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Brandy Jenkins outlines priorities for Knox County School Board bid, urges support ahead of early voting
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Summary
Brandy Jenkins, a Knoxville native and candidate for Knox County School Board District 9, emphasized support for teachers, early-literacy investment, local control of curriculum and opposition to private voucher programs while urging voters to use early voting beginning April 15.
Brandy Jenkins, a Knoxville native running for Knox County School Board in District 9 representing South Knoxville, laid out her platform in a short campaign statement.
Jenkins said she brings nearly 20 years of operations experience managing teams and budgets and identified herself as "a mother of 2 daughters in Knox County Schools," framing her candidacy as rooted in local experience and family concerns. She said a pivotal moment for her came when her "oldest daughter, who is a straight A student, was nearly held back because of Tennessee's third grade retention law," a policy she said revealed how some rules are disconnected from families and educators.
Jenkins called for stronger support and retention of teachers, saying, "If we want our schools to succeed, we have to support and retain great educators by improving working conditions, making sure classrooms are properly staffed, and just respecting teachers as the professionals that they are." She also urged an emphasis on early literacy so students receive help "before high stakes testing becomes a barrier," and argued that test results "should help us identify support and not punish our children."
On curriculum, Jenkins said decisions should be guided by "our educators and communities, not national political agendas," arguing for local input in school decisions. She criticized private voucher programs as a drain on public-school funding, asserting that when "taxpayer dollars are diverted to private voucher programs, it pulls resources directly out of our classrooms."
Jenkins framed the election as competitive, noting that "in 2022, this race was decided by just 251 votes," and said flipping District 9 could change control of the Knox County School Board. She closed by asking listeners to support her campaign and to vote during early voting beginning April 15.
The remarks were a direct candidate appeal rather than a policy hearing; no formal actions or votes were recorded in the transcript.
