"Make Our Schools The Best!
Friends,
Our future depends on students now in school and we can all make a difference for these students’ education. We can give direct support as teachers, parents, volunteers. We can speak up at local school board meetings. We can run for elected office. Each of these actions can help our students attain their educational goals!
Here are some stats showing how the current leaders fail our K-12 students
TN ranks 47th in the nation for student funding. Gov. Lee has us nearly $1,000 per student behind Mississippi.
GOP puts vouchers over public schools. Gov. Bill Lee’s private school voucher is worth $7,295 — more state funding than most Tennessee public school students receive. In fact, research from EdTrust Tennessee shows that at least 51% of public school students will receive less per-student funding than Lee’s voucher recipients.
Teacher compensation among the worst in the South. According to the Southern Regional Education Board Teacher Compensation Dashboard, Tennessee ranks 2nd highest for insurance costs and dead last for retirement benefits.
38th in average teacher pay. The average pay for a Tennessee public school teacher is $58,630, according to the NEA’s 2025 Rankings & Estimates report. That is $13,400 less than the national average.
If you feel deeply about this issue, local school board positions will be on the ballot in 2026. You can run, support candidates, show up to school board meetings. Let’s turn out to turn up the pressure to improve our schools.
Join us as we strengthen our community through Democratic leadership. Help out by volunteering, donating to the BCDP and attending our events. A particular plug for leadership in the BCDP - we have a need for reps in Districts 5 & 6. Contact Ginny Larsen if you have an interest in serving in this capacity.
Finally, we have heard feedback on people eager to participate in another mass mobilization event like the “No Kings Day” in June. You can look forward to doing this on Labor Day, September 1, and we will be sure to communicate opportunities to make your voices heard at upcoming events as details are announced.
It is so important to have democrats who will support our friends and neighbors, giving all the opportunity to create a better life in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee! "
⚡⚡⚡
Btw, Republicans are just Nazis out of uniform. - duppers
= new reply since forum marked as read