Governor Appoints Local Student to Tennessee State Board of Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 30, 2023 

CONTACT: Catherine Ann Johnson

Catherine.Ann.Johnson@tn.gov                                                                                                      
  

Governor Appoints Local Student to Tennessee State Board of Education

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.)  — Governor Bill Lee has appointed Laurel Cox, a senior at Cascade High School in Bedford County Schools, to the Tennessee State Board of Education.

As a student representative, Ms. Cox will join the board effective immediately and will serve at the November 3, 2023 quarterly meeting. She will carry out her role through August 3, 2024. 

“We are delighted to have Laurel serve as our State Board student member,” said Dr. Sara Morrison, executive director of the State Board of Education. “Her insight and perspective will ground our conversations as we discuss policies and rules that impact Tennessee’s students.”

Ms. Cox is passionate about pursuing education in agriculture and is actively involved in the National FFA Organization. She recently served as the 2022-2023 Middle Tennessee FFA Regional President as a junior, working closely with Tennessee’s agriculture leaders. She has held various leadership positions within Cascade FFA, working to promote careers in Tennessee’s extensive agriculture industry. This past summer, Ms. Cox attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for Agricultural Sciences, studying agribusiness and veterinary science under industry professionals.           

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The Tennessee State Board of Education is composed of 11 members representing the diversity of the state – one from each congressional district, plus a student member, and the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission who serves as non-voting ex officio member.