Anne Marie Lovelace Potts Seeks Re-election for Jefferson County School Board District 1

Submitted by Candidate

Anne Marie Lovelace Potts, Jefferson County Board of School Commissioners

Anne Marie Lovelace Potts seeks re-election for Jefferson County School Board, District 1, representing Dandridge, Piedmont, Swannslyvania, and Chestnut Hill. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a degree in business administration, majoring in accounting. She has served the school board for 20 years with 10 of those years as board chair. Potts’ financial background is one of her strengths.

For seven straight years the school board has presented a balanced budget to County Commission. She notes that the school board has used fund balance and grants for capital projects to address needs at every school while still maintaining a balanced budget. Potts has a combined forty years of experience in public accounting, managerial accounting in a family-owned small business and in a large manufacturing company, and in a not- for-profit organization.

“One of my top priorities is to provide resources which focus on student learning.” Potts strives for continued support for academic excellence; conservative and balanced fiscal management; and common-sense solutions. Among such achievements are decreased student to teacher ratios; increased in-school nursing presence; increased presence of elementary school counselors; and increased technical education offerings. The emphasis on technical training includes strong ties with local corporate partners.

The school board has had many accomplishments during Potts’ tenure. A long-standing goal has been to increase teacher salaries. Currently, Jefferson County teacher salary average ranks 37^th out of 146 Tennessee school districts. “Before the increase, our teacher salaries ranked 127^th. I’m very proud of the commitment the current board has made to close the salary gap, especially relative to surrounding counties”. This improvement occurred in the last two years alone.

Anne Marie is the daughter of Christine Lovelace and the late Billy Mac Lovelace. She is married to Langdon Potts. They have two children and two granddaughters. Both children graduated from Jefferson County High School and hold college degrees. She is a recent breast cancer survivor but still attended all school board meetings while receiving her treatments. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Dandridge and past-president of Carson-Newman University’s Women of Vision.

Potts knows a strong educational system positively impacts our community’s economic development. She is committed to continuing the course for making Jefferson County’s school system one of the state’s best. “Utilizing my business experience and fiscally conservative management and accounting skills, I will continue to work with the school board moving our system forward. I am honored and privileged to represent the citizens of the First District. I’m asking for your vote and support in the Republican primary on May 3^rd.” Follow her on Facebook at “Anne Marie for Jeff. Co. School Board.”