{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Sandy Pricer","chatgptsummary":"Sandy Pricer's biography shows twenty years of nonprofit leadership and board service relevant to constituent relations and policy judgment in Hamilton County. She founded a youth organization serving over 1,500 individuals and currently serves as president of the Ivy Academy board. The record contains no controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience with public budget management or hiring and evaluating a school district superintendent.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"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)","firstname":"Sandy","lastname":"Pricer","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"pphu3O5GSZ"},"token":"sandy_pricer"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"3","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"County School Board","districtname":"District 3","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_district_3","office":"county_school_board_district_3","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 on a large urban district \u2014 Memphis-Shelby County Schools serves roughly 110,000 students across more than 200 schools, with a budget over a billion dollars.\n- Budget literacy for both operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the County Commission (which appropriates) and the Tennessee Department of Education.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 historically the highest-stakes recurring decision the board makes.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members across an economically and racially diverse district.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County School Board District 3"}