District 9 covers all of South Knoxville and South Knox County from the Tennessee River to the Blount and Sevier county lines. The community includes urban areas along the waterfront, one of the county’s busiest highways and large stretches of rural but rapidly developing countryside.

The winner could play a key role in the school system's upcoming long-term planning initiative for South Knox County schools.

The district is home to seven elementary schools, the county’s virtual school, South-Doyle Middle School and South-Doyle High School. Kristi Kristy represents the district on the school board and serves as the board chair.

The Republican primary pits Kristy, who is seeking her third term, against political newcomer Bill Sofield. With Knox County Schools poised to launch a comprehensive planning process for South Knox schools in 2029, the district’s next representative will be in a key position on the school board.

The candidates aren’t far apart in fundraising. Kristy raised $12,278 in the first quarter of 2026, spent $1,951 and had $10,423 on hand as of March 31. Much of her support has come from traditional GOP donors, including multiple members of the Haslam family. Former District 9 Commissioner Carson Dailey also contributed to her campaign.

Sofield has raised $12,506 during this election cycle and added to that total with a $2,000 loan. His account balance was $7,205 at the end of March. Conservative political consultant Erik Wiatr is advising his campaign, and Sofield’s donors include several of Wiatr’s former clients and their supporters, as well as Wiatr’s Knox Liberty Organization. Fifth District Commissioner Angela Russell is a contributor.

The winner will face Brandy Jenkins, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the August general election. We will profile Jenkins as the general election approaches.

Kristi Kristy

Kristi Kristy’s path to the Knox County Board of Education didn’t begin in politics; it started in classrooms, PTA meetings and years spent working with children.

Now seeking reelection, Kristy says that lifelong connection continues to shape her approach to leadership.

“My husband and I moved here over 30 years ago to South Knoxville, and we have triplets that we raised in our South Knoxville schools,” Kristy said. “I was involved at every level in their education and in the PTAs and in schools, and that’s really where my passion began.”

Originally from Blount County, 55-year-old Kristy has spent the majority of her adult life in Knoxville, building deep ties to the South Knoxville community. Her three children — two daughters and a son — all came through Knox County Schools, an experience that she says gave her firsthand insight into both the strengths and gaps within the system.

“I just love serving my community and our schools,” she said. “I feel like it’s an honor to serve in this capacity.”

Outside of education, Kristy has spent more than two decades working as a pediatric nurse, a role that has kept her closely connected to children and families across the region. She says that experience has informed how she views student needs, not just academically, but also socially and emotionally.

“I’ve pretty much worked with young people most of my adult life,” she said. “It’s just a passion of mine.”

Her decision to run for school board initially came after her children graduated, when she began to notice a lack of direction among some students entering adulthood, particularly those without clear college plans.

“One of the biggest things that prompted me to run was just to try to create some change around that and more awareness and more exposure to what’s out there,” she said. “I had concerns for some of their classmates and just wondered what their post-graduation plans were.”

That concern has since become a cornerstone of her work on the board. Kristy points to expanded career and technical education programs, including the district’s academy model, and partnerships with local industries as a key area of progress during her tenure.

“We have over 2,000 partners now, districtwide, with industry, military and postsecondary partners coming in and helping give that exposure,” she said. “It’s a very hands-on, meaningful way of showing students what opportunities are out there.”

She also highlights academic growth across the district in recent years, while acknowledging there is still significant work ahead.

“We have seen unprecedented growth academically. We’re still not where we need to be, and we all recognize that, but our students are gaining ground,” Kristy said.

Among her priorities moving forward are continuing to strengthen academic outcomes, increasing teacher pay to remain competitive and expanding career pathways for students. She says investing in educators is critical to sustaining progress.

“I’ve been an advocate for increasing teacher pay, and I’ll continue to advocate for that so we are not losing our teachers to neighboring districts,” she said.

At the same time, Kristy says schools are facing more complex challenges, particularly when it comes to student mental health and behavioral support. She describes a growing need for additional resources and staffing to meet those needs.

“It feels like there are a lot of students coming into the school system that need more support than we have historically seen,” she said. “We need the capacity to provide support where it’s needed so we can make sure all students succeed.”

On issues like school vouchers and charter schools, Kristy takes a pragmatic approach, noting that many of those decisions are made at the state level. Her focus, she says, remains on strengthening Knox County Schools and ensuring that families have the information they need to make informed choices.

“My focus has always been on concentrating on what I can control, which is making our schools the schools that parents choose to send their kids to,” she said. “I would like to see more transparency … so parents can make that decision based on evidence.”

Still, Kristy says there is one issue that stands above all others: school safety.

“That’s actually my number one priority in our schools,” she said. “Kids can’t learn and teachers can’t teach if they don’t feel safe and secure.”

