Born and raised in the Carolinas, Mary Ellen enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, kids, and hound dogs. Her love of the natural world and volunteerism are reflected in her service on Hendersonville's Environmental Sustainability Board. She holds a master of science degree in sustainable development and conservation biology, as well as a master’s degree in public policy, focusing on environmental policy, from the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of South Carolina.

Mary Ellen Kustin

Mary Ellen Kustin is originally from the Carolinas. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of South Carolina and master's degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology and in public policy, with a focus on environmental policy, from the University of Maryland. She is married and has children.

Day of Action | United Way of Henderson County

Prior to falling in love with Hendersonville, Mary Ellen Kustin was director of policy for public lands at the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, DC. There she developed and implemented strategies to advance sustainable environmental policy on Capitol Hill. Before joining CAP, she was a senior policy analyst on food, agriculture, and conservation issues at the Environmental Working Group. Mary Ellen has also worked on conservation and environmental campaigns for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Wildlife Federation.

Mary Ellen Kustin previously served as director of policy for public lands at the Center for American Progress. She also worked as a senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group and on conservation and environmental campaigns for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Wildlife Federation.

HCDP: Thanks for joining us! Let’s start by looking at what has inspired you to step up to the plate and run for school board for the third time. It’s a big commitment of time, energy and resources—why do it again?
MARY ELLEN: I first ran in 2022. I lost by a teeny tiny amount. Before I could run again in 2024, our state senator Tim Moffitt decided to make Henderson County Board of Public Education elections partisan. I don’t think school board elections or judgeships should be decided with partisan elections. But I also don’t think we can let elected officials change the rules to elections without fighting back.

Running for Us: Mary Ellen Kustin, School Board Candidate

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

Mary Ellen Kustin launches new bid for school board with a focus on ...

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

2026 North Carolina General Election

Calls for the state to invest its budget surplus in schools.

Kustin: I’m running to make sure kids have the support they need to thrive — from access to healthy breakfasts & lunches to teacher assistants and social workers. I’ve spent my career in the nonprofit sector working across party lines and perspectives to find common ground. Our students need qualified educators whose professional focus should be entirely on the classroom — not on working additional jobs or switching professions altogether because inflation and our area’s cost-of-living have made a career in teaching unsustainable. I will continue to urge Raleigh to invest the state’s budget surplus in our schools.

Voter Guide: Henderson County School Board

Proposes expanding school facilities to match population growth.

Kustin: I’m ready to do what it takes to bring people of all stripes together to make Henderson County a leader in public education. To do so, we must: Enforce a zero-tolerance policy for bullying; legally set our own school calendars that make sense for our students — either with an exemption or law change in Raleigh; increase weekend learning instead of out-of-school suspensions for non-violent offenses; support student mental health with more trained personnel in schools; expand our school facilities to match the population growth.

As of January 5, 2026, Mary Ellen Kustin did not have a website or any information online.

School Facilities & Resources

PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Sophia Croese spoke about Christopher Columbus Day and that she would like for this day to be called
Indigenous People’s Day. Ms. Croese stated that she did not agree with celebrating Columbus Day due to the
injustice of a minority group that suffered.
Mr. Chris Walters spoke about religious liberty, specifically the separation of church and state. Mr. Walters
shared the history of the Bible and Christian religion.
Ms. Mary Ellen Kustin spoke to the Board about how wonderful the dual language classes at Bruce Drysdale
Elementary are. Ms. Kustin stated the benefits of the dual language program and expressed her appreciation for
the teachers and staff that facilitate the program and how popular it is at Bruce Drysdale Elementary. Ms. Kustin
stated the dual language program is in high demand and would like to see the program expanded throughout
the community.

1.9.23 Board Minutes for website (PDF)

Beyond that, both my kids are learning and growing in Henderson County Public Schools and I come from a family of educators. I'm invested personally and professionally in strengthening all of our schools.

