What is TQEE’s Rural PreK Coalition

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About the Rural PreK Coalition

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]TQEE’s Rural PreK Coalition is a coalition of 113 elected leaders and directors of schools from the 39 rural counties in Tennessee designed by the Appalachian Regional Commission as economically distressed or at-risk of becoming distressed. You can view a map and more information about those counties HERE.

PreK is a proven strategy for improving 3rd grade reading and math, yet 60% of our children have no access. Among those adversely affected are children and families living in our rural distressed and at-risk communities.

That’s why this coalition came together to advocate for increasing the number of PreK classrooms in their communities. See what they had to say in their letter below to the Chairs of the Tennessee House and Senate Education Committees.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

94% of Tennessee Voters Agree
With Expanding Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K for ALL 4-Year-Olds.

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Letter to Legislative Leaders

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January 31, 2020

The Honorable Dolores Gresham
Chairwoman
Senate Education Committee
744 CHB
Nashville, TN 37243

The Honorable Mark White
Chairman
House Education Committee
624 CHB
Nashville, TN 37243

Dear Senator Gresham and Representative White:

As representatives of the counties designated as rural distressed or at-risk, we believe improving the lives of our citizens must include access to a quality early education. In the same way Governor Lee has prioritized state economic, workforce and mental health resources for our struggling communities, we are requesting that expansion of pre-k seats, where good quality and demonstrated need exist, also be prioritized.

Overwhelming evidence supports that children who have high-quality pre-k sustain their academic gains beyond 3rd grade. Experts agree that children who are not proficient in reading and math by 3rd grade are:

4 times more likely to drop out of high school;
60 % less likely to pursue a post-secondary opportunity, and;
At-risk children are 70% more likely to commit a violent crime if not exposed to an early childhood education.

Revitalizing our counties for the current and future generations will take sustained attention and a variety
of strategies. But long-range viability will be built on the educational foundation of our children. To that end, we call on our state leaders to support increasing the number of Voluntary PreK seats available to children in rural distressed and at-risk counties.

We thank you for your immediate attention to this issue and for your service to the citizens of Tennessee.

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Rural PreK Coalition Members

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Bledsoe County

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Zach Olendorf
Assessor

Deanna Rains
Trustee

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Genese Sapp
County Clerk

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Greggory Ridley
Mayor

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Emma Boynton
Register of Deeds

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Carroll County

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Darlen Kirk
County Clerk

Rita Jones
Assessor

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Joseph Butler
Mayor

Paula Bolen
Trustee

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Lynn Watkins
Director of Schools

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Jill Holland
Mayor, McKenzie

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Claiborne County

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Alice Alexander
Trustee

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Karen Hurst
County Clerk

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Rita Jones
Clerk and Master

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Decatur County

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Beth Hays
Trustee

Elizabeth Carpenter
Clerk and Master

Steve Glass
Assessor

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Chris Vilafor
Director of Schools

Melinda Broadway
County Clerk

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Danny Tanner
Circuit Court Clerk

Mike Creasy
Mayor

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TIm Boaz
Mayor, Parsons

Regina Tillman
Register of Deeds

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Grainger County

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Angie Lamb
County Clerk

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Johnny Morgan
Assessor

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Mark Hamm
Veterans Officer

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Rena Greer
Trustee

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Hardeman County

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Janice Bodiford
Clerk and Master

Julian McTizic
Mayor, Bolivar

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Jerry Armstrong
County Clerk

Lily Barnes
Register of Deeds

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Jimmy Sain
Mayor

Mary W. Powell
Trustee

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Josh Pulse
Assessor

Michael Jones
Police Chief, Bolivar

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Haywood County

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Billy Garrett Jr.
Sheriff

Sonya Castellaw
County Clerk

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David Livingston
Mayor

Steve Smith
Register of Deeds

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Gwen Watson
Assessor

WIlliam L. Howse
Trustee

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Joey Hassell
Director of Schools

William Rawls Jr.
Mayor Brownsville

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Henderson County

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Ann Anderson
School Board – Lexington

Carolyn Holmes
County Clerk

Eddie Bray
Mayor

Jeff Griggs
Mayor – Lexington

Rob Helms
School Board – Lexington

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Beverly Dunaway
Circuit Court Clerk

Chad Woods
School Board – Lexington

Gary Pope
Assessor

Jim Terry
School Board – Lexington

Roger Loftin
Police Chief – Lexington

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Brian Duke
Sheriff

Cindy Olive
Director of Schools – Lexington

Jack Hinson
School Board – Lexington

John Cavness
Trustee

Steve Wilkinson
Director of Schools

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Carol Cooley
School Board – Lexington

Doug Barthlomew
Register of Deeds

Jason Bates
School Board – Lexington

Leigh Milam
County Clerk

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Houston County

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Donna Vincent
Circuit Court Clerk

Sherill Moore
Register of Deeds

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James Bridges
Mayor

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Jimmy Lowery
Trustee

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Joy Hooper
Assessor

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Johnson County

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Kevin Parsons
Mayor – Mountain City

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Mike Taylor
Mayor

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Lauderdale County

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Greg Summar
Register of Deeds

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Renate Jennings
Assessor

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Sandra Burnham
County Clerk

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Lewis County

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Barbara Hinson
Circuit Court Clerk

Sandra Clayton
County Clerk

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Benny Pace
Director of Schools

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Danny McKnight
Mayor – Hohenwald

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Jonah Keltner
Mayor

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Obion County

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Benny McGuire
Mayor

Judy Smith
Assessor

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Cheryl Reddin
Register of Deeds

Terry Hailey
Mayor – Union City

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Crystal Cain
County Clerk

Tim Watkins
Director of Schools

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Harry Johnson
Circuit Court Clerk

Tracy Westbrooks
Trustee

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Perry County

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Garry Horner
Assessor

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Glenda Leegan
County Clerk

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John Carroll
Mayor

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Shane Copeland
Trustee

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Scott County

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Anthoney Sexton
Assessor

Felicia Bilbrey
County Clerk

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Ashley Riseden
Register of Deeds

Jimmy Byrd
Trustee

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Bill Hall
Director of Schools

Ronald Phillips
Sheriff

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Dennis Jeffers
Mayor – Huntsville

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Unicoi County

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Garland Evely
Mayor

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John English
Director of Schools

Union County

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Dr. Jason Bailey
Mayor

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Jimmy Carter
Director of Schools

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Roger Richardson
Police Chief – Maynardsville, Mayor

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Warren County

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Ben Newman
Mayor – McMinnville

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Jimmy Haley
Mayor

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Tommy Myers, Jr.
Sheriff

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Weakley County

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April Jones
Register of Deeds

Kim Hughey
County Clerk

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Jake Bynum
Mayor

Marci Floyd
Trustee

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Jeff Floyd
School Board

Randy Brundige
Mayor – Martin

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Jennifer Killebrew
Circuit Court Clerk

Randy Frazier
Director of Schools

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