Zachary Coleman – Candidate for School Board – Biography
I was born and raised in Bartlett and my wife and I recently moved to Lakeland, where we recently welcomed our first child, Maddux, into the world. As a graduate of Bolton High School and the University of Memphis, I am proud to call Lakeland my home as I complete my education at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
As a native Memphian, serving others is deeply woven into my character. I have enjoyed giving back to those in Shelby County through service as an Eagle Scout, volunteer baseball coach, and by providing pro bono legal work. I look forward to continuing to have the opportunity to serve our wonderful community as a member of the Lakeland School Board and contributing to the growth and performance of Lakeland Schools.
In fact, the outstanding school system being established in Lakeland was one of the reasons my wife and I moved here. My desire to serve on the Lakeland School Board is rooted in ensuring that my son has the finest and safest education available when he begins his education in the coming years. Through interacting with others, I have learned that there are issues that many voters care about when it comes to financing our school system and I am here to listen and work toward the best solution for our growing community. At the same time, it is important to note that our school system is incomplete and we must work toward a functional compromise to ensure that our children receive the best education at all grade levels.
My experience in law school has allowed me to study education law and policy extensively, to the point where I have been able to write a scholarly article which is currently being considered for publication by more than a dozen legal journals across the country. While I would not consider myself an expert in education law and policy, I do believe that this experience helps me consider various factors in school board policies that others have not been exposed to. In addition, my legal education has helped me learn the importance of compromise and communication, which I believe are essential skills to have and use as a member of any governing body, especially as sensitive issues such as budgets and new school system policies are considered by board members. I hope to earn your vote in November.
What is your vision for the Lakeland School System over the next four years?
The focus of my vision over the next four years is centered on the children of Lakeland. As a member of the Lakeland School Board, I would advocate for proposals that ensure that our children have the best learning environment for academic success. Anything short of that objective would be doing a disservice to our students. I believe that this aspiration can be achieved through promoting policies that allow for more teacher autonomy and creativity—in short, letting teachers teach. In addition, as the opportunity for constructing a high school comes to the horizon, I will ensure that any potential high school in Lakeland would have the resources and extracurricular activities needed to offer the highest standard of learning and opportunity in the State of Tennessee.
What is the major issue for the Lakeland School System now and how do you address it?
While singling out one issue is not the key to this election, one of the most important issues affecting Lakeland is the possible construction of a high school. With that being said, there are many peripheral issues that come with constructing a new high school, such as increased debt and taxes, advanced curriculum offerings, diversity in extracurricular activities, and our relationship with our interlocal educational partner, Arlington Community Schools. To address the peripheral issues that affect the core issue, I would work closely with our Board of Commissioners and Lakeland School System Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell to ensure that these and other issues that residents voice their opinion about are addressed before acting on a new high school.
Why are you the person needed to guide the School System’s future? List your capabilities.
As the son of an educator and a recent product of the public school system, I can relate better than any other candidate to the teachers and students in the Lakeland School System. As a parent to a six-month-old baby boy, I am motivated to ensure that my son has the best education available to him when he is ready to go to school, which is one of the reasons that my wife and I picked Lakeland when considering our recent move. In addition to the foregoing, my experience in law school has taught me the importance of communication, compromise, and hard work.
I promise to have an open corridor of communication with every Lakeland resident during the campaign and my time in office. With the recent political atmosphere, it appears that compromise will never occur due to the massive rift between opposing viewpoints. I promise to help bridge gaps where needed and work hard toward functional compromises that are in the best interests of our children and teachers.
Describe your involvement in the Lakeland community.
Although I have been a Shelby County resident almost my entire life, my wife and I moved to Lakeland this past year and have been involved in our church community by teaching Sunday School for the nine- and ten-year-old children of the Lakeland congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition, I have had the opportunity to serve in the men’s ministry of our Lakeland congregation, which helps me focus on becoming a better father and husband while also serving those around me.
