Q&A with WCS Board candidate Jennifer Aprea

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: Jennifer Aprea

District: 5

Personal bio: I am a former elementary teacher and mother of two who has been actively involved in my community and local schools as a volunteer. My family moved to Williamson County specifically for the schools. I currently work as the Director of Family Engagement in Special Education at The Arc Tennessee.

Share your education experience: I graduated from the University of California, Irvine and also earned my teaching credential there.

Career: I spent 12 years teaching grades K-6 until my son was born prematurely. Then I stopped teaching and started a business that I grew from the ground up. Once my kids were in school full time, I went back to work at The Arc Tennessee to combine my passion for advocating for children with disabilities and my background in teaching to help families and schools work together to improve student outcomes.

Volunteer work: For the past 9 years I have volunteered in my kids’ schools in some capacity every year since they started in the EC program at Pearce Creek. Now they’ll both be in middle school!

Why did you decide to run in this election?

I am running to keep our schools strong and healthy. I’d like to continue building on my experience after my first four years serving on the board. I have learned a lot and would love to continue this work to ensure that every child in our district has access to high-quality education and the support they need to succeed.

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

My extensive experience as a teacher, my firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by educators and students, and my proven dedication to advocating for excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts. I bring a unique perspective to the board as a former teacher and parent to a child with disabilities. My four years of experience serving on the board gives me solid insights into the current issues WCS is facing.

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

I’d say the most important issue in WCS is retaining our amazing teachers and attracting the best to join them by valuing their professionalism with compensation that demonstrates their worth. But specifically in District 5, our biggest issue is managing growth and overcrowding in our schools. Our schools in Nolensville are the most overcrowded, and I have ideas for real solutions to solving this issue with proactive planning according the 5-year capital plan that don’t involve constant rezonings for students.

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

I plan to continue building on my last four years of experience. I bring a collaborative approach, listening to the needs and concerns of families and educators, and working tirelessly to address them. My focus will be on advocating for a long term solution to our overcrowding issues that avoids constant rezoning, supporting teachers, and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

This is the first time your districts are voting in a partisan school board election. Why are you running as an independent candidate?

I am running as an independent candidate because I believe that education should transcend political affiliations. My focus is on the best interests of our students and community.

What role does politics have in the education system?

While certain decisions, especially related to funding at the state and county level, are inevitably influenced by politics, it is crucial that the primary focus of the school board remains on the welfare of our excellent schools. Politics should not overshadow the needs of our students and educators.

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?

As a sitting board member, you can see my record of questions I’ve asked about the budget over the last four years in the recorded meetings. I always take the time to dig into the PCR section to see the staffing ratios and I particularly like to focus in on special education. With the overcrowding we are dealing with in Nolensville area schools, I like to look at the capital spending as well.

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

For changes that would benefit schools in my district, I would like to consider ways we can address the overcrowding in our schools. And of course think about what changes need to be made to better support our teachers to improve teacher retention and recruitment.

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

I’d like to review policies about the use of technology in school, especially in our younger grades. And I’m looking forward to the discussion around school start times based on the latest strategic plan.

As an incumbent seeking re-election, you can see my record of rating Superintendent Golden over the last 4 years and my voting record of supporting renewing and extending his annual contract. I remain impressed with how he handles challenging issues with a thoughtful, measured, and level-headed approach. He is professional and very knowledgeable in his role after decades of dedicated service to WCS.

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

I am proud of the progress we’ve made during my first term, but there is still work to be done. As the only incumbent running for re-election out of six open seats across the district, I bring valuable experience and continuity to the board. I ask for your support to continue this important work, to bring real solutions to our overcrowded schools, to support our exceptional teachers, and to ensure every student in our district has the opportunity to thrive.