SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: Gaugh running to help students improve in JMCSS

Glen Gaugh is a father with two children in the Jackson-Madison County School System.

He’s also an advocate for school choice for all families and wants to ensure that JMCSS schools are the best choice possible for all families who choose to send their children there.

“I’m a JMCSS product since I graduated from Jackson Central-Merry in 1998,” Gaugh said. “I also worked with school-aged children from elementary to high school as a mental health professional and crisis social worker serving every school system in West Tennessee.

“I’ve seen the challenges students and teachers have in addressing needs of various levels of capability among students – emotional, mental and socioeconomic challenges within the family structure.”

Gaugh said he believes that experience makes him an ideal person to be elected to the JMCSS Board.

He’s running to represent District 2 against incumbent Ken Newman.

Gaugh said he’s worked hard campaigning dating back to before the Republican primary in March, and he’s learned a lot from the voters in that time.

“I’ve talked to a lot of voters on doorsteps and at different gatherings in the community,” Gaugh said. “These people in many cases don’t have kids in the district, but others have had or currently have students in the district.

“The ones who have kids in the district question if they’re getting served with a quality education that is meeting their needs, and the ones who have had kids in the district before but decided to look elsewhere at private school or homeschool didn’t feel like their needs were being met.”

Gaugh said he’s hearing from parents of children at different ends of the spectrum of need that they’re not being served.

“Some parents with students who have extra needs don’t feel like the individual school’s administrators or teachers are effectively doing enough for their child,” Gaugh said. “And those who have exceptional students don’t feel like their children are being challenged enough.

“If we can create a district that adequately meets the needs for everyone, then I think we’ll begin to see the district and everyone in it perform at a level many thought not possible.”

Gaugh said he appreciates the innovation department of the district and the work they’re doing in robotics and STEAM education.

“The District has things it’s doing well, and it’s trying new things that have potential,” Gaugh said. “But my main concern is the students themselves and ensuring that as a District, we’re spending as much of our budget as possible solely for the betterment of the students.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news