{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Sable Otey","chatgptsummary":"Sable Otey, a former USA Bobsled athlete, businesswoman, and community advocate, is running for the Memphis Shelby County School Board District 5. She is committed to promoting general and financial literacy and equipping students with essential life skills. Given her diverse background and commitment to education, she appears to be a suitable candidate for the role, which involves policymaking, budget oversight, and promoting a high-quality learning environment.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"I'm Sable Otey, and I'm running for the Memphis Shelby County School Board District 5. As a wife, mother, businesswoman,  former USA Bobsled athlete, and community advocate, I understand the critical importance of education in shaping our children's futures. That's why I'm committed to promoting general and financial literacy, ensuring our students are equipped with essential life skills for success beyond the classroom.\n\nLinks:\n\nInstagram: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sableotey/)\n\nCampaign SIte: [Campaign Site](https://sableotey.com/)\n\nOlympic Profile: [Olympic Profile](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/sable-otey)","firstname":"Sable","lastname":"Otey","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"edOzTZccXV"},"token":"sable_otey"},{"candidatename":"Mauricio Calvo","chatgptsummary":"Mauricio Calvo, appointed to the Shelby County School Board in 2023, is a Mexican-American and LGBTQA+ community member who leads Latino Memphis, an organization promoting upward mobility for the Latinx community. He is experienced in addressing systemic issues and collaborating with cross-sector partners. Calvo's diverse background and ability to multitask, attributed to his ADHD, make him a unique and effective representative for District 5. He is also a frequent media contributor on Latinx issues and serves on several boards, including UnidosUS and Shelby Farms Conservancy. His academic background includes CBU, Lipscomb University, Boston College, and Georgetown. His role as a school board member involves policy development, budget oversight, and promoting a high-quality learning environment.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"Mauricio Calvo, appointed by the Shelby County Commission in July 2023, represents District 5 (Cordova) for the Shelby County Board of Education. With MSCS being the largest school district in Tennessee and one of the largest urban districts in the nation, with 200+ schools and more than 110,000 students, Calvo knows that the success of our students is one of the most critical issues impacting Memphis today and tomorrow.\n\nMexican by birth and Memphian by heart, Calvo leads Latino Memphis, an organization that ignites and accelerates upward mobility and opportunities for the Latinx community through social and legal services. He knows Shelby County will achieve collective success only when all community members move up. His impact model includes providing direct services, addressing systemic issues, and collaborating with cross-sector partners.\n\nHis proudest and most important role is being dad to Anna, Carolina, and Santiago\u2014three leaders in the making.\n\nMauricio understands and lives diversity and representation as a Mexican-American and a member of the LGBTQA+ community. He attributes his passion and interest in many different things to his ADHD, learning that it can be a challenge but also a superpower. Normalizing and embracing these differences has allowed him to hyperfocus on multiple tasks at the same time.\n\nHe serves as a critical friend and thoughtful partner on the Board of UnidosUS, Hope Credit Union, Shelby Farms Conservancy, WeAreMemphis and many others. Mauricio is also a frequent media contributor on Latinx issues. His academic journey includes CBU, Lipscomb University, Boston College, and Georgetown. He is a Leadership Tennessee alumni, a Mosaic fellow and a graduate of the ProInspire Catalyst Collective.\n\nLinks:\n\nSchool Board Link: [School Board](https://www.scsk12.org/board/?PN=44&MID=15&M=5)\n\nLinkedin: [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriciocalvo/)\n\nLatino Memphis Link: [Latino Memphis](https://latinomemphis.org/es/our-story/president-and-ceo/)","firstname":"Mauricio","lastname":"Calvo","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dvZTvxSbdx"},"token":"mauricio_calvo"},{"candidatename":"Audrey Elion","chatgptsummary":"Dr. Audrey Elion, with her background as a youth and education advocate, mental health professional, and chair of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council, is well-suited for the role of County School Board Division 5. Her experience aligns with the responsibilities of the role, which include policy development, budget oversight, and promoting a high-quality learning environment. Her mental health expertise could be particularly beneficial in addressing student wellbeing.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"Dr. Audrey Elion is a youth and education advocate, mental health professional, and chair of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council.\n\nLinks:\n\nBallotpedia Link: [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Audrey_Elion)\n\nLinkedin: [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aelion/)\n\nLeaders of Color Link: [Leaders of Color](https://www.leadersofcolor.net/post/leaders-of-color-memphis-fellows-running-for-memphis-shelby-county-school-board)","firstname":"Audrey","lastname":"Elion","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"VFlLQpZZ0e"},"token":"audrey_elion"}],"choices":null,"description":"A Memphis Shelby County School Board member is responsible for representing the interests of the division's students, parents, and educators in the policymaking process. This role involves developing and implementing policies that enhance educational outcomes, overseeing the district's budget, and ensuring accountability in school administration. Additionally, the board member collaborates with other board members, community stakeholders, and educational leaders to address local educational needs and promote a high-quality learning environment. They are paid 20,000 a year, and meet at the Francis E. Coe Administration Building, 160 S. Hollywood Street, at 5:30 p.m. on the final Tuesday of each month.","district":"5","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"Shelby County School Board","districtname":"District 5","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_division_5","office":"county_school_board_division_5","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":"County School Board Division 5","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County School Board Division 5"}