Betzaida Shands Announces Candidacy for Jefferson County School Board District 3

Voting locations: Jefferson Elementary, Talbott Elementary, and Jefferson City Fire Department

Betzaida ShandsBetzaida Shands announces her candidacy for Jefferson County School Board in the November 6, 2018 general election. “I am a firm believer that knowledge is empowerment and that we must be strong advocates of education. As a community, nothing will give us a better return for our investment than to focus on the education of our children,” Shands articulated.

She has been an active member of the Jefferson County community for over seventeen years. Shands has served as a city volunteer fire fighter, a member of the Board of Directors for Morristown’s Central Services and the Hamblen County American Red Cross. Professionally, Shands has over sixteen years of work experience in areas of regulatory affairs, compliance, health care management and physicians practice operations.

Betzaida moved to Jefferson City, Tn in 2001 upon marrying Lee Shands, a US veteran, local business owner as well as employee of the City. After moving to Jefferson City, she enrolled in Carson Newman University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and continued on to obtain her Master of Business Administration (MBA). While pursuing her studies, Lee and Betzaida were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Isabella, who currently attends Jefferson County Middle School.

Betzaida and her family are active members of the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City. She currently serves as the Age Level Coordinator, providing support to the Children and Youth programs. “Moving to Jefferson County has been one of best things I have ever done. My goal in running for school board is to provide support and work with administrators and teachers to improve the education of students in our county. Coming from a family of educators, I understand, first-hand, the challenges facing them,” Betzaida said. “I hope the voters give me an opportunity to serve my community in this manner.”

Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer at University Physicians’ Association, Inc., as well as an adjunct professor at Carson Newman University.