Frances Rosales Announces Re-Election Campaign for Rutherford County School Board, Zone 7

Rutherford County School Board Vice Chair Frances Rosales has announced her candidacy for re-election to represent Zone 7 in the 2026 election. A Conservative Republican, Rosales says she will continue leading with conservative values and a proven record of fiscal responsibility.

Rosales said she is seeking re election because she believes there is still important work to accomplish that began in 2022. She has served as Vice Chair for the past two years and said it has been an honor to represent the families of Zone 7, which includes parts of Smyrna, the Blackman area, and portions of the Siegel area.

When Rosales first ran for office, she brought the perspective of a parent whose three children had moved through the public school system. Today, she says she brings an even broader viewpoint. In addition to being a parent of a child currently in elementary school, Rosales has served as a substitute teacher in city schools for the past three years. She says that experience has allowed her to gain firsthand insight into the daily realities educators face while reinforcing her commitment to advocate for students, teachers, and families.

During her tenure on the board, Rosales points to several initiatives she championed and helped implement. She secured funding to send 10 School Resource Officers to annual training and worked alongside SROs to develop and implement two key policies. One policy outlines SRO involvement in classrooms, and another ensures SRO and nursing staff participation in school Safety Days, including stop the bleed training for all staff. She also advocated for SROs to provide free active shooter safety training, helping save taxpayer dollars.

Rosales says she has strongly supported educators by voting in favor of pay increases and a new salary schedule structure. She believes these efforts have helped Rutherford County Schools remain competitive in attracting and retaining teachers while maintaining low staffing shortages.

In addition, she created and implemented a policy for site selection and land acquisition that established thorough due diligence procedures, including necessary testing requirements. According to Rosales, this policy promotes transparency, prevents costly issues, and protects taxpayer funds.

Rosales also brought forward the initiative to establish the Rutherford County Schools Foundation and serves as a founding board member. The foundation provides a vehicle for individuals, small businesses, and corporations to donate funds that support grants benefiting local schools.

Addressing school overcrowding has been another priority. Rosales supported the construction of additions and new schools to accommodate growth across the district.

She says she has honored her commitment to parents by advancing policies that require parental consent for certain age appropriate library materials. This process included the review of 150 titles for age appropriateness, resulting in the removal of some materials and the implementation of parental consent requirements for others.

Rosales voted to introduce prayer at board meetings and supported legislation, enacted and signed by Governor Bill Lee, requiring active shooter training for substitute teachers across Tennessee. She also championed a resolution to expand financial literacy education beginning in elementary school and continuing through all grade levels, with the goal of ensuring students graduate with practical money management skills.

Among other accomplishments, Rosales crafted and secured unanimous passage of a resolution for Rutherford County Schools to observe a Fourth of July instructional day across all grades. She continues to advocate for making the observance a state law. She has also supported the Director of Schools’ contract extension twice to maintain leadership stability and continuity within the district.

Rosales says the philosophy that first motivated her to run for office remains the same. She believes every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, deserves access to a quality education that serves as the foundation for future success. Her campaign motto continues to be, Together, we can give our children the future they deserve.

If re elected, Rosales plans to focus on innovation by expanding Career and Technical Education programs in partnership with Motlow Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. She hopes to establish a dedicated CTE center that would serve all high school students. She also plans to prioritize renovations for older schools, introduce financial literacy programs in elementary and middle schools, and continue amplifying the voices of parents, educators, and students.

Rosales says she has consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility by emphasizing cost saving measures, transparent decision making processes, and efficient allocation of resources to benefit both students and taxpayers.

Rosales will run as a Republican in the May 5 Republican primary and will appear on the ballot in the August 6 general election. For more information about her campaign, supporters can follow Frances Rosales on social media.