That priority became deeply personal after her son was near the campus of Michigan State University during a mass shooting there in 2023.

“As a mom, that was tough, getting those alerts and not knowing if he was OK,” she said. “It just really drove home the importance of it. It should always be everybody’s top priority.”

As she campaigns for another term, Kristy describes the race as steady but uncertain, noting how close local elections can be.

“You never know. Knox County races have been decided by less than 20 votes,” she said. “But things seem to be moving along as I expected, with no real surprises.”

For Kristy, the campaign is ultimately an extension of the work she’s been doing for years, rooted in community, shaped by experience and driven by a commitment to students.

“I just feel like it’s an honor to serve,” she said. 

Bill Sofield

Bill Sofield, 61, has spent much of his adult life working in technology and volunteering in local schools. Now, he’s stepping forward with the belief that those experiences, and a push for change, should carry him into elected office.

This is his first campaign, but Sofield says he is no stranger to Knox County Schools. A longtime parent, PTA leader and school volunteer, he’s built his connection to District 9 through years of involvement in classrooms and school communities.

“I am politically astute, and I think I have enough on the ball to be a good representative on the school board,” Sofield said.

Sofield works as a computer applications analyst for a large healthcare company in Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in English focused on technical writing, a background that led him into computer systems and support, where he has built a steady career.

Though he wasn’t born in Knoxville, Sofield has called the area home for more than 30 years, relocating from Pennsylvania in the early 1990s. He now lives in the Mount Olive neighborhood, where his family is deeply rooted. His wife works at Mount Olive Elementary School, and their four sons have all attended Knox County Schools, including South-Doyle High School.

That personal investment has shaped his involvement. Sofield has served as both treasurer and president of the PTA at Mount Olive Elementary and has spent years volunteering across school levels.

“My kids have all gone to South-Doyle, so I have volunteered quite a bit at the elementary, middle and high schools,” he said.

His decision to run came after conversations with friends and a growing sense that the district needed a different direction. Running as a Republican against a Republican incumbent, Sofield frames his candidacy as an effort to bring new leadership and a more conservative approach to the board.

“I’m running in the primary against a two-term incumbent, and it always strikes me as odd that term limits seem to be a Republican issue until Republicans get elected,” Sofield said. “Then they want to stay. I don’t necessarily object to that, but I do think it’s probably time for some change in the 9th District.”

At the center of his campaign is a focus on academic improvement, particularly raising performance across all schools, narrowing achievement gaps and improving student attendance. He is passionate about the role families play in that work, arguing that stronger parent involvement is key to better student outcomes.

He also places a strong emphasis on accountability, both in academic results and in how public dollars are spent, noting the significant portion of the county budget dedicated to education.

“I’m interested in raising academic performance and outcomes. I’m interested in championing parental rights and prerogatives in education,” Sofield said. “And I think we have a responsibility to the taxpayers. There’s a lot of money spent on education; something like 70 to 72 cents of every dollar in the county budget goes to schools, and I think people deserve a clear accounting of that.”

He also emphasized the importance of supporting educators.

“You can’t just ignore your teachers and staff,” he said. “They’re the ones doing the work every day. If you’re going to expect results, you have to support the people who are making that happen.”

On divisive issues like school vouchers, Sofield frames his position around choice.

“School vouchers are a double-edged sword,” he said. “I understand the concern about public money going to private education. But I am absolutely in favor of parental choice and school choice. If vouchers can expand options for students and families, then I support that.”

He puts it in everyday terms.

“I often tell people, you wouldn’t let the government tell you what clothes your kids can wear or what food to feed them,” Sofield said. “So why do we let the government decide where they can go to school? That’s a question worth asking.” 

Sofield also says collaboration across all levels of government, particularly with state lawmakers, will be critical to making meaningful changes.

Beyond policy, Sofield has made clear that how decisions are made matters just as much as what decisions are made. He says he intends to approach the role with a focus on civility, emphasizing respectful dialogue even in disagreement.

“The challenges are immense,” he said, pointing to the competing expectations of parents, students, taxpayers and government entities.

As he campaigns across the district, Sofield says the response has been encouraging, even amid the challenges of a crowded and often contentious political landscape.

“It’s incredibly hectic and chaotic; I think that’s true of any campaign,” he said. “But we’re getting a terrific response from the community. A lot of positive support. Politics are divisive by nature, so you expect that, but overall I’m very optimistic about where things are headed.”

Ultimately, Sofield says his candidacy comes down to perspective
and a belief that fresh leadership matters.

“I think it’s time for a change,” he said. “I believe I can bring a more common-sense approach, something more in line with the values of this district. I’ve spent years working in this community, raising my family here, volunteering in these schools. I know what’s at stake, and I’m ready to serve in a different way.”