Hendersonville Standard
HENDERSONVILLE WEATHER

Two of six seats contested in Sumner School Board races




Six of the Sumner County School Board’s 12 seats are on the Sumner County General Election ballot Aug. 2. Of those, only two are contested, District 1 which includes much of Hendersonville, and District 11 representing Westmoreland.

In District 1, incumbent Tammy Hayes is seeking a second term against challenger Donnie Crenshaw.

Tammy Hayes, 59

Occupation: Retired teacher (kindergarten at Nannie Berry, special education at high schools), former director of Women’s Ministry, First Baptist Church Hendersonville

Education: Bachelor of Science in Education and Special Education (cum laude), Winthrop University

Family: Tammy and Jonathan Hayes have three adult sons, Craft, Chas, and Caleb, who are products of Sumner County schools

How long have you lived in Sumner County Schools? Where are you from originally?

I have lived in Hendersonville for thirty-six years. I grew up in Anderson, South Carolina.

What do you think the role of a school board member is?

The most important role is to be the voice within the system for the families in my district and the community funding our schools. I work to provide leadership and accountability by setting goals, developing policy, and measuring results.

Why are you seeking re-election?

I want to keep working with everyone – parents, teachers, students, community leaders, and other elected officials – to build on the successes we’ve had these past four years. It was only by bringing everyone to the table and working together that we have been able to increase test scores and graduation rates, build classrooms, remove portables, and attract, develop and retain the best professional staff we can.

What would you like to accomplish during your second term?

So much of what affects a classroom in Hendersonville is decided by our state government in Nashville. I have developed good working relationships with our state officials. I want to work more closely with them and help them better understand what works in Sumner County’s classrooms.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of that occurred during your previous school board term?

I am most proud that we improved our schools by working together. This isn’t just something the school board can do on its own. It takes a team effort and a lot of trust.

What do you think is the most important issue facing the school district today?

There are two: testing and safety. I am an advocate for accountability and the important role testing plays in that, but problems on the state level have made it very hard for those of us on the local level. We need a method to measure achievement which is more reliable, less intrusive to the classroom, and more respectful of our limited time and resources. At the same time, the academic success of a school means little without the school also being a safe place. Our SROs play a very important role in providing that safe place. They are able to develop personal relationships with students. They get to know and trust each other. Students who may have never thought of asking for help from a law enforcement officer will have no problem reaching out to their school’s SRO.

Donnie Crenshaw, 67

Occupation: Executive Director for Children Are People

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Lane College, Jackson, Tenn.

Master of Education Administration and Supervision, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.

A native of Gallatin, Crenshaw has lived in Sumner County for 60 years

What do you think the role of a school board member is?

I believe that a school board member must be responsive and open-minded to all stakeholders, and the diversity of our community. I have been an educator for over 33 years with the Metro Nashville Public Schools. Therefore, my knowledge and experience, along with my sincere interest in public education in my community, will contribute to the team and enhance their efforts to build a strong and effective vision. As a board member I will focus on moving the school district forward and working together as a governance team to make decisions that will best serve the students in the community.

Why are you running for this position? 

I am running to serve the needs of our children and community. I have served and advocated for the educational needs of children for over 33 years as a teacher in the Nashville Public Schools.  As a board member, I plan to be an effective communicator as well as a good listener by encouraging an open dialogue with our citizens. I believe that the school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students, and all stakeholders in the community.

What would you like to accomplish during your first term?

As a first-year school board member, I plan to work diligently to ensure a quality education for the students in my district. I will be vigilant in my effort to learn the needs of my community and develop a positive working relationship with the school board and all stakeholders.

What do you think is the most important issue facing the school district today?

There are many challenges facing education today and I think our district is no exception. I fell that the biggest challenge for the district is being able to provide the tools need for our children to be successful. Finding a way to reach every child, has been and continues to be a challenge. The needs of our children change as fast as technology. We must be proactive and intentional in preparing a future that will produce productive members that will serve our communities, cities and this great country.

District 3

In District 3, which encompasses parts of Hendersonville and Gallatin, Alice Bachman is running for a second term unopposed.

A retired human resources specialist with the U. S. government, Bachman says she’s seeking a second term because many of her constituents have asked her to continue representing them.

“I want to carry on with some of the progress that we’ve made,” she said.

Bachman offers rising graduation rates, a building program in which several schools have seen upgrades and/or additions as well as raises for school employees like substitute teachers and bus drivers as proof of that progress. 

