Bristol, Tenn. School Board Candidate: Gwen Ellis

Gwen Ellis

Please answer the following questions about your background:

What is your educational background, including the highest degree you attained (high school, college, advanced degree) and the year it was attained?

BA from UNCC - 1984

What is your professional background, including your present employer and job description? What other positions have you held in the past? If you are retired, please describe your most recent employment.

After moving to this area, I worked for Brunswick Industries and RSR Laboratories.  Prior to moving to this area, I worked in the sales/advertising department of WPCQ-TV in Charlotte, N.C., the operations department for Cable Adnet in Charlotte, N.C., and the advertising department of CCTV in Columbia, S.C.  I have been a homemaker since 1993.

Are you married? If so, please list your spouse’s name. occupation and any elected offices they hold or have held in the past.

I am married to Philip Ellis, who is employed by Control Corporation of America, and has never held an elected office. 

Do you have children? If so, how many and what are their ages?

We have three children.  Their ages are 19, 16, and 13.

Do you presently hold an elected or appointed office or have you held one in the past? Please list all elected or appointed posts and the years you were in office.

I currently serve on the school board.

Have you ever been an officer in a political party, worked in a campaign or been a delegate to a political convention? If yes, please provide details and names of the candidates for whom you worked.

No.

How long have you lived in the area? If you have lived elsewhere, where have you lived and for how long?

I have lived in this area since 1989.  I lived in Columbia, S.C. from 1988 -1989, Charlotte, N.C. 1980 - 1988, and Asheville, N.C. prior to that.

Who are your three biggest campaign contributors? How much money have you raised in your campaign? Have you taken any special interest or PAC money? How much money do you expect to spend in your campaign?

I have not taken any campaign contributions and plan to spend no more than $200 on my campaign.

Do you volunteer your time or give money to local causes? If so, please list them.

I volunteer time to the Bristol TN City Schools and the YMCA on a regular basis, and to many others as requested.   I am very involved in my church and am a Sunday school teacher.   We donate money to various organizations. 



Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime as an adult? If yes, please give jurisdiction and details.

No..

Have you ever filed bankruptcy? If yes, please explain.

No..

Have you ever served in the military? If yes, please provide details, including branch of service, highest rank, years of service and date and terms of discharge.

No..

Have you or your business ever been the subject of a lawsuit, lien or foreclosure? If yes, please explain.

No..

What ties do you have to any business or organization that could profit from action as a city council member? Please explain your plan to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.

I have never served on City Council.  I currently serve on the board at the YMCA and on the school board.  Total disclosure will avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

Please answer the following questions about issues facing the school system.

What makes you the best candidate for the school board?

I am running unopposed for this seat, but my past service to this school system demonstrates my commitment to our children.  I have been a volunteer since my kids started school and have taken every opportunity to learn more about the operation of our schools.  The most important thing I've learned is that every decision must be weighed first on how it will benefit students.  That has to be the first consideration whether or not it's the popular choice.

What are the three best things about Bristol, Tennessee’s public schools? What are the three worst things?

BTCS sets high standards for its students and staff, makes the most of its resources, and has unusual longevity amongst its employees.  This helps to maintain high performance of students.  The things I would like to see improved would be communication between the system and the community, parent involvement, and highlighting the accomplishments of the system.

Do you believe the school system needs a dress code? If so, what are some criteria the policy should include. If not, explain why you believe it is unnecessary. Should the school system consider a uniform policy for students? Explain why or why not.

Our school system already has a dress code.  The issue of dress is being discussed now to see how it can be improved.   Any changes should come only after much discussion and input from staff, parents, and students.   We must first determine what we hope to accomplish with a dress code.  There's a difference between uniforms and simply having a uniform code of dress.  There are advantages to both, but only careful study will determine what would benefit our students.  Whatever is decided upon should be simple and not require staff to use a tape measure and make judgement calls.  It should be clear, concise, and easy to spot.

How will you encourage more students to enroll in vocational training or higher education beyond high school?

The roll of the school system is to help prepare students to be productive citizens by educating them to their fullest potential.  This goes hand in hand with the responsibility of parents.  As a board member, I will continue to work for more parent involvement in education in order to help students achieve success.  Considering the state of our country now, it's easy to see that students need to be as prepared as possible.  It requires a collaborative effort.  It's sometimes difficult for teens to make the connection between the choices they make now and the impact those choices have on their future.  If they can see that you're interested in their well-being, they'll be more likely to be influence by you.  As an individual and as a board member, I'll continue to be an encouraging voice for our students.

How much emphasis do you place on art and music instruction? Please explain.

The arts are very beneficial to education and should be encouraged.  There are more opportunities available for high school students and I'd like to see more available for younger kids. 

Describe your most recent visit to a school in Bristol, Tenn. When, which school, purpose of visit.

I visit the schools often and try to attend any event I am invited to.  My next visit will be to TN High on April 30th to participate in a virtual field trip concerning the Holocaust. I will also visit ETSU that afternoon in support of Vance Middle School students who will be participating in a science fair.