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Sarah Thornburg earned a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University. 

Sarah currently works as an attorney at McGuire Wood & Bissette, P.A.. She previously worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Thomas A. Higgins with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and as a high school social studies teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Sarah Thornburg is currently chair of the Asheville City Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She is chair of the board of education.

Asheville City Board of Education - About ACS

Sarah Thornburg elected to the Asheville City School Board of ...

Asheville City Schools swears in members of 1st fully elected board

Sarah Thornburg is currently chair of the Asheville City Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Sarah Thornburg did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

For Candidate Sarah Thornburg on Issue education-access:  
Aims to close the opportunity gap as her top priority.

 Aims to close the opportunity gap as her top priority.

-  Aims to close the opportunity gap as her top priority.

Access to Education

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Sarah Thornburg

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

Buket Urgen

Daniel Shetley has a bachelor's degree in marketing from University of North Carolina Asheville.

Daniel is a real estate agent at Hi Alta Real Estate. He also is an adult provider specialist for the Western Highlands Network. He previously worked as a case manager, behavioral health specialist, and mental health team leader.

Daniel's campaign for City Board of Education Member is his first run for public office.


As of January 2, 2026, Daniel Shetley did not have a website or any information online.

Daniel Shetley

Daniel Shetley's campaign for City Board of Education Member is his first run for public office.


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

Daria Datnoffs campaign for Asheville City Board of Education Member is her first entry into politics.

Candidate Filing Closes: Here Are The Candidates For 2026 ...

Buncombe, Asheville full list of primary candidates 2026

Daria Datnoff's campaign for Asheville City Board of Education Member is her first entry into politics.

As of January 2, 2026, Daria Datnoff did not have a website or any information online.

Daria Datnoff

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

Gordon Grant has a bachelor 27s degree in English, a master 27s degree in secondary English education, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Western Carolina University. He and his wife, Susan Sherrill Grant, have two daughters. He attends Trinity United Methodist Church.

The adventures of Hall Fletcher principal Gordon Grant

Gordon Grant has a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in secondary English education, and an educational degree in educational leadership from Western Carolina University. He and his wife have two daughters. He attends Trinity United Methodist Church.

Gordon is a retired principal and outdoor educator. He previously worked as a teacher and assistant principal at Asheville Middle School, and as principal of the Randolph Learning Center. Before becoming a public school educator, he was a nationally competitive paddler and a top whitewater instructor at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. He also worked as an instructor for the North Carolina Outward Bound School.

Board of Directors — Asheville City Schools Foundation

Honored Public School Educator Leaving for NC Outward Bound

Gordon is a retired principal and outdoor educator. He previously worked as a teacher and assistant principal at Asheville Middle School, and as principal of the Randolph Learning Center.

Gordon is a retired principal who worked for Asheville City Schools for nearly 25 years.

Gordon has no prior political experience.

Supports implementing a year-round or balanced school calendar to reduce summer learning loss.

- Supports implementing a year-round or balanced school calendar to reduce summer learning loss.

As of January 2, 2026, Gordon Grant did not have a website or any information online.

Gordon Grant

Gordon Grant has a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in secondary English education, and an educational degree. in educational leadership from Western Carolina University. He and his wife have two daughters. He attends Trinity United Methodist Church.

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

Liza English-Kelly is from Asheville, North Carolina. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She lives with her partner in West Asheville.

Asheville's 1st elected school board gains 4 new candidates

Liza English-Kelly has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She lives with her partner in West Asheville.

Liza is a teacher. She previously served as an instructional assistant at Asheville Primary School for four years.

Liza is a founding teacher at Little Field School. She previously served as an teacher at Montessori Learning Community of Asheville, an assistant teacher at Asheville Primary School, and a preschool teacher at Rainbow Community School.

Liza is currently a member of the Asheville City Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

"We're in a crisis right now" Educator wages crucial issue ahead of ...

For Candidate Liza English-Kelly on Issue school-curriculum: Supports implementing an anti-bias/anti-racist framework and restorative practices in schools, emphasizing the need for consistent boundaries and consequences.

Supports implementing an anti-bias/anti-racist framework for training staff, emphasizing the need for consistent boundaries and consequences.

- Supports implementing an anti-bias/anti-racist framework for training staff, emphasizing the need for consistent boundaries and consequences.

Supports examining district lines and tax items to allow district employees to vote for the elected school board and advocates for redrawing district lines to increase per-pupil allotment and better reflect student population distribution.

Supports allowing district employees to vote for the elected school board.

Advocates for redrawing district lines to increase per-pupil allotment and "better reflect student population distribution."

- Supports allowing district employees to vote for the elected school board.
- Advocates for redrawing district lines to increase per-pupil allotment and "better reflect student population distribution."

As of January 2, 2026, Liza English-Kelly did not have a website or any information online.

For Candidate Liza English-Kelly on Issue teachers: Supports offering a living wage for teachers that excludes local supplements and additional duties beyond their job description.

Supports offering a "living wage" for teachers that excludes additional duties beyond their job description.

- Supports offering a "living wage" for teachers that excludes additional duties beyond their job description.

For Candidate Liza English-Kelly on Issue education-access: Critiques past fiduciary mismanagement in education and emphasizes the need for improvement.

Critiques past "fiduciary mismanagement" in education and emphasizes the need for improvement.

- Critiques past "fiduciary mismanagement" in education and emphasizes the need for improvement.

Liza English-Kelly

As of January 2, 2026, Liza English-Kelly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Rebecca Strimer has a bachelor's in sociology and women's studies from Wake Forest University and a masters in social work from Boston University. 

ACS Board of Education candidates: stance on finances, health, more

Rebecca is currently a member of the Asheville City Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Rebecca is currently currently serves as the Asheville City Board of Education in North Carolina. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Rebecca Strimer did not have a website or any information online.

Supports the immediate use of ESSER funds to increase mental health support in schools and advocates for implementing in-school health centers across ACS campuses.

As city school board member, supported the immediate use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to increase mental health support in schools and advocates for implementing in-school health centers across ACS campuses.

- As city school board member, supported the immediate use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to increase mental health support in schools and advocates for implementing in-school health centers across ACS campuses.

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Rebecca Strimer

Rebecca has a bachelor's in sociology and women's studies from Wake Forest University and a masters in social work from Boston University. 

Rebecca Strimer is currently currently serves as the Asheville City Board of Education in North Carolina. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

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

Opposes laws that force students to "stay in the shadows," criticizing them as grandstanding. 

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and make decisions about the superintendent’s personnel recommendations.
- Members of the board must act as a unit based on majority rule. A member cannot make decisions or act independently.
- Board of Education members are elected to staggered four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.