From Tanya T. Coats, President, Tennessee Education Association

As the new school year begins, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude and hope to every school board member across Tennessee. You stepped forward to serve not for glory or recognition but because you care deeply about doing what’s right for our students, educators, and communities. You are bridge builders, standing at the intersection of policy and practice, community and classroom.

We know that you don’t write the laws or mandates handed down from Nashville. But we also know your role is vital in how those policies are carried out in our local schools. In that space—in the decisions about implementation, priorities, and culture—you have powerful influence. And we believe that influence is most effective when it is shaped by the wisdom of those closest to the work: our educators.

There is implicit trust that school board members will seek and value the voices of those on the front lines: the teachers, support staff, and administrators who know firsthand what our students need to thrive. Listening to educators leads to better decisions and stronger outcomes, and our students deserve nothing less.

At the Tennessee Education Association, we are your partners in this work. Our members are not only educators; they are neighbors, parents, taxpayers, and leaders in your communities. We want what you want: to make Tennessee the very best place to live, to teach, and to learn.

That’s why I’ve focused my leadership platform on the 4 Rs:

• Relationships – because collaboration between boards and educators builds trust and unity.
• Resources – because our schools need equitable, sufficient funding to support every child.
• Retention – because we cannot build strong schools without keeping great educators in our classrooms.
• Respect – because every educator deserves to be treated as a professional and valued as a contributor to student success.

School boards play a pivotal role in advancing all four. When you invest in teacher voice, when you support sustainable staffing and fair compensation, when you advocate for policies that center student growth over politics—you show your commitment to the 4 Rs and to a thriving public education system.

As we embark on this school year together, know that TEA stands ready to collaborate, problem-solve, and lead alongside you. Our schools succeed when we do. Our students flourish when we do.

Let’s make this a year of partnership, progress, and promise for every student, every educator, and every community in Tennessee.

In solidarity,

Tanya T. Coats
President, Tennessee Education Association