By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

In the race to decide the Shelby County Board of Education, Place 1 seat, it was Jane Hampton who came out on top and will serve a second consecutive six-year term.

With all but one precinct accounted for, Hampton defeated opponent Ramona Piland Rice after receiving nearly 85 percent of citizen’s votes on Tuesday, March 1 in the Shelby County primary election.

Hampton has worked in the Shelby County School System in some capacity since 1971, and said she was excited to get another opportunity to serve on the board.

“I’ve been here since 1971 and the growth in Shelby County has been tremendous and I think it’s exciting to watch it continue,” said Hampton. “I learned so much even after being a principal and watching the board and going to board meetings.”

Hampton said one of her favorite parts of serving on the board is getting a chance to visit schools across the county.

“Going into the schools and visiting and seeing how great they are and the great things they’re doing is my favorite,” said Hampton. “It’s something you miss when you’ve been in the school system a long time and you retire.”

Hampton served in the Shelby County School System from 1971-2008. She taught at Valley Elementary School and Inverness Elementary. Served as assistant principal at Inverness for eight years as well as a principal at Oak Mountain Elementary for 11 years.

After learning she would not win the Place 1 seat on the board, Rice responded by congratulating Hampton.

“Well I posted earlier on my page that I want to congratulate Jane and my hope is that she will become a champion of change in our school system,” Rice said in a March 1 phone interview. “It would be refreshing to see true collaboration in all involved parties. I think it’s time for the conversation to change and we need to listen to the voices of the administration, parents, teachers, individuals and students so that all are heard. Our school system needs to be one where we are creating connections with our stakeholders and shape the future of learning.”