Mayors Scott Conger and AJ Massie, both JMCSS alumni, credit local schools for shaping leaders

Jackson City Mayor Scott Conger and Madison County Mayor AJ Massie, both graduates of the Jackson Madison County School System, said on the JMCSS podcast that their local schools and extracurricular programs played a central role in shaping their leadership and civic engagement.

The remarks came on the 100th episode of For the District, a podcast produced by Jackson Madison County Schools. The mayors described teachers, coaches and activities — from theater and choir to football and student government — as formative influences that broadened social networks and prepared them for public roles.

"There’s always a connection," said Scott Conger, describing teachers and principals he later discovered were relatives of his classmates. Conger recalled participating in theater and choir because of family ties to music and called extracurriculars a place where students from different backgrounds found shared purpose. "It absolutely diversified,' he said, adding that teammates who played football also joined stage productions and built camaraderie across groups.

Madison County Mayor AJ Massie credited athletics and school relationships with teaching teamwork and resilience. "Play competitive seasons, but then be prepared for the next step," Massie said, advising student athletes to view sports as one phase and to plan for careers, trade schools or college afterward. "Use whatever skills you have — teamwork, selflessness — and lock arms with other people."

Both mayors tied school success to broader community outcomes: stronger schools, they said, make it easier to recruit industry, fund infrastructure and attract residents. Massie urged schools to "keep him safe and teach him what you need to teach him," a remark framed as the kind of practical support local leaders rely on when promoting the community to employers.

The conversation also highlighted district programs the hosts and guests say expand opportunities — athletics, esports, robotics and magnet offerings — and noted partnerships that helped the district move quickly during the pandemic, including early steps to establish an online-school identifier.

The episode closes with the mayors thanking Superintendent Dr. Marlon King and urging listeners to consider JMCSS programs and tours; the podcast directed listeners to jmcss.org for more information.