{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nSandy Pricer is an independent candidate running for the Hamilton County School Board District 3 seat in the 2026 election [3]. The position was recently vacated by retiring board chairman Joe Smith, who endorsed Pricer to fill the vacancy [4]. Pricer self-describes as a lifelong Chattanoogan, mother of six, and nonprofit leader with twenty years of experience working with students, families, and educators in Hamilton County [2]. She is the founder and CEO of RiseUP Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to equipping young people with life skills, and serves as president of the board for Ivy Academy [6].\n\nPricer officially announced her candidacy in February 2026, stating that she had collected over 100 nominating signatures from every voting precinct in District 3 [3]. During the first quarter of the campaign, Pricer reported raising $9,957 and spending $63, positioning her as one of the leading fundraisers in the county school board races [6]. Her campaign platform emphasizes strong schools, strong students, and a strong community, drawing on her background in social work and foster care advocacy [2]. In addition to her political campaign, Pricer recently graduated from the Chattanooga Chamber\u2019s Leadership program, citing the experience as providing her with perspective, purpose, and a professional network [7].\n\n## Background and education\n\nSandy Pricer is a lifelong Chattanoogan who was born and raised in Chattanooga [2]. She identifies as an adoptive mother and foster care advocate [1]. Her religious affiliation is noted through her status as a parishioner at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga [8].\n\nPricer holds both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in social work [5]. She also graduated from the Chattanooga Chamber\u2019s Leadership program, which she describes as providing perspective, purpose, and professional networking opportunities [7].\n\n## Career\n\nSandy Pricer holds a bachelor\u2019s degree and a master\u2019s degree in social work [5]. She previously worked as a caseworker for Chattanooga\u2019s Partnership for Families, Children and Adults [5]. In September 2020, she founded the Rise Up Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization [5]. Pricer serves as the president of the board for Ivy Academy [6].\n\nThrough the Rise Up Cooperative, Pricer offers life skills classes for children and young adults aged 13 to 23 [5]. The organization focuses on supporting youth in foster care while welcoming other interested participants [5]. In December 2025, the nonprofit hosted a Free Holiday Shopping Event that allowed partner organizations to provide gifts and supplies for 1,550 individuals [9].\n\nPricer graduated from the Chattanooga Chamber\u2019s Leadership program, which she states provided her with perspective, purpose, and professional networking opportunities [7]. She is also an adoptive mother and a foster care advocate [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nSandy Pricer has held leadership roles within the nonprofit and charter school sectors but has not previously held elected public office [1]. She serves as the president of the board for Ivy Academy and is the founder and CEO of RiseUP Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping young people with essential life skills [6]. Pricer established RiseUP in September following her tenure as a caseworker for Chattanooga's Partnership for Families, Children and Adults [5]. Through RiseUP, she offers life skills classes for children ages 13 to 23, with a specific focus on youth in the foster care system [5].\n\nPricer announced her candidacy for the Hamilton County School Board District 3 seat in February 2026, seeking to fill the position recently vacated by retiring Chairman Joe Smith [3]. She is running as an independent candidate and has collected over 100 nominating signatures from every voting precinct in the district [3]. As of April 2026, she was reported to be one of the leading fundraisers in the race, having received $9,957 for her campaign [6]. Pricer is endorsed by outgoing District 3 representative Joe Smith [4].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nSandy Pricer is a nonprofit leader and small business owner who serves as the founder and CEO of RiseUP Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to equipping young people with essential life skills [6]. She established the cooperative in September following her tenure as a caseworker for Chattanooga's Partnership for Families, Children and Adults [5]. The organization provides life skills classes for youth ages 13 to 23, with a specific focus on children in foster care [5]. Pricer also serves as the president of the board for Ivy Academy [6].\n\nIn her capacity as CEO, Pricer has engaged in community development initiatives, including graduating from the Chattanooga Chamber\u2019s Leadership program [7]. Under her leadership, RiseUP Cooperative hosted a Free Holiday Shopping Event that allowed partner organizations to select gifts and household items for 1,550 individuals [9]. Pricer self-describes as a lifelong Chattanoogan who has spent 20 years working alongside students, families, and educators in Hamilton County [1].\n\nFinancially, Pricer is one of the leading fundraisers in the current District 3 school board race. Her first-quarter campaign report indicates she received $9,957 for the seat and spent $63 [6]. She states that her support comes from longtime personal and professional friends [6].\n\n## Family\n\nSandy Pricer self-describes as a mother of six and an adoptive mom [2]. She has experience with foster care through her family and professional work [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] (source #1 not in master list)\n[2] [Sandy Pricer for Hamilton County Schools | Sandy Pricer for School Board](https://sandypricerforschoolboard.com/)\n[3] [Sandy Pricer Announces District 3 School Board Candidacy - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/2/19/514982/Sandy-Pricer-Announces-District-3.aspx)\n[4] [Longtime School Board Member Joe Smith Endorses Sandy Pricer - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/9/517142/Longtime-School-Board-Member-Joe-Smith.aspx)\n[5] [Chattanoogan Sandy Pricer shares the idea and inspiration behind Rise Up | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2021/jul/01/rise-up/)\n[6] [Independent Candidate Is One Of Leading Fundraisers In School Board Race - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/14/517374/Independent-Candidate-Is-One-Of-Leading.aspx)\n[7] [Reflecting on Growth \ud83c\udf1f Our CEO, Sandy Pricer, ...](https://www.facebook.com/RiseUpcooperative/posts/-reflecting-on-growth-our-ceo-sandy-pricer-graduated-from-the-chattanooga-chambe/1045665877669145/)\n[8] [The RISE Up Cooperative - Interview with Sandy Pricer - Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul - Chattanooga, TN](https://stspeterandpaulbasilica.com/news/the-rise-up-cooperative-interview-with-sandy-pricer)\n[9] [Leading a Nonprofit during the Holidays](https://www.riseupcooperative.org/post/leading-a-nonprofit-during-the-holidays)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County School Board District 3"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"hamilton","displayname":"Pricer, Sandy","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"04/10/26","documentid":"91C2CBE1-64A6-4DFE-8A0B-99CFF07129BE","documentname":"1st Qtr 2026","documentnameid":["91C2CBE1-64A6-4DFE-8A0B-99CFF07129BE","1st Qtr 2026"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"02/09/26","documentid":"BA260D40-312B-44DA-BB9C-773BE4D671B7","documentname":"Appt of Treasurer 2026","documentnameid":["BA260D40-312B-44DA-BB9C-773BE4D671B7","Appt of Treasurer 2026"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Political Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"County School Board Dist. 3","source_customer_id":"0F5A08EE-617A-4B11-AD30-E963AE98E120","source_filer_id":"E55B097E-A3F5-4895-91DA-DFB8938125AD","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Sandy","fullname":"Sandy Pricer","lastname":"Pricer","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"County School Board District 3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"hamilton","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"County School Board District 3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sandy Pricer is an independent candidate for Hamilton County School Board District 3, founder of RiseUP Cooperative, and former charter school board president.","terms":[],"token":"pphu3O5GSZ"}