{"county":"shelby","description":"","district":"5","districtgroup":"county_school_board","id":106,"key":"county_school_board_division_5","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Sable Otey","next_election":"2020-11-03","notes":"116","officegroup":"county_school_board","partisan":0,"party":"","qualities":"- 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.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2028-08-01","term_start":"2024-08-01","term_years":4,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2020-08-06","name":"Sheleah Harris","person":{"biography":"Sheleah Harris is a native Memphian and servant leader in relentless pursuit to create environments that cultivate an attitude of excellence within communities and neighborhoods throughout Memphis. She serves as the Local and State Government Affairs Manager with Verizon in Tennessee, where she leads the charge for innovation by collaborating with community stakeholders and legislatures to drive equity by addressing the digital divide and implementing a sustainable philanthropic footprint in Memphis and Nashville. Sheleah is also the Founder and Executive Director of Living Grace, Inc. a non-profit organization that advocates and provides resources for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Memphis. In August of 2020, she became the first woman and African-American to represent Shelby County Schools District 5 as a School Board Commissioner.\n\nAs a strong advocate for building wealth in the Black community, Sheleah has created a scholarship program, Legacy Leaders, to support and promote young Black entrepreneurs in Memphis. In 2018, she launched the InventHER STEM Conference that provides a space for minority high school girls to connect and promote interests in careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In addition, she consistently serves as a philanthropist, supporting programs throughout Memphis that directly impact minority children and focus on growth for underserved communities though education.","firstname":"Sheleah","lastname":"Harris","token":"7j7RR42cID"},"term_end":"2024-09-01","term_start":"2020-09-01"},{"current":1,"description":null,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","name":"Sable Otey","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","token":"edOzTZccXV"},"term_end":"2028-08-01","term_start":"2024-08-01"}],"title":"County School Board Division 5","type":"legislative","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-04-25 19:49:19"}