{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"NIKKI GRIFFITH REYNOLDS","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"NIKKI","lastname":"REYNOLDS","middlename":"GRIFFITH","suffix":null,"token":"dumyQbbU3c"},"token":"nikki_griffith_reynolds"},{"candidatename":"MONTI MCMAHAN HILLIS","chatgptsummary":"Monti McMahan Hillis brings over thirty years of classroom teaching and administrative experience as a principal to the role, directly addressing demands for policy judgment, superintendent evaluation, and constituent relations. Her leadership roles in education associations and accreditation teams further demonstrate relevant background. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate specific experience with county commission budget coordination or state-mandated annual training completion.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMonti McMahan Hillis is the Republican nominee for the Warren County Board of Education, District 1, in the August 6, 2026 county general election, facing independent candidate Nikki Griffith Reynolds [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nHillis holds a Bachelor of Science in education (secondary social sciences) from Tennessee Technological University, a Master of Arts in education from Cumberland University, and an Education Specialist degree in administration and supervision from Middle Tennessee State University [3].\n\n## Career\nHillis is principal of Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary School in McMinnville, part of Warren County Schools [3]. She has more than 30 years of classroom teaching experience in Warren County schools \u2014 including Boyd, Morrison, Centertown and Warren County High School \u2014 and previously served as an assistant principal at Warren County High School [3]. She has been president of the Warren County Education Association and of the Tennessee Cheer Coaches and Advisors Association, has served on visiting teams for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is the Upper Cumberland representative to the Tennessee Principals Study Council [3]. She is a graduate of Leadership McMinnville and the Warren County Schools Leadership Institute and a life member of McMinnville Junior Auxiliary [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Ballots for Aug. 6 election set \u2014 Main Street Journal](https://www.mainstreetjournal.llc/ballots-for-aug-6-election-set/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Early polls open Friday \u2014 Main Street Journal](https://www.mainstreetjournal.llc/early-polls-open-friday/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Principal's Message \u2014 Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary, Warren County Schools](https://bres.warrenschools.com/about-us/principals-message) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"MONTI","lastname":"HILLIS","middlename":"MCMAHAN","suffix":null,"token":"x0KgTjZwst"},"token":"monti_mcmahan_hillis"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_1","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":"2026-07-21","title":"Warren County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.warrencountytn.gov/Sample%20Ballots%208-6-26%20%281%29.pdf"},"title":"School Board District 1"}