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Contributed commentary by Karen Reynolds on Teresa Crosslin’s appointment to the School Board:

Clarksville-Montgomery County families are watching the latest School Board appointment unfold with frustration, confusion and a growing loss of confidence in the process. After Herbert Nelson resigned, four individuals stepped forward to serve District 5. Three were unquestionably qualified, bringing leadership, school system experience, and the ability to represent families effectively from Day 1.

But the County Commission did not vote based on credentials. They voted along political lines, and the least prepared nominee was selected. Within hours, the appointment fell apart. Now, after withdrawing that resignation, we are facing even deeper division and uncertainty at a moment when the school system needs stability more than ever.

| PREVIOUSLY: Crosslin withdraws School Board resignation, says ‘Gigolos’ appearance will not define her

Let me be clear: This situation is not the fault of one individual. It is the result of a decision-making process that has stopped prioritizing qualifications and started prioritizing ideological loyalty.

Families are rightly worried that candidates are being selected not based on professional readiness, but based on whether they will support book restrictions, adopt anti-LGBTQ positions, or vote a certain way on culture-war issues. That is not good governance, and it is not how you build a high-performing public school system in one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee.

Public trust has been damaged, and not because of one person’s past, but because the public no longer believes their elected officials are choosing the best-qualified leaders for the job.

This matters even more now, as the County Commission is responsible not only for the School Board vacancy, but also for appointing the person who will represent Montgomery County in Nashville after the passing of Rep. Jeff Burkhart. The next legislative session will again debate school vouchers and other policies that could reshape public education and local funding.

These are not ceremonial seats. They shape budgets, curriculum, teacher recruitment, student services and our district’s future.

We need a commission that chooses leaders based on competence, not ideology or personal alliances. We need decisions that restore confidence rather than deepen political mistrust. And above all, we need public servants who will put students, educators and families first.

Montgomery County deserves better, and voters are paying attention.

Karen Reynolds

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