2024 School Board Candidate Interviews- Primary

District 2:

Rosemarie Schultze (R)

No response

Shellie Young Tucker (R)

A priority is to ensure that our Special Needs teachers, assistants and support staff have the educational opportunities they need to equip them to be the best that they can be. Another priority is to make sure they are compensated well. We want to retain the teachers, assistants and support staff and encourage and support them for the amazing work they do and they should be compensated for the extra mile they go every day. My mother was physically challenged and I understand to a degree about the obstacles that can be frustrating for students and families.

District 4:

Wade Evans (R)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?

Currently, we are understaffed in our special education professionals. As you will see below in Question 2, paying fair wages will help with the hiring and retention of these educators. With the county being understaffed in special education, the turnover in these positions is at a much higher rate. Many special needs students benefit from routine schedules and familiar personnel. If there is a constant revolving door of teachers and assistants, we are doing our students a disservice. One of the major problems that students face in special education is that everyone thinks they know what is best for the student. Hopefully, we can offer a multitude of resources for the people making decisions to work together for our students. 

How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

I see this as two parts. First, we need to have competitive wages for our Special Education staff, this has to happen. Offering better wages will attract, keep, and hopefully return some educators to our schools here in Sumner County. My second thought is that I would love to find healthy ways for our educators and staff members to feel supported. While that could vary from employee to employee, taking care of our own needs to be a priority, and not approach teacher support as a reward.  When a teacher, educator, and/or staff member feels supported, they will hopefully be loyal to our school system.

How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?

I’m glad to see studies out there that have shown the benefits of offering an inclusive classroom for children with disabilities and their peers. This approach allows us to leave those with specialized instruction in their normal classroom while inviting Special Education teachers into the classroom as well. The tough aspect of this method is hiring and retaining Special Education teachers, which we are behind the industry standard. If we focused on staffing, we would be able to meet all children’s needs where they are at, rather than removing them from your typical classroom setting. This ultimately creates a collaborative effort between the general education teachers and specialists in the same learning environment, benefiting all students, who are offered additional resources and support. 

What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

From a School Board member’s perspective, I would advocate for resources readily available for all parties involved. After the IEP team has developed the student’s annual goals, the team can begin to develop the third required component: the statement of the individualized services and support the student requires to meet these goals. These can include special education services and any necessary related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications. These services and supports should enable a student to make progress toward meeting their academic and/or functional annual goals. I would also advocate for our students and families to be involved in the planning process, hoping to find ways for all students to participate in extracurricular (e.g., drama club) and other nonacademic (e.g., attending a school football game) activities. 

Todd Kerr (R)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this? The percentage of students in special education in Sumner County schools is steadily increasing. This is a two-pronged problem affecting classroom teachers and SpEd teachers. A major challenge is supporting classroom teachers who have several students with diagnosis related behavior issues, speech and language processing issues and English language learners. This can be very overwhelming for a teacher who is serving multiple students. Selecting, hiring, training, and retaining SpEd assistants that provide inclusion in the classroom is paramount. This is not a simple answer or easy to achieve. Everyone is not suited for these positions, as they can be very demanding. Also, there are scheduling issues. These assistants should be utilized, and work in conjunction with the classroom teacher to gain maximum output and effort, not just “be present” in class. In the future, we may very well need to consider adding uniquely designed learning environments into our existing schooling systems, to address and react to this growing education need. I am also concerned about the group of SpEd students labeled “gifted.” Those students, few in number in comparison, have great needs, as well. They do receive services, but I feel those services should be specifically designed and tailored to meet this criterion of students. All parents that I have spoken with agreed that not enough is being done to advance the educational desires and aspirations of the “gifted” children.

How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

As in any organization, the ability to hire and retain excellent employees has many challenges. There are many factors that play into the current teacher shortage, the exodus from the classroom, and overall general dissatisfaction. To address this, we should: • Create and provide an excellent, welcoming, and safe working environment. • Create a culture where teachers feel valued and appreciated. “Show” teachers how much they contribute to the student’s success. * We need to address rewarding SpEd teachers with pay and benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications. • Giving teachers back their autonomy. Teachers know what students need and should not be limited to a scripted curriculum. I am not advocating that we do away with a curriculum, but I am advocating for teachers to be able to use supplemental materials and deviate from the script as they deem professionally warranted to meet the specific needs of their children. • The evaluation process needs to be revisited. It is not consistent from school to school. This is unfortunate and leads to teacher dissatisfaction. An active focus on “teacher appreciation” should be considered to address and improve morale. • There are a number of different staff members assigned to assisting the SpEd teachers (Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Lead Educators, Teacher Leaders). The fact that there are so many people to answer to can be overwhelming in itself. With the onset of the Lead Educator positions, new teachers are observed/evaluated excessively. This can, and does, create layers of bureaucracy for the individuals responsible for doing the bulk of the work with our students. This should be reviewed and adjusted to free up our teachers to spend more quality time with students.

How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?

