Q&A with WCS Board candidate Claire Reeves

The News has reached out to all Williamson County School Board candidates for this election. These are their complete answers. To read all of the Q&A responses visit the landing page here.

Name: Claire Reeves

District: 9

Personal bio: I grew up on a farm in Nebraska and later pursued degrees in biology and biotechnology from Duke University and Johns Hopkins University, respectively. I earned my Ph.D. in Cellular, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies from Columbia University, focusing on blood vessel formation as it relates to tumor growth.

Since 2019 (pre-COVID), my family and I have called Williamson County home, where I'm deeply involved in our community. As a mom of three and a passionate supporter of education, I've served as PTO president at my kids’ elementary school, spearheading initiatives that earned me the 2023 Shining Apple Award from Williamson County Schools.

Professionally, I'm the Vice President of Education at a real estate education company, responsible for creating and delivering educational programs to over 12,000 members. I know a lot of working parents like me get involved with our kids’ schools because it’s important to do that - we have a current vested interest.

Outside of work and education, I love the arts and fostering creativity in children, particularly through programs like Odyssey of the Mind, STEM, and theater activities. As a common-sense conservative, I'm committed to making a positive impact in our community. Voters want parents like me who have already been active volunteers to step forward. I’m not a politician, but I am willing to serve my fellow parents in this community. Every taxpayer is important but engaged parents are the key to strong public education.

Share your education experience: K -12 public school in Nebraska – I have fond memories from elementary middle, and high school and remain in contact with many wonderful teachers from that time. My high school biology teacher sparked my interest in science when we dissected fetal pigs. He was the Nebraska Teacher of the Year in 2011 and I will be forever grateful for his influence in my life. In every lesson taught and every moment of encouragement given, teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

• Bachelor of Science in Biology from Duke University
• Master of Science in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University
• Master of Arts in Cell and Molecular Biology from Columbia University
• Master of Philosophy in Cell and Molecular Biology from Columbia University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Molecular Biology from Columbia University

Career: I am currently Vice President of Education for a real estate education company. I have a doctorate in cell and molecular biology and was a scientist and science writer for many years: I worked at the NIH, I worked at Celera Genomics decoding the human genome, and I was a breast cancer researcher. I know how to analyze data of all types. I’m a critical thinker, problem solver, and excellent communicator - these skill sets will serve me well as a school board member.

Volunteer work:

• Served on the Pearre Creek Elementary PTO executive board as 1st Vice President, President, and Ex-Officio.
• Volunteer recognition by Williamson County Schools in the form of the Shining Apple Award in 2023.
• Room Parent Coordinator at Pearre Creek Elementary for the ’23-24 school year
• Have also volunteered for Franklin Rodeo, One Gen Away, Girl Scouts (cookie mom for many years), and Rolling Hills Community Church

Why did you decide to run in this election?

I have always been very involved with my children’s education because I recognize the vital role engaged parents play in shaping our schools. Involved parents are key to strong public education. The chaotic City of Franklin election in October 2023 made me realize that parents like me with proven leadership skills, and with children in our public schools, must step up and serve the community in elected positions. Our students and teachers deserve common sense, not chaos.

What do you think most qualifies you to serve on the board of education?

While I am no longer actively conducting bench research, the skills I developed from my education, training, and experience as a research scientist and science writer are directly applicable to the role of a school board member.

I’m data-driven - I analyze data and ask the right questions. I’m a critical thinker and problem solver – I’ll bring new and unique ideas to the table. I’ll engage in robust, constructive debate. I’m an excellent communicator.

People often say to me, “Claire makes things clear.” I know how to communicate in a concise manner. In my current role as Vice President of Education & Member Experience, I act as an educator with a bent towards customer service. I listen to people and offer solutions. These skills will serve me well as a board member.

What is the most important issue facing the Williamson County board today?

