In a Wednesday press release, Sandy Norris Smith announced that she is running for Hamilton County School Board in District 8.
Sandy is a life-long resident of Hamilton County, graduating from East Ridge High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and an MEd in Special Education. Sandy taught in both the public and private sector during her 30-plus-year career.
One of her many accomplishments was creating the school program at Valley Hospital and guiding accreditation for the program. In addition to her work at Valley Hospital, she began her career working for the State of Tennessee in the Re-Ed programs at Moccasin Bend and Lakeshore Mental Health Institute in Knoxville.
She worked in both Chattanooga Public Schools and Hamilton County School systems prior to and after the two merged.
Sandy made the decision to run for School Board to provide a voice for students, parents and teachers. During her career, Sandy worked to further the most effective educational methods benefiting students while engaging parents and school administration. She possesses a passion for learning at every level. Sandy recognizes the unique challenges educators are currently facing. Insights gained from her experience as a classroom teacher in Hamilton County will aid in decisions at the School Board level to improve schools, classrooms, and learning.
Sandy will work for consensus with other board members to guide policy decisions that improve learning while adapting to the impact of the current extraordinary learning environment. She fervently believes that partisan politics have no place impacting the education and future of students. She will act in the best interest of schools and students to provide a foundation that will benefit those who teach and those who learn in our schools.
Sandy pledges to abide by three profound guiding principles to deliver to the voters of Hamilton County a school system capable of adapting to 21st Century challenges.
- Sandy possesses EXPERIENCE AND VISION
- She is committed to EXCELLENCE
- She will work to achieve EQUITY for schools, students, and teachers while valuing parent contribution.
Professional and civic organization with whom Sandy is affiliated – past and present:
Delta Kappa Gamma (An honorary women educators’ society)
Alpha Delta Pi Alumni
League of Women Voters
C.A.L.E.B. (Chattanoogan’s Acting in Love, Equality, and Benevolence)
UnifEd
Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network
The Unity Group
Hamilton County Voters’ Coalition
Chattanooga Hamilton County Retired Teachers’ Association
Tennessee Retired Teachers’ Association
NEA Retired
Mayor’s Council for Women – Women’s Leadership Institute
YMCA Camp Ocoee Board of Directors
Suicidal Emergency Survivor Response Team
SCCGA South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance Member
Contact Sandy Smith at sandynorrissmithtn@gmail.com
