School Board - Zone 7
Jonathan Yancey
Jonathan Yancey
Democrat
Tell us about your campaign.
For years, Rutherford County Schools have stood as a beacon of educational excellence. We are a top-rated public school district because of our hard-working students and the tireless, innovative efforts of our teachers and staff. But lately, when you tune into a school board meeting, you hear less about student achievements or classroom triumphs and more of the messy, divisive national politics, pulling focus away from the actual work of education. With one graduate and two children currently attending Rutherford County Schools, my candidacy for this school board is not political; it is personal. I want the exact same thing for every child in our community that I want for my own children; a world-class education in a safe, supportive, and focused environment. We cannot afford to let political distractions break our focus when our district faces real, tangible challenges that require steady and practical leadership. Our teachers are telling us exactly what they need. In recent district feedback, educators named student misbehavior and classroom disruptions as an absolute priority concern. Teachers want to teach, and students want to learn. To do that, they need the structural backing, proper alternative placements, and behavior intervention resources to maintain a stable learning environment. We must listen to our educators and give them the support they are asking for. At the same time, our county is navigating incredible population growth. We are looking at a heavy infrastructure deferred maintenance backlog and an urgent need to properly manage expanding enrollment. Our families should not have to worry about the stress of constant, back-to-back school rezoning, and our children should not be sitting in classrooms with failing HVAC systems, aging roofs, and other crumbling infrastructure. Dealing with these issues are not a matter of political ideology; it is a matter of accountability, strategic planning, and building a stronger relationship with the County Commission to strengthen trust to get more things done. We can solve these problems, but only if we return the school board's focus to the fundamentals. I am running to be a voice of practical solutions, collaboration, and unwavering support for our classrooms. Let us shift the conversation away from national headlines and put it back where it belongs; on the success of our students and the respect due to our teachers and staff. I ask for your support, I ask for your vote , and I ask you to join me in keeping our schools focused on a bright future for every child in Rutherford County. Vote Yancey on August 6th! Visit VOTEYANCEY.com for more information.
In your own words, describe the responsibilities of the office you are seeking.
The board is the governing body responsible for monitoring operation, policies, and the financial health of Rutherford County Schools. The board should be strong and persistent advocates for district needs at the local, state, and federal levels ensuring that public education in Rutherford County remains fully supported. The board is a bridge between the local community and school administration.
What are your priorities for this office?
Find more accessible ways to include community input into decision-making for our schools. Address the $492 million deferred maintenance backlog with urgency. Protect the physical safety of our students, faculty, and staff.
Describe your qualifications for this office.
I am a lifelong educator and a proud RCS parent. I have one child who graduated from our schools and two children currently attending them. For nine years, I have served our community as a volunteer, a youth sports coach, a small business owner, and a district school bus driver. I have been trusted for over 25 years in leading people. I am composed like a bus driver, resourceful like a teacher, strategic like a business owner, and most importantly, invested like a father.
