.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- 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. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system