Why I’m Running: Purpose
I’m running because I believe our schools are too important for any of us to sit on the sidelines.
And the truth is, this was never something I set out to do by myself.
Over the past two years, conversations with parents, educators, friends and community leaders kept returning to the same concern: we have great schools, but the culture of leadership on our School Board can be better.
Eventually, some of those conversations turned toward me.
People began saying, “Tim, you should run.” My first reaction was usually to explain all the reasons I couldn't. But then something changed.
People stopped simply asking me to run and started saying: “If you'll do this, I'll help. Really help.”
I don't take those words lightly.
This campaign began with people placing their trust in me and with me placing my trust in them. Trust that people will show up. Trust that they'll have the difficult conversations. Trust that they'll work, volunteer, introduce me to their neighbors, and help build something bigger than any one candidate.
So this isn't about me deciding to run for School Board. It's about a community of people deciding we can do better and asking me to step forward and help.
I said “yes.” So... Here's how we got here.
My journey toward running for School Board actually began in Spring of 2023.
I was encouraged to start attending Board meetings by friends at Church, Scouting, Rotary and by educators I had gotten to know while helping with school improvement projects. Around that same time, I was having lunch with a friend from Leadership South Carolina, a longtime school board member (Chuck Saylors) in Greenville, who challenged me: “Tim, you should go. And you should speak. Our schools need to hear from Parents just like You!”
So I did.
I went to a Board meeting and stood at the podium (nervous as could be), given my 2-3 minutes; not to complain, but to say “Thank You.” I talked about how grateful Elizabeth and I were that our children were growing and learning in such great schools (Concord Elementary School & McCants Middle School) and district. I talked about supporting our teachers, trusting and holding accountable our administrators, and demonstrating to families that their voices matter despite all the negative chatter.
Then I kept going to meetings in person and online.
Over the months that followed, I became increasingly concerned by the division and political discourse I witnessed. Too often, it seemed we were choosing sides instead of finding common-ground and doing the work our children need us to do.
My mind kept coming back to one thought: “Our children are counting on the adults in this community to work together on their behalf.”
That’s why I’m running!
My wife called me today (8/10/26). Because she was asked; “Who’s side is he on?” Answer: This race is non-partisan... so I’m not running to join a side. I’m running because I know I can help find common-ground and work together for the best interest of our children.
If you ask me what I hope to bring that’s different, one word describes it best: “Cooperation.”
I am willing to cooperate with others that may have a different world view than I. I’ll listen. I’ll consider perspectives different from my own. I’ll ask hard questions and I’ll keep bringing us back to the mission Anderson School District-Five has already committed itself to:
“To educate students who are college and career-ready and will positively contribute to an ever-changing world.”
And its vision is equally important:
“To provide an excellent school system empowering students to reach their potential through academics, arts, and athletics.”
There’s a Post-it note on the bottom corner of my computer screen and next to the phone on my desk that I look at every day to remind me: “I am here to listen, learn and understand.”
That connects closely with a core leadership philosophy that has influenced me for years.
In Robert K. Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness, he describes leadership as helping people “grow taller and become healthier, stronger and more autonomous” (p. 53).
Servant Leadership is about building community, bringing people together around a shared purpose and creating the space for them to contribute their talents, experiences and perspectives. Much of my life’s work has been about convening people around a table, finding common-ground and asking, “What can we accomplish together that none of us could accomplish alone?”
We can see firsthand that “where community doesn't exist, trust, respect, and ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain” (Pg. 52).
That’s the kind of leadership you can expect from me and what I will bring to our School Board: listen first, seek to understand, build trust, bring people together, stay focused on the mission, and help create the conditions for our students, teachers, administrators and community to thrive.
That’s how I believe a School Board Trustee should lead: stay focused on the mission & vision, establish clear expectations, provide accountability, and create the conditions for our teachers, administrators and staff to thrive. Because Great Schools Require Great Governance.
The Board may have sides. Our kids don’t.
Every child deserves an environment where they can discover their gifts and reach their full God-given potential. In many ways, that belief is simply my expression of the school district’s own vision of “empowering students to reach their potential.”
So, if you want to know what side I’m on, my answer is pretty simple:
I’m on the side of our kids.
That’s what this campaign is about.
“Kids Above Politics.”
Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness 25th Anniversary Edition, by Robert K. Greenleaf < https://a.co/d/06GB83q6 >
