CLARKSVILLE, TN – Dr. Laura Dillard Barnett has announced her candidacy for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board, District 2.
Barnett grew up attending Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools before enrolling at Austin Peay State University to earn her B.A. in English and Business, MAED in Curriculum & Instruction, and Ed.S. degree in Administration and Supervision. She completed her doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practices at Trevecca University.
She began her 32-year career as an English teacher at Northwest High School. She then served as an assistant principal at Northwest High and New Providence Middle, then as principal at New Providence and Rossview Middle. Since 2020, she has been an assistant professor in the Austin Peay Eriksson College of Education as the graduate coordinator for the MAED Educational Leadership program.
She also serves as a mentor principal to current CMCSS school leaders and was named a Faculty Fellow by the Tennessee Department of Education in January 2024 to work on an online curriculum source as a pipeline for teacher credentialing in Tennessee. In addition to her career in education, Barnett serves as a surrogate parent to several students in CMCSS who are in foster care. She and her husband Chris co-teach the college-age Sunday school class at First Baptist Clarksville, and she serves on the Finance Committee for the church. Barnett has been the president of the College of Education Alumni for five years. Her expertise lies heavily in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as well as in supports for students with disabilities.
Barnett said she is running for the District 2 office to elevate the needs of students, teachers and parents in the decisions that are made at the board level. As a conservative leader, she said, she understands the values and practices that contribute to excellence in education.
Barnett has three young adult children who all attended CMCSS schools.
For more, go to barnettforschoolboard.com.
Information from Laura Barnett campaign