Politics

Stephanie Cantwell is sworn in to school board seat

Stephanie Cantwell takes oath of office, administered by Clerk of Court J. Tyler Ray, as her children Hunter and Bailey hold the Bible.

By Bill Moss, Published: September 3, 2025

Stephanie Cantwell was sworn in on Wednesday as the newest member of the Henderson County School Board, filling the seat made vacant by the death of board Vice Chairman Robert Bridges last month.

A law officer for more than 20 years, Cantwell joined the sheriff’s office in 2012 and has moved up the ranks as a school resource officer, a supervisor of SROs and a captain. During a special called meeting Wednesday morning, the School Board officially appointed Cantwell to the seat after the Henderson County Republican Party chose her for job last week.

“She has been recognized statewide for fostering one of the best school-law enforcement partnerships in the state,” said board Chair Kathy Revis, a retired school administrator. “I met Stephanie when we were working on a curriculum that is district approved, the STAR program.” STAR stands for Sheriffs Teaching Abuse Resistance, a curriculum all fifth graders take.

Cantwell and her husband, Hendersonville police Lt. Robert Cantwell, have two children, Bailey and Hunter.

One by one, school board members welcomed Cantwell and praised her work in the school system.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being able to see her interacting in our schools with our students as a resource officer and as a mom, and I’m just grateful to everything that she has done,” Beth Campbell said. “I’ve been able to have two kids go through the STAR program in Henderson County.

“So often our law enforcement are looked upon in such a negative light,” Campbell said. The way Cantwell and other SROs interact with them shows kids that “they are the good guys, and they are there to work with them, to help them, to teach them, and to be a friend and be a community partner with them.”

“I know that her favorite job is being a mom,” Amy Lynn Holt said. “She has two kids, and they’re here with us today, and she talks about being a mom very highly.”

“I’ve known Stephanie and Robert for a long time,” said Blair Craven, a youth baseball coach. “Our families are very good friends and Hunter is one of my favorite baseball players in the whole wide world, and I welcome you to this new family.”

Alyssa Norman observed that Cantwell would have made a formidable candidate had she run for a seat on the board.

“I told her that I was glad that she wasn’t running against me because I thought you’re more qualified than probably all of us,” she said. “I’m so thrilled to have you working with us.”

Shelia Dale said she knew of Cantwell’s rapport with children from her own family’s experience.

“I want to say thank you for being such a wonderful mentor to my grandchildren,” she said. “They look forward to STAR camp every year. It’s the highlight of their week when STAR camp’s in session.”

Cantwell’s appointment to the board continues a recent trend of women winning local office in Henderson County. Last November, the Hendersonville City Council became all-female and the election of Sheila Franklin doubled the number of women on the Board of Commissioners, to two. With Cantwell’s appointment, the School Board is now made up of six women and Craven.

Besides her family members and school administrators, Cantwell had her own fan club in uniform. Sheriff Lowell Griffin and four other officers attended the swearing-in, which was administered by Clerk of Superior Court J. Tyler Ray.