Early voting is currently underway in Nashville’s countywide primaries, with Election Day on March 5. Though school board elections historically have not been partisan, a 2021 law changed that for Nashville, and so primaries in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are on the ballot.
Districts 3 and 5 each have one uncontested candidate — former Metro Councilmember Zach Young in 3 and TK Fayne in 5. Incumbents Freda Player (District 7) and Abigail Tylor (District 9) are also running uncontested. District 1 is the only seat with more than one candidate.
On Feb. 8, a candidate event and spaghetti supper hosted by advocacy organization Opportunity Nashville allowed District 1 voters to voice their thoughts to candidates. Attendees asked about candidates’ stances on state-driven policies and discussed concerns about inadequate funding and opportunities for students in District 1.
Demytris Savage-Short is the only Republican running for school board. She declined the Scene’s interview request, but a campaign flyer lists “protecting parental rights,” “promoting education NOT indoctrination” and “financially equipping District 1 schools” as priorities. At the Feb. 8 event, she said she took her student out of Metro Nashville Public Schools to be home-schooled.
Two of the District 1 candidates currently work in Nashville schools and would therefore have to resign if elected. Dominique McCord-Cotton is a teacher at East End Prep Charter School who says she can bring a “fresh” perspective. When it comes to voting to approve or deny charter school contracts within the county, McCord-Cotton says “it would depend on context.” She says she supports traditional public schools and public charter schools that can meet students’ needs.
McCord-Cotton says she’s seen a need for more student resources, more teachers and more information for community members who want to engage — and says her experience as a teacher showed her how to advocate for these matters and establish partnerships around school communities.
“I truly believe when parents, teachers and the community are all aligned, students have the best outcome,” says McCord-Cotton.
Currently a school counselor at Amqui Elementary, LaTonya Winfrey has also taught in MNPS. She says her candidacy is inspired by her experience fighting for her son — who has autism — and other exceptional education students to receive proper resources.
In addition to advocating for more resources, Winfrey says she wants to enhance transparency and communication around school board matters such as the budget. While Winfrey believes “parents should have choice” about schools, she does not believe the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission should be able to overrule MNPS decisions.
“I advocate for my kids,” says Winfrey. “It’s not just the kids when I have them — I have students that I started with in seventh grade, and now they’re 35 and I still keep in communication with them, helping them with their kids in the school system.”
Robert Taylor has run for the seat before. An educator at Meharry Medical College, Taylor has also worked as a family involvement specialist for Whites Creek Cluster schools. In his experience as a former board member at charter school Smithson Craighead Academy, Taylor says he has learned the importance of supporting leadership and turning struggling schools around. Regarding charters, Taylor says the district currently has enough to meet the goals of a charter model.
If elected, Taylor says he would continue to advocate for investments in under-resourced and understaffed schools, generate community conversations about education, and encourage teacher retention and recruitment.
“I’m looking at this as, ‘What can we do as an entire community to address education and how can we focus on making our public schools the best option for parents?’” says Taylor.
