Knox County’s 1st District contains many of the school system’s most academically and socioeconomically challenged schools. It is also the most racially and ethnically diverse district, with slightly more than half the residents being nonwhite.

District 1 candidates have tended to rely more on their community networks than raising money to reach voters.

The district stretches through the heart of the county on an east-west axis and includes East Knoxville, Downtown, Mechanicsville, Lonsdale, West View, Marble City, Pond Gap and Middlebrook Heights. 

District 1 has been represented by Black school board members for decades, and this year’s school board race will not change that — all three Democratic candidates and the only Republican hopeful are African-Americans.

Rev. John Butler is the incumbent, running for his second term in office. He faces two challengers in the Democratic primary, O’Tavais “OT” Harris and Breyauna Holloway. The district presents the only contested Democratic primary in this year’s election.

District 1 candidates have tended to rely more on their community networks than raising money to reach voters, and this year is no exception. Butler raised $1,746 during the first quarter of 2026, spent $718 and had $1,028 on hand as of March 31. Harris spent $721 of the $769 he raised, leaving him with $48 in the bank. Breyauna Holloway raised only $130 but didn’t spend a dime.

The winner will face Charles Frazier, who is unopposed in the GOP primary, in the general election. We will profile Frazier in our general-election coverage.

Rev. John Butler

Butler has spent a lifetime in service — from  the military to the ministry to community advocacy to the Knox County Board of Education.

The incumbent District 1 representative pointed to what he calls both unfinished work and measurable progress during his first term as reasons he should be reelected.

“I’m offering myself for reelection because I want to continue the work we’ve done,” Butler said. “We’ve made progress, not everywhere we need to be, but we’ve made progress in academics, in facilities, in transparency. And there’s still more to do.”

Butler, 66, brings a wide-ranging background shaped by decades of leadership across multiple sectors. Originally from Greensboro, N.C., he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ministry.

“I’ve been a servant leader for quite a while,” Butler said. “Whether it was in the Army, in ministry or in community organizations, my life has been about service, advocating for people, especially those who are vulnerable.”

He served 11 years in the Army and National Guard, reaching the rank of captain, before building a career in social work and elder advocacy. His work included serving as a regional long-term care ombudsman, protecting seniors from fraud and neglect, and coordinating services across multiple counties.

“I’ve gone into nursing homes advocating for residents’ rights, worked to protect seniors from exploitation and helped oversee programs serving thousands across multiple counties,” he said. “That kind of work teaches you how to listen, how to advocate and how to navigate systems that don’t always work the way they should.”

Butler moved to Knoxville with his wife, Rev. Donna M. Butler, and family in 2007 to serve as the pastor of Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church in Mechanicsville.

“When we got here, we hit the ground running,” he said. “We served as co-presidents of the Austin-East High School PTA, worked with Vine Middle and Maynard Elementary when they became community schools, and stayed actively involved in our children’s education.”

His son graduated as valedictorian from Austin-East, and Butler said those experiences shaped his understanding of the district’s challenges and opportunities.

Beyond schools, Butler has held leadership roles across Knoxville, including serving as president of the NAACP Knoxville branch, chairing faith-based coalitions addressing HIV/AIDS stigma, and serving on the city’s Police Advisory Review Committee.

His path to elected office began when the District 1 seat opened ahead of the 2022 election.

“When I understood the seat was going to be vacant, I was asked if I would consider running,” Butler said. “And I said yes because there were critical issues we still needed to address like academic achievement, equity, discipline, facilities and making sure our students were prepared with a 21st-century education.”

Now nearing the end of his term, Butler says one of the most tangible accomplishments is a long-fought-for investment in school infrastructure.

“We have a $66 million K-through-8 school being built in the Mechanicsville, Lonsdale and Beaumont area,” he said. “That’s something the community has been asking for for years — decades, really — and now it’s becoming a reality.”

For Butler, the project represents more than a building.

“It’s about restoring something to that community,” he said. “That site used to be the old Rule High School property, and for years it was a source of pain. Now it’s going to be a beautiful monument of education, something the community can be proud of.”

He said the school’s design, organized by grade-level communities, will provide both expanded resources and a more cohesive learning environment.

“You’re bringing students together in one space with better access to support staff, programming and opportunities,” Butler said. “Instead of being spread across multiple buildings with limited resources, now you’ve got everything under one roof, and that’s going to make a difference.”

Still, Butler acknowledges that significant challenges remain, particularly around academic performance and equity.

“We’ve made strides. Austin-East, for example, moved from a TVAAS level one to a level five, but we still have schools on the priority list,” he said. “So academic success is still one of the most pressing issues, especially in District 1.”

He also points to ongoing work around teacher recruitment and retention.

“We’ve increased salaries about $44 million across the district, and we’ve seen growth in minority-teacher representation,” Butler said. “But we’ve got to keep building on that. Supporting teachers, creating the right environment, that’s critical if we want to sustain progress.”

On policy issues like charter schools and vouchers, Butler draws a firm line around public-education funding.

“I believe public dollars should be for public schools,” he said. “Any money that goes to vouchers or private institutions is money that could be invested back into our public schools.”

