Susan Horn (Tennessee)
Susan Horn was a member of the Knox County Board of Education in Tennessee, representing District 5. She assumed office in 2016. She left office on September 1, 2024.
Horn ran for re-election to the Knox County Board of Education to represent District 5 in Tennessee. She won in the general election on August 6, 2020.
Biography
Horn works as an elementary education coordinator for Christ Covenant Church. She also serves as a member of the PTSO Board of Managers at Farragut Middle School and Farragut High School. She has served in a number of PTA executive board positions, including twice as PTA president. From 2011 to 2013, she served on the Knox County Schools District Advisory Council. Horn and her husband have two daughters.[1][2]
Elections
2020
See also: Knox County School District, Tennessee, elections (2020)
General election
General election for Knox County Schools school board, District 5
Incumbent Susan Horn won election in the general election for Knox County Schools school board, District 5 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Susan Horn (Nonpartisan) | 98.5 | 9,209 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.5 | 141 | ||
| Total votes: 9,350 | |||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Knox County Schools school board, District 5
Incumbent Susan Horn advanced from the primary for Knox County Schools school board, District 5 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Susan Horn (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 8,963 |
| Total votes: 8,963 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
- See also: Knox County Schools elections (2016)
Four of the nine seats on the Knox County Schools Board of Education were up for by-district general election on August 4, 2016. A primary election was held March 1, 2016. Jennifer Owen defeated Grant Standefer for the District 2 seat in the primary election. She went on to win the general election unopposed. The District 5 primary featured Reuben "Buddy" Pelot, Lori Ann Boudreaux, and Susan Horn. Both Horn and Pelot received enough votes to advance to the general election, where Horn defeated Pelot for the seat. The District 3 seat was left open for a newcomer. Tony Norman won that seat after running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Michael McMillan, the only incumbent who sought re-election, ran unopposed in District 8 and won another term.[3][4][5][6]
Results
| Knox County Schools, District 5 General Election, 4-Year Term, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Susan Horn |
61.07% | 2,210 |
| Reuben "Buddy" Pelot | 38.93% | 1,409 |
| Total Votes | 3,619 | |
| Source: Knox County Election Commission, "Cumulative Report — Official," accessed November 28, 2016 | ||
| Knox County Schools, District 5 Primary Election, 4-Year Term, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Susan Horn |
44.86% | 4,364 |
| Reuben "Buddy" Pelot |
30.14% | 2,932 |
| Lori Ann Boudreaux | 24.99% | 2,431 |
| Total Votes | 9,727 | |
| Source: Knox County Board of Elections, "Presidential Preference Primary and County Primary — Official Ballot for Knox County March 01, 2016," accessed March 28, 2016 | ||
Funding
Horn reported $15,465.00 in contributions and $15,465.00 in expenditures to the Knox County Clerk, which left her campaign with a $0.00 balance in the election.[7]
Endorsements
Horn received endorsements from the group Students, Parents, and Educators Across Knox County (SPEAK) and the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE).[8]
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Susan Horn did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Candidate website
Horn highlighted the following action plan on her campaign website:
| “ | Susan Horn's Action Plan
Listen to the concerns and ideas of teachers and parents.
Give a voice to those who feel ignored or silenced.
Vote as a representative of the constituents I am elected to serve.
|
” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[10] | ||
Q & A
The Knoxville News Sentinel published the following questionnaire. The bolded questions were provided by the League of Women Voters. Horn's responses to those questions appear below.
Is the current funding for Knox County Schools adequate? If not, how would you work to correct the problem?
| “ | Additional funds that go directly into the classroom are always needed. We must encourage the governor, the General Assembly, and the Tennessee Department of Education to fully fund the BEP.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
If you are elected, you would be involved in choosing a new school superintendent. What are the most important characteristics you would look for in a candidate for the position, and what should, at a minimum, be a candidate's qualifications?
| “ | A superintendent must possess strong leadership and communication skills. This person must have the ability to collaborate with and satisfy the demands of the school board, central office staff, administrators, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders. We need someone who can build consensus, inspire staff, and bring a sense of harmony to our school system. A superintendent should have vast classroom and administrative experience and possess a vision of providing students with a stimulating, engaging education that encompasses all areas of a child's learning experience, from academics to art, music, and athletics.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
The state is once again considering vouchers for low-income students. What is your position on vouchers?
| “ | I've spoken with many parents and teachers in Knox County about their thoughts on vouchers. The support for these is not as strong in Knox County as it is in other parts of Tennessee such as Memphis and Nashville. We have good public schools in Knox County and have more school choice already in Knox County than in any other district in the state, through our Magnet School network. I don't believe vouchers would be accepted by our private schools here because of the rules that come with them. And, I don't think Knox County can afford to spread our limited public school funding beyond the schools we already support, especially with the addition of two new middle schools over the next five years.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
At present, Knox County has only one charter school. What is your position about increasing that number?
| “ | Emerald Academy has been open for less than one year and I think the Board of Education made the right decision in voting not to increase their enrollment beyond the initial plan at this time. I want to see how Emerald Academy does over the next few years before we have any votes on expansion or future charter schools. Our resources should be concentrated in the schools already in place.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
Who should set the educational policy and direction for Knox County, the board of education or the school administration?
| “ | I think the school board and the superintendent should jointly establish the priorities and direction of the schools and it is the superintendent's job to implement those priorities. School board members are elected representatives of the taxpayers and, therefore, should represent their views. The school board is the governing body for the school system, while the superintendent runs day-to-day operations.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
The board of education will make decisions about building new or renovating existing schools. With population growth and our school capital funding limited by current obligations, what steps would you take to assure that tax dollars are spent wisely for school construction in the future?
| “ | One of my highest priorities is to see that funds spent directly impact student learning in the classroom. I would use the same criteria when making determinations about school construction and capital improvements. Such decisions require much due diligence and deliberation. We must be sure we are maximizing the educational impact of dollars spent.[9] | ” |
| —Susan Horn (2016)[11] | ||
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Vote Susan Horn, "Welcome," accessed February 11, 2016
- ↑ NPAF, "Three running for school board, 5th district," February 7, 2016
- ↑ Knox County Election Commission, "Live Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Knox County Board of Elections, "Final County Prim. 3-1-16 and County Gen. 8-4-16 Candidate List," accessed January 19, 2016
- ↑ Knox County Schools, "Board Members," accessed January 19, 2016
- ↑ Knox County Board of Elections, "Live Election Results," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ Knox County Clerk, "Financial Disclosures: Candidate Information," accessed November 29, 2016
- ↑ Vote Susan Horn, "Endorsements," accessed February 11, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Vote Susan Horn, "Action Plan," accessed February 11, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Knoxville News Sentinel, "Board of Education candidates Q & A by League of Women Voter," February 7, 2016
| 2016 Knox County Schools Elections | |
| Knox County, Tennessee | |
| Election date: | Primary Election: March 1, 2016 • General Election: August 4, 2016 |
| Candidates: | District 2: • Jennifer Owen • Grant Standefer District 3: • Tony Norman District 5: • Lori Ann Boudreaux • Susan Horn • Reuben "Buddy" Pelot District 8: • Incumbent, Michael McMillan |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
