After Jeff Hollister was appointed to a vacant Marietta City Board of Education seat in August, four candidates are running for three seats on the board in the November general election.

¯ Cody Parman, 45, of Marietta, is the lead pastor of The Journey Church. He was elected to the board in 2021 and is serving this year as the board president.

“I’m running for another term on the Marietta City School Board because I care deeply about our schools and want to help guide our district forward as we work to build stability and momentum,” he said. “Over the past four years, I’ve helped successfully negotiate union contracts, pushed for improved facilities and consistently advocated for a more productive and transparent board culture.”

Parman said he’s excited to see the progress the district has made and wants to continue working hard to support the staff and students.

¯ Annika Miller, 44, of Marietta, is the owner of S.M. Miller Home Services alongside her husband Seth. She is running for an elected position for the first time.

“I am a proud parent of two children at Marietta High School, and like all parents, I want them to have every opportunity to grow, thrive and succeed – both now and in the future,” Miller said. “I believe every student at Marietta City Schools deserves to learn in an environment that fosters growth, supports their unique gifts and prepares them for lifelong success.”

Miller said she’s been very active in the community and the school and wants to continue the positive momentum created by new Superintendent Mary Schaeffer.

¯ Steven Huffman, 45, of Marietta, is an environmental/regulatory support for a power generation company. He has never run for or held an elected position before. Huffman is a 1998 graduate of Marietta High School and all three of his kids are enrolled in or have graduated from the district.

“My motivation for seeking this position comes from both a desire to support my family and a commitment to maintaining a strong and effective public school system for students, faculty and community,” said Huffman. “Only with steady, forward-looking leadership can we ensure the Marietta City School District continues to provide the support our students deserve and the working environment our teachers and staff need to succeed.”

Huffman said his over 20 years of professional experience and his connections to the district allow him to add strengthening contributions to the board. He said he also wants to ensure the district continues progressing in areas like test scores and achievement.

¯ Chris Fennell, 42, of Marietta, is a former educator and coach and now a stay-at-home dad. He has no previous experience in politics and this is his first time running for an elected position.

“The opportunity to serve on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education centers around my desire to continue having a lasting positive impact on our students, educators and the community as a whole,” said Fennell. “I hope to be in a position to promote and embrace the amazing things happening with our students as well as help cultivate a culture of positive growth going forward.”