At the same time, he acknowledged the realities of state law.

“As a board member, I’ve taken an oath to follow the law,” Butler said. “So we have to operate within that framework. But if public dollars are going to go to other schools, then those schools should be held to the same standards and accountability as public schools.”

As he campaigns for reelection, Butler says he’s leaning on both his record and his presence in the community.

“I’ve attended every board meeting, work sessions, voting sessions, committee meetings;” I show up,” he said. “And I respond when I’m called. That matters.”

He also addressed questions about balancing his role on the school board with his appointment as a presiding elder overseeing churches in North Carolina.

“I still live here. I shop here. I go to the doctor here. I’m in Knoxville every week,” Butler said. “I’ve been doing this for months now, serving both roles, and I’ve continued to meet every obligation as a board member. It has not impacted my ability to serve.”

Ultimately, Butler says his case to voters is rooted in both experience and results.

“I’m a proven, principled leader,” he said. “Knox County Schools, and District 1, are better now than they were three and a half years ago. We’ve laid a foundation, and now we need to keep building on it.”

For Butler, the work is far from finished.

“I’ve been striving to be a servant leader,” he said. “And now, as a proven professional in this role, I’m asking for the opportunity to continue what we’ve started, and take it even further.”

Breyauna Holloway

Holloway has spent her life inside District 1 schools as a student, a parent and a community advocate, and now she’s looking to turn that lived experience into action.

The 41-year-old entrepreneur and Knoxville native is running for the District 1 school board seat, positioning herself as both a product of the system and a parent actively navigating it in real time.

“I was born and raised in Knoxville. I’ve been here all my life, and I was educated in District 1 schools,” Holloway said. “I started at Sarah Moore Greene and graduated from Austin-East. I’m a third-generation graduate of Austin-East, and now my children are continuing that legacy.”

Education, for Holloway, is not abstract; it’s generational. All five of her children attend or have attended District 1 schools, with her oldest children becoming fourth-generation Austin-East graduates.

“Everything that happens within Knox County Schools directly impacts my household,” she said. “This isn’t just policy to me, this is personal. I’m living it every day as a parent.”

Holloway earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in criminal justice and a minor in African and African American Studies before going on to receive a master’s degree in criminal justice with a focus on organizational leadership from Purdue University Online. She has also been civically engaged in East Knoxville, having served as a recreational cheerleading coach and neighborhood advisory council representative.

“I’ve proven myself consistently over the years to be visible and active in this community,” Holloway said. “I’ve spoken out on issues from housing to education to economic development. I’ve been on boards, committees, and I’ve made it my mission to keep people informed about what’s happening in our community.”

That commitment to informing and engaging residents, she says, is central to her approach to leadership.

Holloway describes herself as a communicator first, someone who prioritizes making information accessible and ensuring community voices are not only heard, but acted upon. Through neighborhood meetings, advocacy work and consistent public engagement, she has built a reputation as someone residents can rely on to break down complex issues and keep them informed about decisions affecting their schools and neighborhoods.

“I have a track record of being here, being honest, being visible, communicative and informative,” she said. “People know they can come to me, and I’m going to tell them what’s going on, not just what they want to hear.”

Holloway ran for the seat in 2022 as an independent and is now running as a Democrat, citing a continued desire to be directly involved in shaping change within the district.

“The reason I’m running is because of my children,” she said. “I want to be part of the change in Knox County Schools, especially in District 1.”

Among the most pressing issues she identifies is what she describes as chronic underfunding and resource gaps in District 1 schools.

“The biggest issue right now is the lack of funding, especially in District 1,” Holloway said. “You’re seeing teacher and staff shortages, and the people who are still there are stretched thin. They’re dealing with larger workloads, more stress and less support.”

She also points to the impact of trauma and socioeconomic challenges on student behavior and learning.

“There are a lot of behavioral issues in the schools, but there’s also a lot of trauma tied to what students are dealing with at home,” she said. “Teachers don’t have enough support-staff counselors, behavioral specialists, therapists, to really address those needs, and that takes away from their ability to teach.”

As a parent of a child with a right to accommodations as a student with disabilities, Holloway says she has seen those gaps firsthand.

“I’m right in the middle of it,” she said. “I’ve seen how mental health, stress and lack of resources impact not just students, but teachers and administrators, too.”

She also acknowledges why some families are choosing alternatives to traditional public schools, even as she remains firmly committed to strengthening them.

“I understand why parents are looking at private or charter schools,” Holloway said. “But my focus is on making sure our public schools are where they need to be academically and structurally. I want District 1 schools to be a place where parents feel proud to send their children, instead of feeling like they have to look elsewhere.”

On vouchers, she is unequivocal.

“I do not support public funding going to private schools, especially when our schools are already being shortchanged,” she said.

Holloway has also been outspoken about the district’s plan to consolidate several schools into a new K-8 campus in the Mechanicsville area, raising concerns about both the process and the impact on the community. She currently has a child attending Maynard Elementary, which is set to close upon the opening of the new school.