Yet, she says there’s more work to be done.

“Our main concern always is for the safety of our students,” she said. Bachman says she’ll continue to ask that the county fund more school resource officers for Sumner County Schools.

District 5

In District 5, Jeff Duncan is running unopposed for the seat being left vacant by Jeff Cordell who is not seeking re-election. Duncan was unable to be reached by this newspaper’s print deadline.

District 7

In District 7, incumbent and former School Board Chairman Andy Daniels is running unopposed for a third term. First elected in 2010, Daniels has served as chairman from 2014-2015 and 2016-2017. 

District 9

Patricia Brown a retired principal and teacher, is running unopposed in District 9, a district that encompasses much of Gallatin.

“I felt like the only reason to be there would be if I felt like I could make a difference,” said Brown, who is seeking her second term.

Two ways Brown feels like she’s made a difference in the last four years she’s been on the school board include advocating for a pay raise for substitute teachers and opting into a federal free lunch program for two years at some Gallatin schools.  

“I felt strongly about that,” Brown said. “We only had two years that we could do it, but that was a big issue for me because no teacher wants to see students go hungry.”

District 11

In District 11, Westmoreland residents Jerry Apple and David Wilkerson are vying for the seat currently held by David Brown who is not seeking re-election. Wilkerson did not respond to our questions by this newspaper’s print deadline.

 

Jerry Warren Apple, 65

Occupation:  Retired Sumner County Administrator with 40.5 educational experience:  16.5 years as teacher (Gallatin Jr. High/Middle School), 5 years as Assistant Principal (Gallatin Middle School), 19 years as Principal (Gallatin/Shafer Middle and White House Middle School). 

Educational background:  Bachelor of Science in History and Education, Minor in Political Science (MTSU), Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership (MTSU)

  

A native of Lebanon, Tenn., Apple’s 40-plus-year career as an educator has been in Sumner County.  During that time, he and his family have lived in Robertson, Wilson and Sumner County. They returned to Sumner County three years ago where he says they plan to remain. 

What do you think the role of a school board member is? 

The local school board is a body of eleven elected officials, who each serve a four-year term. It is to function as a governing body that formulates policies and operating procedures for the school system. 

Some of its more important duties is to approve a yearly operating budget to be sent to the County Commission for funding.  It also supports building projects, amends zoning, amends existing policy, reports district school needs and news, coordinates local policies with the State Department of Education, and when necessary search and hire a Director of Schools. Board members also help parents and the general public find answers to specific needs and concerns. 

Why are you running? 

During the 24 years that I served Sumner County Schools as an Assistant Principal and Principal, I worked closely with several school board members. Working with these board members inspired me to seek this office.  It provides me with an opportunity to continue working with and for the students, parents, teachers, and school leaders of Sumner County.  Doing what is in the best interest of the children of Sumner County has been the calling of my entire professional life.  Being the school board member representing the 11th District will allow me to continue working in the profession I love.  It is also my firm belief that the Sumner County School System is an excellent system.  As I always told my teachers, excellence is the perfect place to begin our improvement. 

What would you like to accomplish during your first term?  

During my first term I want to see every school in our system have at least one SRO and our larger schools be awarded SRO’s according to school size.  Nothing deserves our complete attention any more than the safety of our children. 

Technology is the key to our nation’s progress and security.  It is also the key element to a successful and forward moving school system.  Keeping the technology program at the highest possible level will be one of my goals. 

Additionally, I would seek to improve teacher attendance.  I feel much could be accomplished in this area through incentive initiatives that would improve academic performance and save school funds at the same time. 

What do you think is the most important issue facing the school district today?  There is never just one important issue facing the school system at any one time.  Safety is a concern that requires our full attention.  You only need to hear the news of our nation to realize that safety of our children is and should be a major focus.  Another important topic for our system is the growth of Sumner County.  Growth for a school system brings with it a host of issues and concerns.  The system must consider available classroom space, student teacher ratios, competition when hiring additional teachers, busing, care and maintenance of existing school properties and equitable distribution of available funds.

Early voting begins Friday, July 13 and runs through Saturday, July 26 at the Sumner County Administration Building in Gallatin. For information about satellite voting times and locations in Hendersonville, Goodlettsville, White House, Portland and Westmoreland, go to www.votesumnertn.org/documents/misc/2018-aug-ev-calendar.pdf.

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