{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Krista Heavner","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Krista Stewart Heavner is the vice\u2011chair of the Lincoln County Board of Education and will again serve in that leadership role for the 2026\u20112027 term.  At the board\u2019s annual reorganization on Dec.\u202f9, 2025 she was unanimously re\u2011elected vice\u2011chair, while Christina Sutton was re\u2011elected chair\u301010\u3011.  The board governs Lincoln County\u2019s public schools, adopting curricula, setting the school calendar, approving budgets and hiring the superintendent, as reflected in recent board actions on high\u2011school course proposals, the 2026\u201127 calendar, and other policy items\u301010\u3011.\n\nHeavner is a native of Drexel, North Carolina, and works as a speech\u2011language pathologist and auditory\u2011verbal therapist.  Her professional focus on communication and advocacy is echoed in her board service, where she is described as leading with \"joy, encouragement, and a genuine heart for students, families, and staff\"\u30109\u3011.  She once considered a career in law, but chose a path of direct support for individuals and families.\n\nBefore her current board tenure, Heavner ran as the Republican candidate for Lincoln County Schools District\u202f5 in the 2022 general election.  She appeared on the ballot on Nov.\u202f8,\u202f2022 after competing in a three\u2011candidate Republican primary on May\u202f17,\u202f2022\u30101\u3011.  Although she did not complete Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey, the election record confirms her prior candidacy and party affiliation.\n\nIn addition to her professional work, Heavner teaches fitness classes at the YMCA, enjoys running, reading, hiking, traveling, and playing games with her family.  She is a beagle owner (Max and Felicity) and a fan of 1990s hip\u2011hop, Diet\u202fCoke, and Chick\u2011fil\u2011A waffle fries\u30109\u3011.  Her community involvement extends to board initiatives such as adding a computer\u2011science graduation requirement and creating a student\u2011representative program for board work sessions, as noted in the board\u2019s 2026 agenda\u301010\u3011.\n\nHeavner\u2019s leadership on the board includes co\u2011chairing duties (as highlighted in a Lincoln County Schools Facebook post) and serving as vice\u2011chair, positions that involve guiding policy discussions, reviewing curriculum proposals, and collaborating with the superintendent and other board members to shape the district\u2019s educational direction\u30109\u3011\u301010\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Krista Heavner (Lincoln County Schools school board District 5, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Krista_Heavner_(Lincoln_County_Schools_school_board_District_5,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [9] [\ud83d\udc99 Meet Krista Heavner \ud83d\udc99 School Board Appreciation Month ...](https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountySchools/posts/-meet-krista-heavner-school-board-appreciation-monthmeet-krista-heavner-board-co/1476117951180634/)\n- [10] [Sutton reelected chair of Board of Education | News | lincolntimesnews.com](https://www.lincolntimesnews.com/news/sutton-reelected-chair-of-board-of-education/article_3c959abf-0f82-476e-994a-5021fd3a6ab3.html)","firstname":"Krista","lastname":"Heavner","middlename":"Stewart","suffix":null,"token":"326d3ab41c5f9d20"},"token":"7j-n_8pnDzs5BTAr"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board","office":"county_school_board","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Member","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Lincoln County Board Of Education District 05"}