2026 Sumner County School Board District 1 Election Choose 1
Biographical Information
Campaign Mailing Address
111 Oak Place
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Campaign Phone
6155662088
Campaign Website
http://voteforscotty.com/
Campaign Facebook URL
http://www.facebook.com/share/1B2Ehq7kAP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
What is the most important issue to you in this race and what is your position?
The most important issue in this race is ensuring every student in our district has access to a safe, high-quality learning environment that prepares them for success.
My position is that we must focus on responsible growth, fiscal accountability, and student-centered decision-making. Our community is growing rapidly, and that growth is putting pressure on our schools through overcrowding, aging facilities, and increasing demands on teachers and staff. We need a proactive plan to address these challenges without placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers.
That means prioritizing smart investments in infrastructure, supporting and retaining excellent teachers, and ensuring transparency in how decisions are made and funds are spent.
How will you work with all the stakeholders in the county so we can move forward in the same direction?
I will work with stakeholders by prioritizing open communication, transparency, and collaboration. That means being accessible to parents, teachers, and community members, while building strong relationships with fellow board members, county leaders, and school staff. I will support regular public input and clear communication, so everyone understands the “why” behind decisions. Even when perspectives differ, I will focus on finding common ground and keeping students at the center. By listening, respecting different viewpoints, and working toward shared goals, we can move forward together in a unified direction.
How strongly do you support having publicly funded charter schools in Sumner County?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
How strongly do you support pay increases for staff and other measures to retain high quality employees?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
How strongly do you support teaching diversity and having materials available for a diverse population?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
(615)852-7764
Campaign Website
http://www.votefernelius.com
Campaign Instagram URL
http://www.instagram.com/votefernelius/
Campaign Facebook URL
http://www.facebook.com/votefernelius
What is the most important issue to you in this race and what is your position?
My most important issue is ensuring the School Board puts students first. After seven years of my kids attending public schools, I've watched our educators do extraordinary work within a system that ranks 47th in the nation in per-pupil funding (NEA 2025).
Before I vote yes on anything, I ask three questions: Will this improve opportunities for students? Will this strengthen their outcomes and experience? Will this protect the core resources our schools depend on? Those aren't abstract values. They guide me on real decisions facing our schools today.
There is no better investment in Sumner County's future than our children. I want to be a voice for the families and educators I've come to love in making sure that investment is protected.
How will you work with all the stakeholders in the county so we can move forward in the same direction?
Mutual understanding and shared knowledge are the foundation for building consensus. I firmly believe we have more in common than what divides us. Every parent, educator, commissioner, and community member I've met wants the same thing: students who thrive. My approach is to listen first, bring transparent and accurate information to the table, and build decisions on what the data shows rather than what divides us politically. An informed community is a united one.
How strongly do you support having publicly funded charter schools in Sumner County?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
How strongly do you support pay increases for staff and other measures to retain high quality employees?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
How strongly do you support teaching diversity and having materials available for a diverse population?
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support