{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jeremy Burnett","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":"","party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJeremy Burnett is a candidate for the Lakeland Board of Commissioners [3]. He has previously served on the Lakeland School Board [4].\n\n## Background and education\nBurnett earned a Bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration and a Master of Science in Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality, both from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville [1]. He has been a resident of Lakeland since early 2012 [3].\n\n## Career\nBurnett has worked at Southwest Tennessee Community College since 2000, currently serving as Dean of Faculty Support [1]. He has previously held the roles of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Department Chair, Director of Distance Education, and Director of Faculty Advising at the same institution [1]. Prior to higher education, he worked in the hotel and casino industry, including with Kemmons Wilson Companies (Holiday Inn) and the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas [1].\n\nBurnett serves on the Board of Directors of the Lakeland Education Foundation [1]. He is an active member of Faith Baptist Church, where he volunteers in the preschool ministry [1]. He has been involved with Boy Scouts for more than 12 years, serving as Cubmaster, Merit Badge Counselor, Eagle Mentor, and Troop Committee Chair [1].\n\n## Family\nBurnett is married to Rachel Burnett. They have three children: Andrew (19), Anne (10), and Addison (6) [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-burnett-0a487b45/)\n[2] [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JeremyBunett/)\n[3] [Lakeland Currents \u2013 Candidacy](https://lakelandcurrents.com/jeremy-burnett-candidate-for-board-of-commissioners/)\n[4] [Lakeland Currents \u2013 School Board](https://lakelandcurrents.com/meet-the-two-newly-appointed-members-of-the-lakeland-school-board/)\n[5] [Lakeland Currents \u2013 Petitions](https://lakelandcurrents.com/lakeland-candidates-pull-petitions-to-run-for-city-offices-this-fall/)\n[6] [Lakeland School System Board](https://www.lakelandk12.org/board)\n","firstname":"Jeremy","lastname":"","middlename":"Burnett","suffix":null,"token":"meQzNpaQmn"},"token":"jeremy_burnett"},{"candidatename":"Michelle Stinson Childs","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":"","party":"","person":{"biography":"##Education\nMichelle Stinson Childs holds both a bachelor\u2019s and a master\u2019s degree in social work from the University of Alabama. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Tennessee.\n\n##Experience\nMichelle has been a resident of Lakeland since 2008 (aside from a brief period in Poland due to her family\u2019s expat assignment). She has over 20 years of experience working with students, notably as a social worker for Youth Villages, where she served for 16 years. Her work involved foster children and their educational needs, and she has also assisted youth in crisis through Crisis Text Line. She currently serves as Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Juvenile Court in Memphis and Shelby County.\n\n##Family\nMichelle is married to Craig Childs, and they have two children who have attended Lakeland Elementary and Lakeland Middle Preparatory Schools.\n\n##Personal Statement\nMichelle emphasizes her dedication to supporting the \u201cwhole child,\u201d focusing on both the academic and mental health needs of students. Her experience as a social worker and her involvement in the Lakeland School Board has allowed her to contribute to important initiatives, such as planning the city's first high school.\n\n##Community Involvement and Recognition\nIn addition to her professional role, Michelle has been actively involved in community services, such as volunteering at local schools and working with her church\u2019s outreach programs. She has also helped implement programs like a weekly reading helper initiative at Lakeland Elementary School and similar efforts at Cordova Elementary School.\n\n##Further Information and Resources\nFor more details, you can refer to [Lakeland Currents](https://lakelandcurrents.com/) for updates regarding Michelle Childs and her contributions.","firstname":"Michelle","lastname":"Childs","middlename":"Stinson","suffix":null,"token":"Sx9MQlNpbG"},"token":"michelle_stinson_childs"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"lakeland","districtgroup":"municipality","districtgroupname":"Municipality","districtname":"Lakeland","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"lakeland_school_board","office":"lakeland_school_board","officedescription":"Members of the Lakeland School System school board govern the Lakeland School System municipal school district, separate from Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Five members are elected to staggered four-year terms. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts district policies, approves the budget, sets district goals, and oversees compliance with federal and state education law. Members are required to complete seven hours of training annually through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.\n\n**Compensation:** stipend set locally; state law requires a minimum of $4/day ([T.C.A. \u00a7 49-2-202](https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-49/chapter-2/part-2/section-49-2-202/)).","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on a small suburban district within Shelby County \u2014 Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, or Millington \u2014 typically several thousand students across a single elementary/middle/high feeder pattern.\n- Budget literacy for both operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the suburban municipality (which provides matching local funds in some configurations).\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, and community members across an actively engaged small 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":"School Board Lakeland","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":2,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"School Board Lakeland"}