We are so pleased that all of the school board candidates, even those who are running unopposed, took the time to consider the issues surrounding special education. Voter education, like all of our other programs, are provided at no cost, but they are not free to produce. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit by clicking the donate link above. It would also help us out if you link your Kroger card to us. Every bit helps as we advocate in Sumner County with and for people with disabilities!
If you are unsure about which district you live in, you can look at the district maps here. You can find early voting information here.
Let us know your thoughts about these questions in the comments below!
District 2
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."
Editor's Note: Ms. Tucker took the time to meet with us to discuss some of the issues surrounding special education.
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.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
I would support this. I see this as an opportunity to explore all avenues to meet the needs of our students and families. I also think that our in network providers could use this a chance to learn from other professionals, to broaden their scope and knowledge to better themselves as well. I believe in utilizing trained/certified professionals. Financially, I could see this being a burden, however, I think it would be a very beneficial offering to our teams, our families, and ultimately, our students
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.
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.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
As with any potential policy change, I believe that any decision regarding the inclusion of outside providers in our schools must be approached with careful consideration and due diligence.
First and foremost, the primary focus should always be on the best interests of our students. Allowing outside providers can offer several potential benefits, such as bringing in specialized expertise and providing additional support services that may not be readily available within our current framework. However, there are also potential challenges that we need to thoroughly evaluate. Ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students is critical and would be a consideration in any policy change. Time away from classroom instruction could have a negative impact for the child, so I would need to understand how a policy change would impact that concern. Overall, I am open to considering a policy change, but would need to hear from teachers, parents, experts, and administration and truly weigh the pros and cons to be able to make a decision. This is the approach I would take with any important change as a board member of Sumner County Schools.
Todd Stephens (I)
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 two main challenges in the special education programs that I see are that many are struggling with staffing shortages and insufficient training for the educators. To address some of these issues I would advocate for increased funding, specifically for special education and also try to implement regular, comprehensive training programs for special educators and support staff. This could include training on specialized instruction, assistive technologies, and inclusive practices.
How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?
Some strategies to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff for special education requires a multi-faceted approach that includes offering competitive pay and benefits to attract the best talent, ongoing professional development opportunities that keeps educators and support staff up to date on the best practices in special education, and implement a quarterly recognition of a special educator and support staff.
How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?
We can improve inclusion in schools, both academically and socially by making sure students with disabilities have easy access to any materials that they may need to succeed, and encourage administration and staff to include students with disabilities in as many activities with the entire student body, for example, end of year awards, students being able to be recognized alongside the entire student body.
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 be open to having conversations with students and their parents on what they feel their needs are within my district regarding special education.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
Yes, I would support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students because outside providers often have specialized expertise and resources that may not be available within the school district. This could include therapies, counseling, and other support services that could benefit students.
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. We currently have over 40 open positions in the special education department according to the county job board. After talking to multiple parents and providers that support our special education students over the last few months, my fear is that these gaps are now adversely affecting our kids as the county is likely unable to provide all the services to which the students are legally entitled. In my experience as a special education teacher, I have seen these kinds of gaps impact long-term student progress, cause teachers and aids to be overworked and frustrated, and leave families unsupported.
I believe the proposal to increase the starting salary for special education teachers and our classified staff is a fantastic start to aid in recruitment and I fully support it. But, I would also like to see a calculated and targeted recruitment plan that includes outreach to colleges that have special education teacher prep programs, along with more incentives for our current teachers to pick up certifications in special education.
How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staffing?
In addition to what I mentioned above, I would love to see us create a robust "grow your own" program specifically for special education for our high school students. We have an Education and Training CTE program at Gallatin High School that could be expanded to not only include out of zone students (something that should happen with all our CTE programs), but it could also include teacher and support role “tracks” specifically for special education careers. With CTE programs only available at one school, it limits the potential to reach all students who may be interested in a career in special education. And by investing in those students now, it may be more likely that they will return here to work with us.
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 in an environment where they were included in every aspect of their school experience over the past thirty years.
