Fred Jackson Longgrear is from Thomaston, Georgia. He and his wife, Lisa Brannen Longgrear, have been married for more than 25 years and have three children together. He attends Cedar Street Baptist Church.

Fred is the superintendent of Candler County Schools. He has worked there for 11 years. He previously worked as a teacher, coach, and principal in Georgia's public schools. 

Fred is currently the superintendent of Candler County Schools. He has served in this role for the past eleven years.

Believes in balancing academic achievement with workforce readiness.

Plans to collaborate directly with the Georgia Literacy Council and other state partners to improve reading outcomes.

- Believes in balancing academic achievement with workforce readiness.
- Plans to collaborate directly with the Georgia Literacy Council and other state partners to improve reading outcomes.

School Curriculum

Wants to improve school safety and expand career pathways.

Wants to connect local school districts directly with regional industries to better prepare students for the workforce.

- Wants to improve school safety and expand career pathways.
- Wants to connect local school districts directly with regional industries to better prepare students for the workforce.

School Facilities & Resources

Advocates for improving preventative safety measures across all schools while simultaneously enhancing behavioral health supports for students.

- Supports strengthening school safety.
- Advocates for improving preventative safety measures across all schools while simultaneously enhancing behavioral health supports for students.

Student Wellbeing

As of March 11, 2026, Fred Jackson Longgrear’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Fred Jackson Longgrear

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Mesha Mainor earned a bachelor's degree in health sciences and a master's degree in physical therapy from Howard University, and a doctorate in management and operations from Northcentral University. She is a mother of two.

Mesha Mainor

Mesha served in the Georgia House of Representatives District 56 from 2020 to 2025, losing the 2024 race for the seat.

Mesha founded the Fulton Technology and Energy Authority, whose mission is to alleviate energy burden in Georgia communities. She also founded a language immersion program for children and is the founder and chief executive officer of a medical practices company. 

Supports data-driven testing and performance measures.

- Opposes "politically driven curriculum."
- Supports data-driven testing and performance measures.

Prioritizes fiscal transparency in school spending.

- Prioritizes fiscal transparency in school spending.

Supports providing better mental health services in schools.

- Supports providing better mental health services in schools.

As of March 11, 2026, Mesha Mainor’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports expanding charter schools, private school scholarships, and public programs that give parents "a say in where and how their child is educated."

- Supports expanding charter schools, private school scholarships, and public programs that give parents "a say in where and how their child is educated."

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Mesha Mainor earned a bachelor's degree in health sciences and a master's degree in physical therapy from Howard University, and a Doctorate of Business Administration degree in management and operations from Northcentral University. She is a mother of two.

Mesha founded the Fulton Technology and Energy Authority in 2021, whose mission is to alleviate energy burden in Georgia communities. She also founded a language immersion program for children in 2008 and is the Chief Executive Officer of a medical practices company she founded in 2001. 

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Nelva Melissa Lee lives with her partner, Donnie, and their three kids in Griffin, Georgia.

Nelva is the founder and CEO of Concrete Build Financing. She previously served as the CEO of a vocational school for 20 years and taught as an adjunct professor at various universities for over 10 years.

Dr. Nelva Lee - Georgia Black Republican Council

Nelva is the chief executive officer of MiTio, a Medical and Court Interpreting and Translating Training Institute. She is also an author and the founder and chief executive officer of Concrete Build Financing. She previously worked as an adjunct professor and in healthcare.

Nelva Melissa Lee was appointed by Governor Kemp to serve on the board of the Department of Community Health. She previously ran as the Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17.

Nelva Lee - Ballotpedia

Nelva was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Department of Community Health. She previously ran for the Georgia State Senate to represent District 17 in 2012 and 2018, but did not win.

Supports vocational training for high school students.

Supports vocational literacy training for high school students.

Supports literacy programs for K-2nd grade students.

- Supports vocational literacy training for high school students.
- Supports literacy programs for K-2nd grade students.

As of March 11, 2026, Nelva Melissa Lee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports ensuring that "anyone with the desire and aptitude to go to college - makes it to college."

Supports ensuring that "anyone with the desire and aptitude to go to college - makes it to college and succeeds."

Promises that all graduates will have at least one trade school certification by utilizing the Georgia Dual Enrollment System.

Plans to expand the Promise Georgia Scholarship and increase the number of charter schools to provide "true School Choice" for parents and students.

