Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back

First off, it's an honor to serve as the 5th District Representative on the Sullivan County Board of Education (BOE), where we oversee the Sullivan County Department of Education. Personally and as the 5th District Representative, I would like to welcome everyone back to school, this includes the newest students and parents, to the teachers in the classroom, administrators in the office, to all the support staff, especially the food service folks, who provide the only nutrition some of our students will receive all day, our awesome maintenance personnel, to the Sullivan County Sheriff's Deputies who serve as School Resource Officers (SRO), and everyone I may have missed, right up to Mr. Carter the Director of Schools whose job it is to oversee the daily operation of the department. 

In Sullivan County we have many great dedicated people working in the school department, they love what they do and it shows and I'm proud to lend my assistance wherever I can, including offering my own personal scholarship which I've offered for several years now (link below). Having graduated 30 years ago in 1996 from Sullivan North High School (now closed), I'm interested in what the next 30 years may bring and I know the education and raising I received growing up here inspired me to move back home after a 20+ year career in the U.S. Army and to get involved publicly to better our area.

Note

As a BOE member I don't have any authority over day to day operations at any level by law, but I have a direct line to Mr. Carter who does, in other words, if you have a problem you feel you can't take directly to him or someone else, you can bring it to me and I will ensure the matter is dealt with as discreetly as possible and in a timely manner, but not the point here, here I just wanted to say welcome back.

The Title Inspiration

For those of a certain age, yes, the title was inspired by John Sebastian's 1975-76 hit "Welcome Back," and was the song heard at the beginning of Welcome Back, Kotter a show based around a teacher and his students affectionately known as "The Sweat Hogs." Without further ado, here's the song for your listening pleasure given it's likely now stuck in your head since you first read the title, you're welcome and you're welcomed back. 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Back_(John_Sebastian_song)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Back,_Kotter

• https://youtu.be/OK4_fDHv-SQ?si=sICLdNTWdAvz9GD8

Helpful Links

The links below (except my scholarship) are available on www.sullivank12.net, but if you're new to the area and are just looking for a certain information regarding your local school, simply click the 3rd link below and find your school in a list at the top.

• www.sullivank12.net/board

• www.sullivank12.net

• www.sullivank12.net/schools

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/the-todd-a-mckinley-scholarship-2027

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Sullivan County Board of Education

5th District Representative

todd.mckinley@sullivank12.net

Special Projects Update: Be The One Tennessee

On July 28th, exactly one month after turning over the Department Commander position to Tonya Launsby (pronounced LAWNS-BEE), I sent my first email as the first ever Special Projects Chairman regarding Be The One Days across the great Volunteer State.

Before I explain further, I want to thank Commander Launsby for the opportunity to continue to pursue the things I really love to do for all Legionnaires, the Legion Family and all fellow Veterans, namely legislative advocacy, crafting our legislative agenda, coordinating our Legion Family Day on the Hill and of course working our Be The One mission.

The Explanation

I retooled last year's Be The One Day resolution and proclamation that were used in several counties last year, especially Sullivan County (my home county) and the state, which passed a Joint Resolution signed by Governor Lee during our first ever Legion Family Day on the Hill. In the memo accompanying the resolution and proclamation, I said that every Post in the Department should work together to ensure all 95 counties holds a meaningful Be The One Day, anytime between March and May.

The goal this year is to get ahead of the curve, and thanks to Department Adjutant Mike Griffin for sending the information mentioned above on the 28th, we're ahead of the curve. In fact, as of the 28th, we're 217 days ahead of schedule until March 1st. I made the resolution and proclamation simple, with a fill in the blanks. If we can get every county in the state to hold a meaningful Be The One Day, not just in name, but to have something real behind it, imagine the impact.

During this time, the state will also hold a Be The One Day,, which will coincide with our 2027 Legion Family Day on the Hill, just after our national Washington Conference in DC, which I urge everyone who can to participate.

With the paperwork 99% complete, the only thing Post leadership needs to do is to coordinate with their county commission and county Mayors to advocate for our Be The One mission and get their support.

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Immediate Past Department Commander,

Special Projects Chairman &

Legislative Liaison TN-01

American Legion Department of Tennessee

Northeast Tennessee Community Roundtable (September, 26th)

Who: Me (Todd A. McKinley) inviting you

What: Northeast Tennessee Community Roundtable 

When: 9am-10:00am, Saturday, September, 26th

Where: Evelyns Kitchen Table

1141 N Eastman Rd,

Kingsport, TN 37664

Why: Civic life in this country is abysmal!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/northeasttncommunityroundtable

Speaker: Travis Featherstone is the Co-founder of NETVETS, who's mission is to "assist Northeast Tennessee Veterans and their families in obtaining the physical, resiliency, financial, and social benefits they have earned through their service resulting in a more unified, prosperous and resilient community."

• https://netvetsgroup.org

Note: These events are informal and free to attend, but please patronize the establishment and tip.

Civic Life Matters

It's my honor to reestablish a civics roundtable in upper East Tennessee, after all, with a new year comes new projects. In September 2023, I launched the Veterans Coffee Roundtable and hosted every meeting until August 2025, all with the purpose of establishing a true civics speaker series in the Northeast Tennessee area, one that was open to everyone but tailored to Veterans. By calling it the Veterans Coffee Roundtable, my intent was to bring Veterans who are likely to attend an event or meeting held by a Veterans Service Organization but will rarely if ever attend meetings held by civic and/or political groups, for whatever reasons, personal or otherwise.

By having a support network built in, it gave dozens of my fellow Veterans the opportunity to come into proximity with political figures and public officials alike. In most cases, my fellow Veterans would almost never cross paths with those I invited to speak, from city Mayors to State Senators and many more, all in a positive setting. It gave everyone the opportunity to hear from their Chief of Police, Sheriff and so many others and ask direct questions in a friendly environment. It also gave an opportunity for anyone who wanted to be involved to do so in an easy going, informal setting and of course bring meaning back to the word civics.

The reason I've decided to revamp the name was I feel many outside Veteran Service Organization circles didn't know the public was invited, not just Veterans. Also, I want to make these true civics meeting with a simple format that will hopefully grow and one that doesn't trade on the name Veteran.

Since retiring the Veterans Coffee Roundtable name last year, I've had dozens of people ask me if I'm going to restart it or do something else. Well, I'm doing something similar but I'm looking to expand the reach and make civic life important again, which necessitated the name change.

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

www.toddmckinley.com 

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