Tennesseans for Student Success announced Tuesday it is joining the fight "to protect the gains made in public education throughout Tennessee."
“Tennessee’s schools are the fastest improving in the country, and our students are better prepared for their future,” said Jeremy Harrell, the organization’s executive director. “The education gains we’ve made in recent years are worth celebrating, worth defending, and worth continuing.”
Tennesseans for Student Success believes students are Tennessee’s future. A 30 second commercial began airing statewide Monday in support of Tennessee’s gains in education. The commercial may be viewed on YouTube. Its message is the cornerstone of their mission – education is everyone’s responsibility and elected officials should focus on results, not rhetoric.
“Every student deserves an education that prepares them for success, and we’ll use every tool in the toolbox to help ensure we keep making progress,” Mr. Harrell continued. “Backwards is unacceptable.”
Tennesseans for Student Success also announced senior staff:
Jeremy Harrell, Executive Director – Mr. Harrell serves as the organizations first executive director. He previously served as campaign manager for Governor Bill Haslam’s re-election, in the Haslam Administration as director for Constituent Service and Community Relations, as deputy campaign manager and political director for Governor Haslam’s 2010 campaign, as campaign manager for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander’s 2008 re-election effort, and as coalitions director for the Tennessee Republican Party. Mr. Harrell holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Trevecca Nazarene University, where he minored in economics and finance. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Brentwood with their two year old son, Wesley.
Ashley Elizabeth Graham, Communications Director – Ms. Graham joins the team after serving as Congressman Marsha Blackburn’s deputy communications director. Prior to joining Congressman Blackburn, Ms. Graham served as the deputy director of Presidential Writers for President George W. Bush. Ms. Graham is currently the National Committeewoman for the Tennessee Young Republican Federation and was named the one of the ten Top 40 under 40 national political leaders by the Maverick PAC in 2013. She served as a speechwriter for the 2012 Republican National Convention. An MTSU graduate, she studied Political Science and Secondary Education. She is a proud graduate of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and is the daughter of a 42 year veteran teacher.
Other key TSS staff include (biographical information can be found at TNSuccess.Org): Grant Minchew, as research coordinator, Lee Gatts, as grassroots coordinator and Anne Wallis Eubanks, as office manager.