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Joe Franklin is running for reelection to the District 6 seat on the Troup County Board of Education.

Franklin has been a resident of Troup County for 44 years. Franklin and his wife Donna have been employed by Kimberly-Clark Corporation for 35 years. They have two children: Ryan, an assistant principal in Harris County, and Kristin, a paraprofessional working with special needs children at Long Cane Elementary School. They also have six grandchildren.

“My intention was to serve only one term on the board. Serving on the board, I have learned it takes longer to get things done than I had originally perceived,” Franklin said. “But as a board, we have done some great things. We have hired a new superintendent, who is currently restructuring system leadership and streamlining the budget, and we are seeing increasing graduation rates and test scores. Of course, there is much work to do to continue the progress.”

Franklin said the team is doing a great job of working through the coronavirus’s impact, but he knows there will be trying times ahead. 

“The heart of our business is the student body. Every student is an individual who not only needs an education but needs to know they are more than just a number in our system,” Franklin said. “These students are the pride and joy of their families, and we owe it to them to optimize the educational experience for them to grow and learn, and to become productive and effective adults. We have great teachers, staff members, and leaders who are dedicated to the ongoing improvement of our classroom environment and overall results. I would like to continue to serve with this board, Dr. (Brian) Shumate, and his staff to make TCSS one of the most improved systems in the state.”