I believe that our special education students should have the opportunity/option to participate in instructional time, lunch, recess, and specials classes such as art, music, PE and library. I also believe that all social clubs and organizations should be open to special education students. In my experience as a special education teacher, the earlier we begin inclusion practices the better. And while the level and depth of inclusion is of course dependent on the student’s IEP team’s decision, I would love to see several programs expand to include elementary and middle school students. For example, the CDC Peer Tutor program that gives students in a traditional classroom environment the experience of providing academic and social support to special education students could include elementary and middle school students. I would also like to see the Special Olympics program expand!
Seeing my brothers form friendships from an early age was impactful to not only them but also our family, and to their peers and their families. If I am elected, I will strongly support any parents wishing to advocate for these inclusion times if they feel this is appropriate for their child.
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?
I have learned from conversations throughout my campaign that many families are seeking a deeper connection and clearer communication from our schools and the system as a whole. As a family involved in special education because my daughter has an IEP, I know that feeling increases tenfold for us because we each have unique needs and supports. In order to effectively plan and provide for special education families, we must include them and I believe board members can be a big help here. I am also hearing that school-level staff need more support in a big way as we noted due to the staffing concerns resulting in larger case loads. So board members should also be consistently communicating with school staff to determine their needs. And I would like to see each board member be a liaison for a particular department or departments at central office, including special education, and to schedule bimonthly check-in meetings to report back needs and accomplishments to the full board. I feel if we can work more closely together on all of the things highlighted in these questions, then we will better meet student needs and staff will feel more supported and valued.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
I would absolutely be willing to discuss a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students. Outside providers can offer specialized services and resources that our schools may not have the capacity to provide. This policy change could potentially enhance the educational experience of our students in a positive way, which should always be our goal as a school system. However, it is crucial that these providers meet high standards and align with our district's values and goals. Any collaboration between outside providers and our school staff must also be well planned, but this is something that I would fully support.
Josh Graham (I)
What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this?
Any parent who has attended IEP meetings and advocates for services knows there is typically push back with SPED coordinators advising the minimum requirements are being met. I believe this is due to a limitation of resources. Mostly this shortage of resources pertains to our lack of qualified SPED personnel. At the beginning of last year, we were short over 20 special education teachers in our county. This caused classrooms to be combined and, in some cases, assistants were acting as full-time certified teachers. Our biggest challenge is attracting and maintaining an adequate level of talented teachers and assistants for our student population with special needs.
How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?
This is a question which needs to be answered more than anything. I think first, as a school system we need to show we are compensating our certified and classified employees their market value. Then, we need to have a clear reputation amongst the education community that we value our special education staff, and we prioritize the needs of our special education student body. This reputation will only come to fruition if we make efforts to honor those who highlight our opportunities for improvement instead of hammering them down.
How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?
Once again it comes down to having adequate personnel. If we can sustain adequate staffing levels, we can utilize more one-on-one assistance in the regular classroom environments and also immediately recognize and modify negative behaviors in social situations.
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?
This is a difficult task. As a School Board member, we only have 3 powers. We can approve/disapprove allocation of funds, approve/disapprove policy, and we employ a director. As I have learned in my tenure as a School Board member, what I believe to be a great idea can come under much scrutiny by my 10 fellow board members. I have mentioned multiple times in our meetings that we need to focus on special education students, and I would like to see policies and resources devoted to this population. There hasn’t been much enthusiasm thus far to my suggestions. I would recommend organized campaigns to make this a top priority. One of the first things I worked on after being appointed was getting an email address established for the east of contacting all of the School Board members in unison. So, I would ask that families and teachers who work with our students with special needs, please be a squeaky wheel. You can email the entire School Board at scs.board@sumnerschools.org
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
Absolutely!!!! It has been my experience that most providers are limited in what they can accomplish in a clinical setting. I believe it is crucial for providers, especially providers in the behavioral sciences to be able to observe the student in the school setting to develop strategies and best practices while at school.
Kathy Stuart (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?
I have spent time talking with many teachers and parents of our special needs students in District 9. The biggest challenge is funding. Special Education teachers have extra responsibilities than regular Ed teachers and should get compensated more for those hours. If Governor Lee’s Voucher bill is passed next session it will be detrimental to how we service our Special Education students here in Sumner County. The voucher bill will take away important funding for them. The last thing we need to do is cut funding for our most vulnerable population.