Creating a culture of inclusion within our schools is especially important. Inclusion Assistants provide a great service to students. They can aid students both academically and socially in the classroom. In most cases, the person going into the classroom for Inclusion is likely an Assistant. They should be paid a salary equivalent to ‘outside’ employment, or we will continue to experience high turnover rates for these positions. SpEd assistants should receive job specific annual training. They need to know “what to do” in the classroom to maximize their presence and not just be present. The same can be said for classroom teachers. They need to know how to fully utilize the SpEd Assistants in order to meet the unique and extremely specific needs of the students.

What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

Ensuring parents and guardians can advocate and have access to School Board members is essential. Often plans are made and considerations are innocently overlooked. This can, and should, be improved by addressing: • Stakeholder discussion, dialogue and involvement, • Giving adequate notice of upcoming events and meetings. • Allowing public comments. • Developing partnerships with others, including outside the school system, to share knowledge and ideas. It is always beneficial to gain knowledge and gather information from a variety of sources. Lastly, open, free and two-way communication is essential when it comes to SpEd. I would say that is relevant to all facets of education. Having student participation is critically important to motivate and improve the sense of belonging and inclusion for each student. Above all, we want students to have the best education possible. In the case of SpEd students, this includes an education that occurs in the least restrictive environment where we are able to discover, nurture, and utilize each student’s unique talents and skills.

District 6:

Greg Hollis (R)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?

Consistent access to resources/support is an ongoing challenge for these students and the teachers/staff educating them. Professional development for educators, supporting teaching practices that are more inclusive, and funding special education programs can foster the supportive environment needed in our schools. Let’s work across county/state lines to determine what best practices are out there.

How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

We can work to establish a positive and fulfilling work environment by offering competitive salaries, targeted professional development, and support from the administration. Further, providing a feedback communication loop to understand what is working well and what needs more focus will allow for transparency and accountability. Let’s recognize and celebrate the successes related to these children's education.

How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?

There are a number of programs that could be implemented to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for our special needs students: Peer Support Programs, Anti-Bullying Measures, and unique student support plans are a few. Obviously, we need to have fully accessible facilities, properly trained staff, and parental involvement as a cornerstone. Ultimately, we want to encourage a sense of belonging for every student.  Again, what’s working in other parts of the state or country? Let’s share ideas to deliver a great learning environment.

What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

There are several things needed to foster a supportive learning environment, address individual challenges, and ultimately ensure equitable education: regular progress updates, providing tailored resources, and involving parents-teachers in decision making. Doing these things consistently will help promote a broader awareness and ensure we are doing right by all the students. 

Marie Mobley (R)

I have read over your questions regarding Special Education and honestly, it is not the job of a School Board Member to recruit, train, retain educators.  We as a School Board are elected to oversee the Administration staff, approve curriculum; approve employee policy; budgets and funding of schools. Of course, I see every student should be given an educational opportunity and in a safe environment. Sumner County is blessed with compassionate and thoughtful  residents who have invested in local Parks and Churches that set up programs for Special Needs children and adults. Thank you for reaching out to me and please know that I will always consider what is best for our children.

District 8:

Meghan Breinig (R)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?

One of the main challenges for special education is staffing and resources.  We need to be able to hire more staff and retain the wonderful staff we have now. The proposed compensation plan will help, and I support that plan. When it comes to benefits, I know we offer a top program, but there is room to improve, so I would like to see a benefit study conducted, similar to the wage study.  While the compensation plan is critical to staff retention and morale, there are likely other areas in which our district can improve.  I would like to better understand our staffing ratios for special education and inclusion classes to compare against national best practice to determine if our programs have the support they need.

How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

I believe this topic is crucial for the success of our whole education system. In addition to the proposed compensation plan, I believe continuous training and access to the latest teaching methodologies will not only enhance the skills of educators but also contribute to a positive work environment. Teachers need to feel empowered and supported by their leadership.  A program that would allow teachers and staff to provide anonymous feedback on a regular basis could help achieve that goal.  Additionally, establishing support systems, such as counseling services and peer support groups, could help educators navigate challenges and reduce burnout, ultimately helping to keep great staff in our schools.

 How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?

The next generation has a heart for community, and I have loved seeing some of the different ways they work towards it.  The different stories coming from DECA programs, robotics classes, and peer programs have been impressive, and I believe our students have great ideas we should support.   I would love to see more student led programs and would support those as a school board member. By encouraging our students to lead in these areas, we are ensuring a brighter future.

 What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

As a school board member, I would advocate for a communication strategy specifically designed for parents of students in special education programs. I would love to see more collaboration in the decision-making processes, involving parents, teachers, and specialists, but also providing the parents more access to best practice for their students’ needs. One of the biggest struggles I had, as a parent of a student with a 504 plan, has been navigating the resources that could be available. There was no clear roadmap or one-stop information source to start our journey and limited information on best practices has been available along the way.  Consistent consideration in communications and planning is vital to empower parents, enhance transparency, and create a partnership between the school system and families, ultimately contributing to the overall success of students in special education.

