Chelsea resident Bragan Feldman announced her candidacy for Place 1 on the Shelby County School Board of Education, as of Thursday, Jan. 4. The primary election of the Shelby County Schools superintendent and board members is scheduled for June, and the general election will take place in November. Feldman said she is running as a Republican, and hopes to replace current Place 1 SCBOE member Jimmy Bice.

Feldman identified herself as the product of Shelby County Schools who is deeply invested in the school system.

“As the daughter of a retired Shelby County teacher, the wife of a Shelby County teacher, the mother of two in Shelby County Schools and a businesswoman heavily vested in Shelby County, my heart has always been in our education system. I see this as an opportunity for me to serve my community and our schools,” Feldman said. “The education that I received in Shelby County prepared me to be truly dedicated to serving all of Shelby County and its wonderful schools.”

Through her family background in education, Feldman said she understands the importance of public education.

“To me, teaching is a calling. I never had that calling, but I’ve always felt called to serve in some capacity,” Feldman said. “I feel like this is my chance to serve.”

If elected, Feldman said she would continue the school board’s work in preparing students for the workforce by keeping up with technology.

“The workforce is rapidly changing because of all the new information and technology,” Feldman said. “I want to give these students a head start on what they will be facing once they graduate.”

After graduating from Chelsea High School, Feldman earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with concentrations in Business and Political Science from Auburn University. She has since gone on to work in media relations with the Cleveland Indians organization, as an intern with former Gov. Bob Riley’s media office and NBC31 sports, in publisher relations for Main Street Alabama and is currently the administrator of the Meadow Brook Baptist Church School of Fine Arts. She has also been a realtor for the past decade.

For more information about Feldman’s campaign, visit Facebook.com/ElectBraganFeldman or email Feldman at BraganFeldman@gmail.com.