How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?
Special Education is, at its core, making sure students get what they need to grow into adults who are as productive and fulfilled as they can be. So the goal is the same for all students. Our faculties and staff go to work every day with that goal in mind, but the truth is that those with the most experience, the best credentials are going to go where they feel valued. If given a choice between earning $40,000 or $50,000, where would you rather be? We have to make certain that they know they are being respected for their expertise. So I would propose we continue offering county-wide professional development, but if our Special ED teachers find learning opportunities that they feel would benefit them in the classroom, they should have that flexibility when meeting their professional development requirements, and not have to attend sessions on topics that administrators decide on. In short, if you want to attract and retain the best, you have to treat them like the professionals that they are.
How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?
Academic and social inclusion is a decades-long objective that we’ve improved so much with, but I love the strides we have made. No developmentally challenged or gifted student should feel as if they are not an integral part of their school community, and they should certainly never feel like their academics are less important than those of “typical” students. As a school board we will need to listen (with all of our “active listening” skills) to the parents of Special Education students. I’ve heard parents of Gifted students (make no mistake: Gifted students are Special Education students according to legislation) that their students need more wide ranging opportunities, but opportunities do not need to separate them from their school communities. Nor should anything a school does be separating challenged students from the overall society. Parents and teachers can best tell us what they see and how their students feel. We, as a board, need to ask them, “how can we help” and then help the best that we can. I think it would be a dangerous precedent to assume a School Board knows better than the parents or classroom experts. So we need to hear and help them.
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?
One simple thing we can do is include a time at every meeting where we listen to the Special Education teachers about their concerns, ideas or needs. Sure, it might be a bit lengthy in the beginning, but it will give us boots-on-the-ground input into what is happening. I hope there will be teachers to show up, but if they don’t in the beginning, then we should make invitations to specific schools until they are comfortable with this. Having this in the meetings will make us, as a board, more responsible because everyone is going to know that we got the information. Of course I’m not talking about violating student confidentiality, but more things like “we need better access to buses for field trips” and all the things that the board just can’t know unless it is told and it listens.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
I can make a decision about outside providers servicing students when there is a specific proposal that includes information about how much oversight the Board and District would have, because there is nothing wrong with asking for and receiving help, we try to get students to do that every day. But we cannot simply sign a contract and say, “okay, you let us know how this turns out.” No parent would do that for their own children and neither should a school board. Any contract would need to have an exit clause in case we get into a program that sounds better than it actually is. Any outside organization that isn’t confident enough to include a clause like that is an organization that doesn’t believe it can deliver on its sales pitch.
District 10
Penny Barnes (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?
I see recruiting and retaining special education professionals as a main challenge for our county. We will continue to see a rise in students with special needs with the recent growth within our county. The need for additional teachers and retention of current teachers will be an ongoing opportunity. It is critical that we move toward more competitive wages for these professionals to allow us to attract and retain the resources needed to serve our community.
How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff?
As stated above it starts with wages but goes far beyond pay. It will be important to utilize key indicator data(turnover, #days positions are open, etc.) and listening sessions with staff to fully understand current state in order to develop short term and long term strategies. Mentoring, work schedule flexibility, recognition and well being resources could be options to improve retention and day to day work life for these professionals. Solid onboarding plans for new hires are key to set the educator up for success in a demanding work environment. Ensuring there is an intentional plan for professional development is important to show that the county is investing in the growth of these educators.
How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?
It starts with training and education for all to understand the unique needs of students. Striving to create a culture of promoting a positive learning environment where all students feel valued and respected. Thinking beyond traditional instructional methods to adapt in accommodating different types of learners. Every student in our county deserves the opportunity to be successful.
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?
It is important in creating a culture where all students have the opportunity to be successful and feel valued. As a board member, it will be important to consider these students and their needs when working with leadership to set policy and help to guide decision making.
Would you support a policy change to allow outside providers to serve students? Why or why not?
I would be open for a discussion to understand why the change would be needed based on facts and data that supported the policy change.