Vickie Benson

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Vickie Benson

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Tuskegee Institute High School

Bachelor's

Alabama State University, 1991

Graduate

Alabama State University, 2008

Other

Argosy University, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

Tuskegee, Ala.

Religion

Non-denominational Christian

Profession

Educator

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Personal Facebook

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Personal Instagram

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Vickie Benson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Cobb County School District school board to represent District 1 in Georgia. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Benson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Vickie Benson was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She earned a bachelor's degree from Alabama State University in 1991 and a graduate degree from Alabama State University in 2008. Her career experience includes working as an educator, lab technician, and medical assistant.She has been affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Cobb County Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse, and the National Education Association.

Elections

2024

See also: Cobb County School District, Georgia, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Incumbent Randy Scamihorn defeated Vickie Benson in the general election for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Scamihorn (R)	53.3	29,460
		Vickie Benson (D)	46.7	25,773

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 55,233
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Vickie Benson advanced from the Democratic primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vickie Benson	100.0	4,130

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,130
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Incumbent Randy Scamihorn advanced from the Republican primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Scamihorn	100.0	4,226

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,226
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Benson received the following endorsements.

• Asian American Advocacy Fund
• Georgia Association of Educators

2020

See also: Cobb County School District, Georgia, elections (2020)

General election

General election for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Incumbent Randy Scamihorn defeated Vickie Benson in the general election for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Scamihorn (R)	56.7	30,808
		Vickie Benson (D)	43.3	23,545

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,353
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Vickie Benson defeated Lynn Lafferty in the Democratic primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vickie Benson	67.2	6,833
	Submit photo	Lynn Lafferty	32.8	3,335

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,168
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1

Incumbent Randy Scamihorn advanced from the Republican primary for Cobb County School District school board District 1 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Scamihorn	100.0	10,212

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,212
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Vickie Benson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an educator, entrepreneur, and author with experience in teaching and school leadership roles for over 27 years in secondary and 10 years in postsecondary education. I have resided in Cobb County for 11 years. I am married to Lee, a proud mother and grandmother.

I formally taught science in the Cobb and Fulton County Schools, contracted 3 years as an Educational Consultant/Coach with Northstar Consultant Educational Group in Clayton County School District. I currently hold a Georgia Educators Certificate in Biology, National STEM Educator certified, and I am in the process of renewing my Educational Leadership Tier II certification for Georgia. Currently, I teach in Chambers County School District where I am a STEAM teacher and STEAM Specialist for grades K-8. Presently, I serve on the board of Cobb County Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse (CCAPSA) and previously served on the Cobb Democratic Women (CDW) as Vice President of Membership. I have volunteered/served as the Evaluation Director of Programs with Destiny of Daughter’s Promise non-profit organization. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, and a member of Grace Nation of Atlanta in Kennesaw, Ga.

I am a graduate of Alabama State University where I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I received my doctorate from Argosy University Atlanta in Educational Leadership K-12, and received an academic training certificate in Medical Assistant from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• School safety is a critical issue that affects the well-being and academic performance of our students. Along with board colleagues, I will support a policy to enhance safety protocols to ensure schools are safe spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
• As a future Board of Education member, it is my primary duty to prioritize fiscal responsibility and accountability to ensure sound financial management for the benefit of our students and citizens. We must balance spending and taxes, maximize our income, and stop frivolous projects and initiatives.
• I will prioritize adequate equitable resources for all schools which include programs to meet the needs of our special education students, mental health crisis, support for well-being programs for students, families, teachers, and administrators as well as ensure continued academic excellence.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

<p>The school district policy is what I am most passionate about because it sets the tone on how to manage and govern using best practices for developing school board policies. The school board represents the community's voice in public education where policies are enacted with concerns based on governance and knowledge of the school community’s allocation of resources and needs, accountability of schools’ financial uses, and the curriculum. The board members are the policy-makers closest to the students. The policies are a guide of priorities that provide direction, parameters, and commitments that amplify an investment that holds school board members accountable. It is critical that goals, structures, and practices support and sustain a school district’s continuous improvement efforts; ensuring that the best equitable practices are secure within our school’s community with effective written policies. Keeping in mind how the policies will benefit every child.</p>

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The qualities that I possess that I believe would make me a successful office holder is that I am educator that understands the foundation of education, proven leadership abilities, a commitment to reliability and time management, a high level of integrity, the ability to adapt to changing situations, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving, allowing me to effectively represent the needs of my constituents while fostering a positive working environment.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job for a school board member is to govern advanced public education that will ensure the school districts success. In this process the following enhances the effectiveness of the job:

1. Shared vision and goals for the school district. This

  ensures that the system personnel have resources 

  they need to achieve that vision

2.Set standards for schools and for the performance of

  the superintendent

3. Develop and approve an annual budget that aligns

   with the districts goals

4. Write and adopt policies and programs to support

    the needs of the students

5. Inform the community about challenges, ideas, and 

    progress

6. Use data and research to make inform decisions
7. Take actions on employee hiring, terminations, and

disciplinary action

Who are your constituents?

My constituents are the school community and local tax payers for whom I will serve in the school district.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

As a board member I will support the diverse needs of my district's students, faculty, staff, and the community by addressing their needs, embrace and learn about their cultures, provide equitable resources, support diverse programs and learners, promote diversity and inclusion in the community, and enhance a safe learning environment for students, and workspace for teachers.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I will build relationships with members of the broader community by establishing an advisory board to learn about their culture, values, and social networks. I will conduct surveys to understand the community needs and what they care about. I will collaborate with their organizations to enhance the quality of education and engage in the process by being a good listener, being consistent, and authentic with open dialogue and feedback.
There are no specific groups, organizations, or stakeholders that I will target. I want to include everyone in the scope of the broader community as we redefine public education seeking to understand the needs and the concerns that foster a collaborative environment for meaningful partnerships.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

<p>The support for mental health needs of students/faculty/staff is to promote mental health, physical initiatives, and well-being programs. I want to ensure that there is accessible professional psychological support staff for every campus, support social emotional learning, advocate for funding and support for more staff training to identify those struggling with mental health issues, encourage mindfulness to create safe havens and conducive learning environments.</p>

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

The financial policy would be the policy I would advocate to increase student achievement. I would like to see a district financial policy that will align with the foundations of education where students would have access to accelerating learning, provide equitable resources, enhanced pathways to college and career opportunities that will allow them the quality of education they deserve, support the well-being of the students and teachers, empowering educators, and expanding multilingual learning.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

<p>The following organizations have endorsed me: Asian American Advocacy Fund and Cobb County Association of Educators.</p>

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I will build relationships with parents in the district using proper communication channels tailoring to specific needs, addressing concerns, fostering collaboration, and to assure the parent through effective communication that it is a team effort for the success of the child.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Benson completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• Cobb County Courier
• Cobb County Courier
• Marietta Daily Journal

2020

Vickie Benson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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Cobb County School District school board District 1

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