Two candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for the Memphis-Shelby County School Board District 8 seat in Tuesday’s state and county primary. The Tennessee Firefly has put together a breakdown of their qualifications, experience, and goals if elected.¶
District 8 is currently represented by Amber Huett-Garcia, who is leaving the board to pursue a bid for county commissioner. The winner of the May 5 primary will face independent candidate Leigh Ann Scarbrough in the general election on August 6.¶
Ayleem Connolly
Ayleem Connolly grew up in the Dominican Republic and moved to Memphis in 2014. She taught Spanish at various Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) from 2015 to 2023 and has two master’s degrees. Part of her platform involves increasing access to postsecondary education for immigrant students and families.¶
“I am running for a chance to be one of nine people shaping the education of more than 100,000 children and to be their biggest advocate, even if that means filing lawsuits to protect those children and keep local control,” Connolly said in a Facebook post. “Also, I believe our district can thrive when decisions are made transparently, when families are respected as partners, and when every child – regardless of background, language, or ZIP code – has access to a fully-funded, high-quality education.”¶
In an interview with the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Connolly also advocated for increasing teacher pay, empowering parents, expanding mental health services in schools, and providing more maternity leave for teachers.¶
“Right now the state pays six weeks, but a c-section takes eight weeks of recovery, and when you go calculate, we can get it to 12 (weeks),” Connolly said in the interview.¶
Tanya Frey
Tanya Frey is a former attorney running for the District 8 seat to provide steady, “accountable leadership,” according to a post on her Facebook page. She has also served on and chaired multiple boards and currently runs an executive search firm. She has also done work for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she managed a fundraising budget.¶
“Our district is filled with committed educators, dedicated families, and students with incredible potential,” Frey said in a post. “I’m ready to serve with steady leadership, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making. This work matters. Our community matters.”¶
Frey wants to leverage her law background to focus on employment law and advocating for better policies for employee benefits and support. In an interview with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, she emphasized how important she believes local accountability is within governance.¶
“I know and believe that local leadership wants what's best for students, so it's our responsibility to ensure that decisions are grounded in facts and integrity for the best results,” Frey said. “We have an opportunity before us to ensure that families feel engaged, and connected, and heard, and I bring all of those qualities, because that's what a school board does.”¶
