Who is Brandon Simmons? What to know about CCS board member at center of leak scandal

Columbus City Schools Board Member Brandon Simmons is at the center of a controversy after the teachers union called for his resignation following a leaked document that sought to exploit "racial divides" against opponents of school closures.

At a chaotic Tuesday meeting, Simmons delivered a vastly different account than the official board statement of how a leaked document associated with him came to be, with Simmons saying, without providing evidence, that the document was just one draft of document produced in collaboration with board members and stakeholders.

The official board statement issued before Tuesday's meeting said Simmons was solely responsible and that the document does not reflect the views of other board members.

In an open letter to the district published Tuesday, Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio said the teacher's union obtained a strategy document, which he called: "abhorrent, vile, corrupt, and beneath the dignity of public officials." The letter also calls for the board to restart the school closure process.

More on leaked CCS board memo: CCS teachers union wants board member's resignation and closure plan scrapped over memo

So who is Brandon Simmons, Columbus City Schools board member and the center of controversy over the leaked document?

Who is Brandon Simmons?

Simmons, 23, of Hilltop, is a first-term member elected to the Columbus City Schools Board of Education in November.

He previously enjoyed the endorsement of both district unions as a candidate at the expense of incumbent board member Carol Beckerle, who was not endorsed by the unions or the local Democratic party. Last year, Franklin County Democratic Party chairman Mike Sexton told The Dispatch that Beckerle had not received the party endorsement because she did not have union or community support that other candidates, including Simmons, had.

Simmons, a 2020 graduate of Columbus Alternative High School, began his political advocacy in 2019 when he was a high school student and publicly complained about the conditions at the school, The Dispatch previously reported.

Earlier this month, Simmons and Board President Christina Vera led media on a tour of two district facilities, Columbus Alternative and Downtown High School, to highlight one board vision for district consolidation that included closing Columbus Alternative and moving those students to Downtown High.

Simmons also works as a communications coordinator for the Community Shelter Board.

What is Simmons' term in office and when is up for reelection?

Simmons was elected as first term member to Columbus City Schools board in November 2023, and is up for reelection after a four-year term, meaning he will next be on the ballot in 2027.

Simmons said Tuesday that he intended to finish his four years on the board.

"I signed up for a four-year commitment," Simmons told media Tuesday. "I think about the students every day."

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who is Brandon Simmons? What to know about the CCS board member