I’m running to make sure all students have the support they need to thrive — from access to healthy school breakfasts and lunches to teacher assistants and social workers. I’ve spent my career working across party lines and perspectives to find common ground. I’m ready to do the hard work it takes to bring people of all stripes together to make Henderson County a leader in public education.

Advocates expanding the dual-language program throughout the community.

Supports providing students with healthy breakfasts and lunches, teacher assistants, and social workers.

- Advocates expanding the dual-language program throughout the community.
- Supports providing students with healthy breakfasts and lunches, teacher assistants, and social workers.

Access to Education

Kustin: Unfortunately, N.C. ranks 41st nationally in teacher pay. Henderson County should not be on the hook to make up that difference. We especially feel the squeeze being surrounded by school districts in Buncombe and S.C. that pay higher wages. The extreme pressures of the pandemic proved to be the final straw for many qualified teachers who retired early or left the profession. Our local nonprofits and businesses play a key role in supporting our schools. We can build on those relationships to think outside the box and develop affordable workforce housing for teachers as other N.C. school districts have done.

Our school district's 3-year strategic plan will expire in 2027, and the school board must take a careful look at the data around staff retention, facilities and learning environments, community partnerships, and attendance and graduation rates. We can see how the district did in meeting the goals of the 2024-2027 strategic plan, craft policies to support reaching those we didn't meet, and build on the successes of this plan's implementation as we plan for the future.

Said educators should be able to focus on classrooms rather than work additional jobs or leave teaching because of local living costs.

Proposes developing affordable housing for teachers through partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses.

Plans to review staff-retention data and use it to shape policies for the district’s next strategic plan.

- Said educators should be able to focus on classrooms rather than work additional jobs or leave teaching because of local living costs.
- Proposes developing affordable housing for teachers through partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses.
- Plans to review staff-retention data and use it to shape policies for the district’s next strategic plan.

Teachers

I’m running to make sure kids have the supports they need to thrive — from access to healthy school breakfasts and lunches to teacher assistants and social workers! I’m running to fight back against those who want to erase or whitewash people’s histories and identities.

I’m running for school safety! From Gun Violence to Bullying, our kids deserve to be safe. Our schools should be promoting safe gun storage everywhere firearms are in our community. And we must enforce a zero-tolerance policy for bullying!

Your Vote: Henderson County Voter Guide 2024

Opposes efforts to “erase or whitewash people’s histories and identities.”

- Opposes efforts to “erase or whitewash people’s histories and identities.”

School Curriculum

I’m running for school safety! From Gun Violence to Bullying, our kids deserve to be safe. Our schools should be promoting safe gun storage everywhere firearms are in our community. And we must enforce a zero-tolerance policy for bullying!

Let me share a little bit about me:

Calls for schools to promote safe gun storage throughout the community.

Calls for a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.

Supports adding trained school personnel to support student mental health.

Proposes weekend learning instead of out-of-school suspensions for nonviolent offenses.

- Calls for schools to promote safe gun storage throughout the community.
- Calls for a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.
- Supports adding trained school personnel to support student mental health.
- Proposes weekend learning instead of out-of-school suspensions for nonviolent offenses.

Student Wellbeing

Facebook

- Supports providing students with healthy breakfasts and lunches, teacher assistants, and social workers.

- Plans to review staff-retention data and use it to shape policies for the district’s next strategic plan.

Twitter

Mary Ellen is from Columbia, South Carolina. She attended public schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of South Carolina. She also has a master of science degree in sustainable development and conservation biology and a master’s degree in public policy focusing on environmental policy, both from the University of Maryland. She lives with her husband and two children in Hendersonville.

Henderson County School Board candidate profiles: Mary Ellen Kustin

VOTER GUIDE: Henderson County School Board - Hendersonville ...

Mary Ellen Kustin's campaign for Henderson County Board of Education Member is her first entry into politics.

As of January 5, 2026, Mary Ellen Kustin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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- 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