Amy Dunning (New Hanover County Board of Education, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Amy Dunning

Republican Party

Candidate, New Hanover County Board of Education

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2026

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Amy Dunning (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Hanover County Board of Education in North Carolina. Dunning was on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Dunning completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Amy Dunning provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on January 21, 2026:

Elections

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for New Hanover County Board of Education (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for New Hanover County Board of Education on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Nelson Beaulieu
	Submit photo	Wendy Dale
	Submit photo	Margie Gewirtzman
	Submit photo	Jerry Jones Jr.
		Brittnei LaRue
	Submit photo	Rick Southerland

---

	Incumbency information for this race was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Republican primary

Republican primary for New Hanover County Board of Education (4 seats)

Josie Barnhart (R), Pat Bradford (R), Amy Dunning (R), Melissa Mason (R), and Chris Sutton (R) ran in the Republican primary for New Hanover County Board of Education on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Josie Barnhart
	Submit photo	Pat Bradford
	Submit photo	Amy Dunning
	Submit photo	Melissa Mason
		Chris Sutton

---

	Incumbency information for this race was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Dunning in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Amy Dunning completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dunning's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• "Center high-quality instruction" My goal for NHC Schools center on ensuring that all students receive high-quality instruction and are academically equipped for their future, whether that path includes postsecondary education, military service, or entering the workforce. Every student should graduate with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to adapt, compete, and succeed in an ever-changing world. I want our schools to prepare students to achieve globally and contribute locally—to think critically, communicate effectively, and apply their learning in meaningful ways that strengthen our community. By maintaining high academic expectations and supporting effective teaching, NHC Schools can empower all students to thrive.
• "Champion school safety" I will work to ensure school safety so that students and staff can learn and work in secure, supportive environments.
• "Change school funding formula" The funding formulas set at the state level do not adequately support our schools, teachers, staff, or students, and they fail to reflect the true needs of our district. This makes it difficult to provide the resources, staffing, and services required for all students to thrive. The Board of Education plays a crucial role as an advocate for change by clearly demonstrating where these formulas fall short. For example, in NHC, only 4% of Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) students are funded, despite more than 21% of students above third grade being identified as AIG. This gap highlights the disconnect between student needs and state funding.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about public policies that strengthen public education and student outcomes. This includes advocating for fair and adequate school funding that truly supports students, teachers, and staff; improving teacher compensation and working conditions to sustain a strong workforce; and ensuring all students are prepared for their future, whether that means college, careers, or skilled trades. I also prioritize school safety and student well-being, high-quality instruction and professional learning, and transparent governance that builds trust through meaningful family and community engagement.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2026 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

New Hanover County Board of Education

Website

Facebook