There are so many issues facing public school districts, and the priority of those issues shift over time. If forced to choose just one issue at this moment, it’s teacher and staff satisfaction, recruiting, and retention. There was a math teacher at a district 9 school who retired but came back at the start of the ’23-’24 school year because no replacement had been hired. A quick search of the WCS career webpage shows that there are still numerous full-time teaching positions open at schools across the district as the start of the ’24-’25 school year rapidly approaches. The answer to this issue is not teacher pay alone, though I would love the district to shift to merit-based compensation and bonuses as a part of our overall compensation to incentivize and reward excellence in our professional teachers. We need to make sure WCS is providing a positive work environment, professional growth opportunities, and identifying and addressing areas that slow recruiting and cause attrition.

What do you plan to bring to the table for your district's parents and children?

I'm here to listen to the parents and students in District 9 first and foremost. My priority is putting our students at the center of everything we do. I am a problem-solver—if there's an issue, I'll work hard to fix it. And if it's beyond my scope, I'll make sure we find the right help. Together, let's make sure our kids get the best support they need to succeed.

This is the first time your districts are voting in a partisan school board election. Why are you running a candidate for your representative party?

I am a lifelong Republican. That is why I am running as a Republican.

What role does politics have in the education system?

Politics permeates pretty much everything today, including education. The education system is significantly influenced by political decisions, from the formulation of policies and allocation of funding to establishing curriculum standards and educational priorities. Furthermore, there are numerous examples of political ideologies and agendas creeping into classrooms across the nation. Many parents are fed up with the pervasive political influence and are demanding a return to the basics: reading, writing, and arithmetic. They want their children to receive a solid foundation in these core subjects without the distraction of political agendas. It's time to refocus our educational priorities on what truly matters—equipping our students with the fundamental skills they need to succeed in life.

We've just hit a new fiscal year so the board is under a new budget and the superintendent's contract has been renewed. With that in mind please answer the following questions as if you're sitting on the board a year from now.

What kind of questions would you have when reviewing the budget?

I believe in a fiscally conservative budget, recognizing that staffing represents over 75% of the budget. A good measure of conservative growth is the growth rate of the budget compared to the projected student growth rate plus inflation and wage increases. The WCS budget meets that conservative standard. Budget line items I will prioritize include teacher and staff pay, high quality curriculum, and the arts. I will continue to ensure that we don’t add unneeded positions and operating expenses while supporting the continued increases in teacher pay if we can do so in a sustainable manner without continually raising taxes.

What changes do you think can be made to benefit the schools in your district?

I do want to ensure that the district is adopting high quality, age-appropriate curriculums that have existing evidence of positively impacting student outcomes (meaning the curriculum maker conducted a study in actual classrooms with actual students and the students’ test scores improved).

I believe the district has stumbled in this regard. As an example, the district adopted new math curriculum last year across all grade levels. The curriculum chosen for K-5 was purely research-based, not evidence-based. I have heard concerns about the new math from both teachers and parents, and like many parents, I personally struggled to help my second grader with math homework last year because it was so different from how I learned math. Parents shouldn't have to struggle to help their children with elementary math. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. In my opinion, there were better evidence-based math curriculum options on the table. As a parent, I wonder why we didn’t choose one of those instead.

The district will adopt new curriculum for science, physical education/wellness, fine arts, and career and technical education (CTE) in 2024-2025. I believe we can bring even more transparency to the curriculum adoption process, and my background as a scientist will serve me well during the review process. I will prioritize adopting high-quality, evidence-based curriculum across all subjects.

What do you need to see from the superintendent's annual review to renew again and/or what would make you not renew?

I support giving Superintendent Golden the opportunity to work with the new school board. While I agree with some of his decisions and disagree with others, it’s vital to consider the overall impact of his leadership. Decisions that prioritize student welfare, improve educational outcomes, and support teachers will be viewed positively. Conversely, decisions that have not yielded desired results or negatively impacted the district will need to be carefully examined.

What's a final statement you'd like to leave for the community?

My extensive involvement as a parent volunteer in our neighborhood school, coupled with my passion for education, leadership experience, and scientific background, uniquely qualify me for the role of a board member. Williamson County Schools consistently rank among the top in the state. I would like to see our schools become a benchmark for educational excellence across the nation and I humbly ask for your vote and support in this important endeavor.