- Supports ensuring that "anyone with the desire and aptitude to go to college - makes it to college and succeeds."
- Promises that all graduates will have at least one trade school certification by utilizing the Georgia Dual Enrollment System.
- Plans to expand the Promise Georgia Scholarship and increase the number of charter schools to provide "true School Choice" for parents and students.

Nelva Melissa Lee

Rafael Perez

Randell Eugene Trammell has a bachelor's degree in religion from Reinhardt University, a master's in business administration from Reinhardt University McCamish School of Business, and a doctor of education from Northeaster University. He lives with his wife, Catherine, and their three children in Cartersville. He volunteers as a Bartow-Cartersville board member at the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia and as a member of the board of trustees for Reinhardt University.

Randell currently serves as a commissioner on the Georgia Commission on Civic Education and works as president and CEO of the US Center for Civic Engagement, as chief executive officer of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, and as a certified coach, speaker, and trainer with The John Maxwell Team.

Randell's campaign for State School Superintendent in the State of Georgia is his first run for public office.

Supports policies to improve educational standards through teacher support, classroom discipline, and a focus on core academic skills.

Plans to expand career and technical education and workforce development programs (CTAE) to prepare students for employment after graduation.

Believes that education decision-making authority should be shifted from the federal government to state and local levels.

- Supports policies to improve educational standards through teacher support, classroom discipline, and a focus on core academic skills.
- Plans to expand career and technical education and workforce development programs (CTAE) to prepare students for employment after graduation.
- Believes that education decision-making authority should be shifted from the federal government to state and local levels.

Wants to increase transparency and accountability in schools, including access to information on curriculum, performance, and spending.

- Wants to increase transparency and accountability in schools, including access to information on curriculum, performance, and spending.

As of March 11, 2026, Randell Eugene Trammell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports increasing teacher pay and resources to improve educator retention and support.

- Supports increasing teacher pay and resources to improve educator retention and support.

Supports expanding parental choice across multiple education options, including public, charter, private, and homeschooling.

- Supports expanding parental choice across multiple education options, including public, charter, private, and homeschooling.

Randell Eugene Trammell

Milan Parker

Richard is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He attended Fitzgerald High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He has served in this position for over a decade.

Richard Woods - Georgia gov

Richard is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He  was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue school-curriculum: Supports eliminating Common Core ELA standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.

Supported eliminating Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.

Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education supports, and play in the school curriculum.

Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education support, and play-in-school curriculum.

- Supported eliminating Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.
- Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education support, and play-in-school curriculum.

Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and supports to succeed.

Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and support to succeed.

- Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and support to succeed.

Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education.

Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights with the goal of enhancing parental involvement in education.

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Wants to protect student data/privacy and provide a distraction-free learning environment.

Wants to protect student data and privacy and also provide a distraction-free learning environment.

Supports the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and a crisis alert system in every school.

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Created a 'Ready Georgia' designation for schools in partnership with GEMA/Homeland Security.

Supports programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Supports the establishment of a School Safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.

Supported the establishment of a school safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.

Supports requiring school safety drills, safety plans, and law enforcement review of new school building plans.

- Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights with the goal of enhancing parental involvement in education.
- Wants to protect student data and privacy and also provide a distraction-free learning environment.
- Supports the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and a crisis alert system in every school.
- Supports programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 
- Supported the establishment of a school safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.
- Supports requiring school safety drills, safety plans, and law enforcement review of new school building plans.

Supports the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.

Supports encouraging more individuals to enter the teaching profession through the 'Teach in the Peach' initiative.

- Supports the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.
- Supports encouraging more individuals to enter the teaching profession through the 'Teach in the Peach' initiative.

Established the first-ever Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

Established the Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

- Established the Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

Richard Lee Woods

Richard is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He  was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

Alejandra Gracias

Supports eliminating Common Core standards to enhance parental involvement in children's education.

- The State School Superintendent is the Administrative Head of the Georgia Department of Education. They are responsible for putting into action the policies and regulations that come out of the State Board of Education for Georgia’s K-12 public education system. 
- The State School Superintendent provides guidance to the State Board of Education and local school boards on how to comply with new state education laws, such as changes in funding or new curriculum requirements.
- The State School Superintendent can make recommendations to the State Board of Education, a board of 13 members who are all appointed by the Governor and set policies for the public school system.
- The State School Superintendent is elected statewide. They serve four year terms.

Georgia State School Superintendent, Republican Primary

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