Jaylen J. Cotton

The open seat on the Madison County School Board gives the voters a clear opportunity; why not put this youthful energy to work? Our community is thriving with opportunities flowing in left and right, we need a visionary leader to keep those opportunities coming, while building on the ones that exist. We need a fiscal conservative with connections inside our district to do the important work and support students, teachers, and school administration.

Jaylen Cotton is running because his first-hand, recent graduate perspective is exactly what our school districts need to propel the district forward. The challenges facing our school district weren’t something he merely researched, he lived them. As a panelist on issues related to school system readiness, a local restaurant leader, and a substitute teacher in our community — Jaylen is excited to share his ideas and vision with you.

Jaylen is running because our schools need a candidate to look toward the future and continue to drive our education forward. Sitting in our public school classrooms over the last thirteen years made it clear to Jaylen that the way we educate is changing and our school district leadership has to embrace those changes and be ahead of them.

As a student, Jaylen was involved with a variety of school clubs and organizations including student government, journalism, band, and more, giving him a wide-lens perspective of our schools and the challenges we face. His recent graduation provided the clearest exigence, but there is a myriad of reasons compelling him to be the force of change. As a small business leader, tasked with being the general manager of a multi-million dollar restaurant, he easily recognizes the need to have talent that can fill the needs of the jobs available. Jaylen knows that this undeniably starts in our schools. Jaylen has stepped up to the plate when our schools needed it most, serving as a substitute teacher on the days when he can step away from the restaurant. In today's economy, not every high school graduate needs to attend a university. For this reason, K12 education needs to pivot, prepare, and provide more support for graduates who want to enter the workforce upon graduation.

Jaylen's experience has graced him with the perspective to help drive the narrative surrounding our schools. Our economy reflects the fact that not at all students need to go to college to be well-positioned for success. The vast majority of jobs offered by the flagship Toyota-Mazda development – which Sparkman is the closest county high school to – are jobs without a college degree requirement. As the older brother of a sister still attending the school system, and the uncle to a niece soon to follow, Jaylen has an engaged interest in the success and vision of our schools. The entities that do governance best do so by diversifying the people in leadership, and Jaylen can offer a diverse, intellectually curious mindset to the board.

As Jaylen looks over the youth in the classrooms where he substitute teaches, he recognizes, soundly, his desire to provide educational opportunities to help them reach their potential.

Jaylen's vision quantified: There is no opportunity out of reach for our students – if it’s available someplace else, it should be available for them. Our entire community fails or succeeds based on our public education system and thus, Jaylen's vision for students is informed by that reality . Our education system has to equip all students to be college and or career ready when they leave our campuses. As a graduate that elected to take a gap-year and explore the Huntsville job market before entering college, Jaylen knows the positive impact such a choice can have. He wants to provide students with the tools to help them make the best choice for them.