By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
A decade ago, Emily Jones wasn’t focused on politics—she was focused on raising her young child as a single mother, building a career, and providing for her family. Like many Americans, she paid attention to what was happening around her but didn’t see many politicians who seemed interested in the concerns of everyday citizens.
That began to change in 2020, when Emily saw firsthand how government decisions could directly impact families and parental rights. She realized that if parents aren’t willing to step forward and engage, government will continue making decisions without them. That realization set her on a path from concerned parent to outspoken advocate for Alabama families.
So, what happened? Let’s just say that someone poked the mama bear, and she is a fierce protector of her “cub.” Emily rapidly went from “didn’t have time,” to “I have to do something,” and she has not stopped since. Recently Emily told me, “It all started around the time of COVID,” and her child was being required to wear a mask while playing hard outdoors at recess. Dripping with sweat, her child was miserable, unable to breathe easily, and Emily politely inquired if she as a parent could request some latitude with regard to the mask. She was flatly turned down, citing all of the now-determined-to-be-bogus reasons that went with the times, and Emily did what any reasonable parent would do; she did research. What she found was disturbing with regard to the fact that masks didn’t work, that hypercapnia (the side effects of having to wear a mask for too long) were real, and began to realize that parental rights on more than one front were rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Emily would tell you, “I am running because I have a child in public school.”
That first encounter led to another that involved actor and activist Kirk Cameron. Emily had become a part of Moms for Liberty, a conservative watchdog group that became a national movement, and the Madison chapter welcomed Kirk to come read and speak at a “See You At The Library” event. “We thought there would be maybe 20 people there,” she said. The next that happened was that they were told that the event was cancelled because it was too controversial, and Kirk’s legal team began to push back. A local church offered the use of their facility, and more than 200 people attended. And, then, there were the demonstrators….
Next Emily went to a Moms for Liberty conference that was held in Philadelphia, and the protestors against the Moms were so dreadful that the Moms needed police protection. By this time Emily had become thoroughly immersed in the Constitution, and familiar with the explicit materials that were being passed off as educational. Her first-grader was being forced to participate in activities that were tantamount to therapy sessions independent of parental involvement. Emily was dealing with the Title 9 transgender athlete debacle that was serving to destroy women’s sports in public school, and found that she was in the public eye. She was speaking often and had a successful podcast heard on Right Side Radio called “The Controversial Mom.” People began to ask her to run for the position that was becoming available due to Wayne Reynolds announcing his retirement from the Alabama School Board. Emily prayed fervently, sought counsel, and decided to run.
Emily is a DOW contractor and no stranger to research or statistics. She began to discover that our kids were falling more and more behind in the classroom, and that there were solutions that were proven to work. While technology certainly has its place, especially at the elementary level, its use needs to be restricted. “Old school” approaches have been vindicated due to the fact that solid neuroscience has proven something that was always known for centuries — the 3 Rs all have an important role in encoding as well as skill development, and it turns out kids who are dependent upon devices are being educationally crippled. There is the additional safety risk when it comes to online predators, and even the most vigilant of teachers is not in a position to supervise and protect a classroom.
The best way to describe why Emily is running and why she is the best one for the job are as follows:
Emily Jones is a candidate for the Alabama State Board of Education, District 8. A mother and longtime education advocate, Jones has built her campaign around strengthening academic outcomes, protecting parental rights, reducing classroom distractions, and restoring trust between schools and families. She is the Chapter Chair of Moms for Liberty—Madison County, and has been actively involved in education policy issues across Alabama for several years.
If you are looking for someone to fight for your kids, teachers, and the values you hold dear, then choose Emily Jones on June 16 as your Alabama State School Board member for District 8.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
