Lisa Spence Byrd seeks reelection to Jones County school board
Lisa Spence Byrd, a Republican incumbent on the Jones County Board of Education, is seeking reelection with student mental health, educational challenges and social isolation among her priorities.
Byrd said school officials are already addressing those issues, but securing enough money to support each area remains difficult.
“The biggest challenge is funding to provide the support each issue needs,” Byrd said.
She said administrators work to locate funding, while board members support those efforts and attend legislative conferences to learn about resources available to address students’ needs.
A Jones County native, Byrd said her family’s connections to local schools and encouragement from residents, parents and children helped inspire her to seek public office. Her daughter graduated from Jones County Public Schools in 2021.
“We have some amazing youth in Jones County and my goal stands the same as it did 4 years ago,” Byrd said.
According to her biography, Byrd and her husband, Thomas, own and operate Byrd’s Trucking & Towing in Maysville. She also reported 14 years of volunteer service with Maysville Fire & EMS.
Byrd described student safety, academic performance, budgeting, communication and career and technical education as areas of focus during her first term. She cited placing school resource officers in all schools and hiring a superintendent among the board’s accomplishments.
Her goals for another term include improving academic performance, retaining staff, supporting students and current school leadership, and maintaining transparency. She said she wants to apply the training and experience gained during her first term while continuing to work with fellow board members.
Byrd also pointed to her experience as a church youth leader as preparation for public office. She described leading a small group in which some children were too young for activities reserved for those 13 and older. She said younger children felt excluded when they were left out of a group T-shirt order, and older children later chose to wait until everyone could attend district events together.
Byrd said advocating for the children and keeping the group together required persistence.
“I could have given up, but I didn't. I made my stand, faced my trials, and we persevered,” she said.
On transparency and accountability, Byrd emphasized compassion, clarity, communication and consequences. She said listening to the people she represents would remain part of her approach.
“As an incumbent I will continue to ensure every person feels valued, heard and supported,” Byrd said.
She identified dedication, advocacy and collaboration as her approach to balancing immediate needs with long-term goals. Byrd also said elected officials should remain humble and remember why they serve.
“Separating party lines is key to collaboration, effective governance, and success,” she said.
