{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"BARBARA CONWELL CRAWFORD","chatgptsummary":"Dr. Barbara Conwell Crawford's thirty-seven-year career as a teacher and principal in Nashville demonstrates relevant policy judgment, budget literacy through district operations, and constituent relations skills. She has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience with county commission coordination or state-required annual training completion.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDr. Barbara J. Conwell Crawford is the Democratic Party nominee for Sumner County School Board District 5, facing Republican incumbent Steven J. King on the August 6, 2026 ballot [1]. Her stated priorities are adequate funding for programs and resources, higher educator salaries, a focus on social and emotional learning, greater community engagement, and increased transparency and trust [2].\n\n## Background and education\nCrawford is a retired educator and pastor who lives in Goodlettsville [2]. She holds a B.S. in elementary education from Tennessee State University, an M.S. in reading from Middle Tennessee State University, a Doctor of Education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University [2].\n\n## Career\nCrawford served 37 years in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System as a teacher, reading specialist, and principal [2]. As principal of Wharton Middle School she established Nashville's first middle-school arts magnet program (Creswell Arts Magnet), and she began her teaching career as \"one of the first African-American teachers assigned to a previously all-White school\" [2]. Her honors include the National Council of Christians and Jews Brotherhood-Sisterhood Educator of the Year Award and the Frist Principal Award [2].\n\n## Family\nCrawford is married to James; they have two sons and three grandchildren [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Barbara Crawford for School Board \u2014 campaign site](https://barbaracrawfordforschoolboard.com) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"BARBARA","lastname":"CRAWFORD","middlename":"CONWELL","suffix":null,"token":"f1V1nnzppD"},"token":"barbara_conwell_crawford"},{"candidatename":"STEVEN J. KING","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nSteven J. King is a candidate for Haywood County Commission, District 3, in the August 6, 2026 county general election.\n\nNo further biographical information from a reliable, Haywood-County-specific public source was located for this candidate.","firstname":"STEVEN","lastname":"KING","middlename":"J.","suffix":null,"token":"2bgvIbtRJw"},"token":"steven_j_king"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_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 for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"School Board Member","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"sumner County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/b131fe1092a6465a92a366ccaf28782e09dcabe8.pdf"},"title":"School Board Member District 5"}