Tracy Finegan (R)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?

While my knowledge of special needs programs is currently limited, what I do know is that communication is key. I feel there is opportunity to improve communication across the board in Sumner County schools. This includes those advocating for students with special needs. I support opening the School Board meetings to allow for public comments on topics not on the agenda. Another way to improve communication that I would like to explore is to hold open forum meetings on an annual or semi-annual basis. This is an effective way for concerns to be heard by board members, and others. It would allow opportunity for all parents to learn of other parent’s concerns, thus allow for collaboration. Improving communication would help identify unresolved issues and effectively explore solutions.

 How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

 Culture, compensation and fostering a caring environment are important in a work environment. I would like to hear from special education teachers. What their largest obstacles are and what would make them more effective at teaching. Again, effective communication and collaboration within the school system is important, is shows we care. A teacher hotline open to all teachers would improve communication in Sumner County schools. Teachers would have a way to share best practices, make suggestions and bring awareness to issues that need to be resolved. Teachers should also be compensated in a fiscally responsible way that demonstrates they are valued.

 How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?

 One size does not fit all. Students grasp topics at different levels in different ways. One teaching method may not work for every student. Teachers are bogged down with more red tape each year leaving them less time in a day for educating. This limits their ability to help each student learn in a way that is best for them. I think we should remove the unproductive tasks required of teachers, so they have more time to do what they love, inspire children to learn!

 What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

To start with, I would commit to learning more about our current special education programs, and what challenges these students are currently facing that have yet to be resolved. Some of the information I would like to know is how many students in our schools have been identified as having special needs and what portion of overall students do these students represent. It would be helpful to know how parents feel about our current programs and what special education programs around the country have had success. With this information I would then work to provide special needs students the best education possible.  

District 9:

Holly Cruz (D)

What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?

 The main issue right now is staffing. It is currently noted on the current job openings that we currently have over 30 open positions in the county's Special Education Department. With these staffing issues it directly impacts our students ability to receive the services the county is legally responsible to provide. It then turns into a domino effect - missing services impacts student progress, leaves teachers and aids overworked and frustrated and families don't feel supported. I believe the proposal to increase the starting salary for Special Education teachers and our classified staff is a fantastic start and I fully support it. While this will begin to fix this issue, I would also like to see targeted recruitment at the college level focusing on schools that have Special Education teacher prep programs. 

How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?

 I would love to see more "grow your own" in our Special Education department. While I believe targeting teacher prep programs that focus on Special Education teachers at the college level is important, I would love to see recruitment expand to our high school students. I would like for SCS to allow for out of zone students to apply to a specific CTE program, like the Education and Training program at Gallatin High School. If we could expand the potential for students to return to our county for employment as teachers this would aid in recruiting educators that care and are invested in our students. Expanding the program coursework and offerings of the Education and Training CTE to focus specifically on specific teacher tracks to include Special Education, would again aid in the needed recruitment of educators and support staff. 

How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially? 

 Inclusion holds a very special place in my heart as the big sister to two brothers who are autistic. I was lucky enough to watch my brothers be included in every aspect of their school experience over the past thirty years. I believe that our special education students should have the opportunity to participate in class during instructional time, lunch, recess, and specials classes such as art, music, PE and library. I would love to see CDC Peer tutor expand into our Middle and Elementary schools for those students who are unable to attend those classes outside of the self contained setting.  I have seen great work within our county and our special olympics program, and again would be supportive of this expanding down to the Middle and Elementary schools. To ensure that all clubs and organizations that offer socialization should ALWAYS include our special education students. I believe that the earlier we begin these inclusion practices the better!  The level and depth of inclusion is of course dependent on the students IEP team decisions. I highly encourage parents to advocate for these inclusion times if they feel this is appropriate for their child. Seeing my brothers form friendships from such an early age was impactful to not only them but our family, their peers and their families as well.  

What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important?

 As a board member my goal is to increase communication between stakeholders within our county, including families and students involved in Special Education. One of my daughters has an IEP, so my desire to ensure that voices within the Special Education community are heard and that action is taken is a priority.  I believe as board members we should be consistently communicating with our school staff to determine the needs within our schools to ensure they are all being addressed as well as reflecting upon the amazing work that is done day in and day out. I would like to see all board members be responsible for particular departments and would schedule bimonthly meetings for clear communication. I believe that direct feedback and clear communication is the best way to ensure that students involved in special education are consistently considered and I think that is best done with face to face conversations. I do not have every answer and will not claim to, but when we work together as a team, we can work to ensure the needs are met for our students. Throughout my campaign I will be holding community round tables to hear and discuss what feedback my district has regarding our school system and will continue this when serving on the board.  Every school board meeting board members are given an opportunity to share and add items to the next study session. I have attended many meetings over the past year and a half where there has been nothing said by many, if not all, of the board members. You can count that I will utilize my time every month to share, discuss and take action.