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fullname
Gisele 'Gigi' Gentile
lastname
Gentile
first name
Giselle
Campaign Phone
2398100693
Incumbent (Yes or No)
No
As a longtime Lee County resident, retired special education teacher with 8 years of experience in the School District of Lee County, and a business professional with 30 years of experience, I bring patience, leadership, problem-solving, and fiscal responsibility.
My experience with students, families, clients, and contractors taught me to listen, ask tough questions, and focus on results. I will bring an independent, student-first voice to the School Board.
My vision of a world-class Lee County school system is one where every student has the opportunity to succeed and graduates prepared to read, write, compute, think critically, and compete in a changing world. Parents should be respected as partners, teachers should feel valued and supported, and every student should learn in a safe environment with access to appropriate mental health resources. We must focus resources on classrooms, reduce wasteful administrative spending, hold leadership accountable, and make decisions based on student outcomes.
A world-class system puts students first, supports great teachers, respects parents, and uses taxpayer dollars responsibly.
The district must make competitive employee compensation a budget priority. We should regularly compare salaries and benefits with neighboring districts and the local cost of living, identify administrative waste, and direct more resources toward the employees who serve students every day.
Compensation should reward experience, performance, and hard-to-fill positions while ensuring support staff are not overlooked. We must also address retention through manageable workloads, safe working conditions, professional support, and opportunities for growth. Competitive pay is essential to recruiting and keeping great teachers and staff.
I would strengthen partnerships among families, early-learning providers, community organizations, and the school district to help children enter kindergarten ready to succeed. Parents should have easy access to information about early literacy, language development, developmental milestones, and available pre-K programs. I would support early screening and timely intervention for children with learning or developmental needs.
We should also expand family literacy resources and ensure a smooth transition from pre-K to kindergarten. Early support can prevent small learning gaps from becoming larger challenges.
I would promote transparency by making budgets, contracts, major expenditures, and board decisions clear and accessible to the public. I would ask tough questions, carefully review spending, and require measurable results for taxpayer investments. Resources should be prioritized for classrooms, students, teachers, and essential services, not unnecessary administrative growth or waste.
I would support strong financial safeguards, competitive bidding, regular audits, and clear accountability for results. Taxpayers deserve to know where every dollar goes and whether it is improving student success.
I would improve communication by making it timely, clear, accessible, and truly two-way. We must listen to the parents, teachers, employees, and community members who take the time to speak at School Board meetings and value their feedback instead of making them feel ignored.
I would support community listening sessions across Lee County, stronger partnerships with parent and community groups, and multiple ways for families to provide input. Good governance requires more than talking to the public—it requires listening, responding respectfully, and ensuring every community has a voice.
I believe reliable transportation and student safety are basic responsibilities of the school district. I would review bus routes, staffing, scheduling, and performance data to understand what is causing ongoing delays and make sure the problems are addressed. Parents also deserve timely and accurate communication when buses are running late.
I would work with city and county officials, law enforcement, and transportation planners to identify unsafe bus stops and improve sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, bike routes, and other safe ways for students to get to and from school. Student safety requires coordination, accountability, action, and not excuses.
I would prioritize expanding career and technical education, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and partnerships with local businesses, trade schools, and colleges. Students should have opportunities to earn industry certifications, college credit, and hands-on experience before graduation.
We should also provide strong career counseling so students understand the many pathways available to them. Not every student will follow the same path, but every student should graduate with practical skills, a plan for the future, and the confidence to enter college, the military, a skilled trade, or the workforce.
fullname
Debbie Jordan
lastname
Jordan
first name
Debbie Jordan
Background
As a 50-year Lee County resident, parent, and current School Board Member, I offer a track record of stability and proven leadership. Having served as Board Chair and Legislative Co-Chair, I bring the
Education
Edison College, Southern College
contactemail
vote4debbiejordan@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
2392299825
Incumbent (Yes or No)
Yes
My preparation is a blend of institutional knowledge, professional operational expertise, and unwavering community presence. I bring a track record of stability, a deep understanding of our district's history, and a clear vision for the future—all backed by the experience of having already delivered results for our students and families.
To bring this all together, we must anchor everything we do in the definition of a "World-Class School System." For Lee County, this is not just a slogan—it is an outcome.
My vision of a World-Class School System is a unified ecosystem where every student succeeds because they are provided with personalized pathways to their own version of greatness. A system that refuses to accept "average." It is a system designed with the singular goal of ensuring every graduate is ready for their future—whether that future is a four-year university or a high-skill, high-wage career path.
Employee Compensation: Our staff is our greatest asset. I am committed to advocating for recurring funding at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure competitive compensation. I prioritize responsible fiscal stewardship, focusing every possible dollar on the classroom to recruit and retain the best talent for our children.
"Early Childhood Success: Every child deserves a strong start. I am a fierce advocate for expanding access to high-quality Pre-K to ensure every child is 'school-ready.' I support policies that ensure kindergarten is the standard for all students, providing the foundational social and academic skills necessary to thrive throughout their entire K-12 journey."
My Pledge to You
I am committed to a culture where nothing is "done behind closed doors" that can be done in the light of day. By being present, accessible, and transparent about both our challenges and our successes, we ensure that the community is a true partner in our district’s future.
This approach reflects my philosophy: The board belongs to the people of Lee County, and our governance should always be an open door.
My commitment is simple: I am a board member who is out in the community, listening more than I speak, and ensuring every parent has a seat at the table.
My Commitment: Transportation and safety are not "done" once a plan is in place—they require daily focus. I have the experience of working across agencies to get results, and I will continue to be the voice that pushes for safe, reliable, and efficient transit for every Lee County student.
The goal is to continue strengthening the district's "academy" model by ensuring that every pathway is a premier pathway. Whether a student is heading to a university or a technical college, the objective remains the same: ensuring they graduate not just with a diploma, but with a passport to their future—backed by verified skills, real-world experience, and a clear understanding of the career opportunities awaiting them in Lee County.
