Taylor-Jarrell seeks another term on Zachary school board, focusing on students and community
Tracey Johnson Taylor-Jarrell is seeking re-election to the Zachary Community School Board, District 1, emphasizing student achievement, teacher support and stronger community engagement.
ZACHARY, La. — Tracey Johnson Taylor-Jarrell is seeking another term representing District 1 on the Zachary Community School Board, bringing a combination of local roots, education policy experience and a focus on student achievement to the Nov. 3 election.
Taylor-Jarrell, 55, is a Democrat and is listed as the District 1 candidate on the 2026 ballot. Public election records show she qualified for the seat Aug. 5.
A lifelong resident of Port Hudson, Taylor-Jarrell attended Port Hudson Elementary, Northwestern Middle School, and Zachary High School, graduating in 1988. She said her experience as a student in the Zachary school system gives her a personal understanding of the district and the issues facing students, families and educators.
Her academic background includes a degree in accounting from Southern University, an executive MBA from Texas Southern University and a Ph.D. in public policy from Southern University's Nelson Mandela School of Government and Social Sciences.
Taylor-Jarrell currently serves as executive director of the Southern University Board of Supervisors and as an adjunct professor. She also serves as vice president of the Zachary Community School Board.
During her current tenure, Taylor-Jarrell has participated in policy discussions, long-range planning, and conversations surrounding teacher compensation. Her stated priorities include improving academic outcomes, supporting teachers and families, strengthening community engagement, and maintaining safe and inclusive schools.
Her campaign theme, “Leading with Integrity and Serving with Vision,” centers on three priorities: advocating for students, building stronger partnerships among schools and families, and improving educational outcomes through sound policy, adequate resources and teacher support.
Taylor-Jarrell also said she wants her continued service to reflect the commitment to students and the community demonstrated by the late Gaynell Young, a former Zachary school board president who died in 2025.