“I’ve been advocating for years for a middle school in that area,” she said. “But not at the expense of closing neighborhood schools, especially historically Black schools like Maynard. Those schools are part of the fabric of the community.”

She argues that smaller, community-based schools offer benefits that larger, consolidated campuses may struggle to replicate.

“When you have smaller schools, you get stronger relationships between teachers, students and families,” Holloway said. “That’s what people are looking for in private and charter schools, and we already have that in our community schools if we invest in them properly.”

As she makes her case to voters, Holloway draws a sharp contrast between herself and her opponents, highlighting her deep ties to the district and as a KCS parent.

“I’m the only candidate who has children currently in District 1 schools. I’m here every day. I’m in the schools. I’m in the community. I’m not removed from what’s happening,” she said.

For Holloway, the campaign is ultimately about trust and accountability.

“I’m someone this community can trust to advocate for them,” she said. “I’ve been doing the work, and I’m going to continue doing the work in making sure people are informed, involved and represented in the decisions that impact their children.”

O’Tavais Harris

At just 21, O’Tavais Harris has gone from sitting in Knoxville’s classrooms to seeking a role in shaping their future in a short amount of time.

The District 1 school board candidate is among the youngest to enter the race, but he frames his campaign around proximity to the issues rather than distance from them. Having recently graduated from Austin-East Magnet High School and now working inside schools as a teaching assistant, Harris says he brings a perspective rooted in lived experience.

“I’ve lived in Knoxville my whole entire life, literally since birth,” Harris said. “I went through our schools from elementary all the way through high school. So I’ve seen it from the inside.”

That connection remains personal. Harris still has siblings enrolled in Knox County Schools and says that constant exposure keeps him grounded in the realities students and families face daily.

“I still have brothers and sisters in District 1 schools,” he said. “So this isn’t something I’m removed from, it’s still happening around me every day.”

The middle child in a family of 13, Harris describes his upbringing as one that required both leadership and adaptability early on.

“I’ve always had to learn how to speak up, but also how to listen,” he said. “That’s something I carry with me now.”

Harris is currently a student at East Tennessee State University, where he is set to graduate in December with a degree in English and a minor in Black American Studies. He balances coursework with his role as a teaching assistant, a position that, he says, has deepened his understanding of the gaps within the education system.

“As someone who just graduated a few years ago and now works with students, I’ve seen what teachers and families need,” Harris said. “A lot of it comes down to support, not just at the school level, but from the district as well.”

He describes hearing consistent concerns from educators who feel overlooked when raising issues about classroom needs and resources, something that helped push him toward running for office. His campaign centers on ensuring that those voices, especially teachers, students and families, are more directly reflected in decision-making.

“I’m young, and I use that as a strength,” Harris said. “I don’t think I’ve met many 21-year-olds who’ve been doing this kind of work, who are passionate about education like this. If I don’t step up now, when will I?”

Harris also points to his experience outside the classroom, including launching a business as a teenager and leading a consulting firm focused on planning and organizational strategy. He says those experiences have given him insight into budgeting, long-term planning and accountability, skills he believes are essential at the board level.

His policy priorities reflect a mix of classroom-level concerns and broader systemic issues. At the top of that list, he says, is ensuring all students, regardless of where they live, have access to quality education and the resources needed to succeed.

That includes strengthening early academic foundations, expanding pathways for students beyond traditional college tracks and making sure schools are equipped to meet diverse student needs. He also stresses the importance of closing gaps between higher- and lower-performing schools through targeted investments and consistent accountability measures.

Transportation is one area Harris repeatedly highlights as both a practical and equity issue.

“One of the biggest things I hear about is the policy that says if you live a mile and a half away, you can walk,” he said. “But not every area has safe roads for that. That impacts whether students even make it to school.”

He ties that concern directly to broader challenges around chronic absenteeism and engagement, particularly in District 1.

“A lot of times when students aren’t showing up, it goes back to not feeling safe, not feeling supported, or dealing with things outside of school,” Harris said. “That could be transportation, that could be mental health, that could be past trauma. We have to address those things if we want to see improvement.”

Harris also sees parent engagement as a missing link in many schools.

“We see parents come out for sports, but not always for academics,” he said. “We’ve got to find ways to bring families into that side of their child’s education,  too.”

On issues like charter schools and vouchers, Harris says he supports school choice in principle but says any school receiving public funds should meet rigorous standards for transparency and performance.

Harris describes his leadership style as collaborative and hands-on, focused on listening and building consensus rather than dictating outcomes.

“I’m the type to ask, ‘What do you think? How do we make this better together?’” he said. “I’m not always right, and I’m OK admitting that. Leadership is about listening.”

As he makes his case to voters, Harris says his candidacy is about representation.

“I bring a fresh set of eyes,” he said. “I’ve been a student here, I’m working in these schools now, and my family is still in them. I know what’s needed because I’ve lived it.”

For Harris, the campaign is also a message to younger people watching from the sidelines.

“You may be young, but don’t let that stop you,” he said. “If you’re passionate about something, stand on it.”

And for him, that passion remains clear.

“Education has always been my strong suit,” Harris said. “And I’m ready to be a voice for the community and help move things forward.”