A deep appreciation for public school teachers, students and staff prompted Rhonda Mountain to enter the race for Henderson County Board of Public Education.
“I am deeply committed to supporting our students, empowering our teachers, and appreciating our school support staff,” Rhonda said. “I attended public schools as did my three children, and our experience was one of positivity and family. As we grew to know the teachers and the support staff, we understood the great sacrifices they make daily to ensure that our children receive the best education possible, often at their own expense, both financially and emotionally. I feel the need to stand up for this great institution of learning.”
Rhonda has lived in North Carolina for ten years and in Henderson County for eight. Her youngest daughter will graduate from West Henderson High School this spring. “Our youngest has spina bifida and therefore an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to support her so she can achieve great things like her peers. Without the team that creates and helps to implement this plan, our daughter would have struggled and would not have received the education that every student deserves. It took a village, and because of the deep commitment of these individuals from elementary school through her senior year, she is now graduating and succeeding.”
Rhonda chose to run for school board now after witnessing a series of attacks on North Carolina’s public schools that threaten their ability to provide a strong education for all.
“I have watched our public school funding get chipped away and turned over to private schools. I have watched rights after rights be stripped away. I see on the news almost daily about another mass public school shooting, and yet no extra funding gets to our schools to ensure the safety of our children and the staff. I feel strongly that our public schools need to be represented by people who truly understand the sacrifices being made by teachers and support staff. We need people on the Board of Education who will be a voice for them and a bigger voice for our children. Protecting the rights of our kids is vital, and I plan on being a strong advocate for all.”
Rhonda lives in the Rugby area with her husband, Hank, their daughter, Samantha, as well as “two fur babies, Finnegan and Scout.” Her daughter Jamie lives in Arden with her husband Nate. “Spending time with my family is my favorite thing of all,” Rhonda said. “I also love dogs, hiking, kayaking, golfing, reading, and cooking.”
Rhonda believes the people of Henderson County can put differences aside to come together to protect their schools. “Thank you for your support and for believing in the power of public education,” she said. “Let's work together to create a nurturing and inspiring learning environment. We can make a difference in the lives of our children and the community as a whole.”