Professional Experience
Tony Anderson brings more than three decades of professional experience in education and public service. From serving as a student advisor and occupational specialist to teaching Social Studies and Civics, his career has been dedicated to helping students succeed. His experience gives him the knowledge and leadership to make informed decisions for Martin County schools.
Education
Tony Anderson’s educational journey reflects his lifelong commitment to learning and service. A proud Martin County High School graduate, he earned degrees from Indian River State College and Florida Atlantic University before continuing graduate studies in Higher Education at the University of Miami. His education and experience have prepared him to advocate for students, teachers, and the future of Martin County schools.
Campaign Phone
772-263-2327
I am the only candidate or sitting board member that has a background in education. I have over 30 years in education. It is important that at least one board member have training and experience in the area that they are leading. Our teachers, as well as all of our school board employees, deserve to have a representative who has worked in the education system and understand the challenges that they are experiencing. My background and firsthand experiences, allows me to quickly relate to what their challenges are and therefore, I can move quickly and find solutions because I understand their concerns. This gives me an advantage that others do not have. I can connect right away and relate efficiently and in a positive way to matters at hand.
As a board member, I will demonstrate and lead by example, how we should be the best ambassadors and supporters of public education. After years of being the heart and soul of educating and preparing our students for remarkable careers. Public schools are now under attack. Many are pushing for privatization or outsourcing our educational services to for-profit and market-driven enterprises. There is an attempt to dismantle public education and replace it with entities who offers the best sales pitch. This is a very risky move, and I do not feel that such a move is worth the risk. Accountability issues as well as the quality of services that will be delivered are just too questionable. There are too many negatives for me to discuss here.
Parents should be involved in their children's education, and they should decide what is best for their children. However, our school system must be managed, by the people who are entrusted to carry out these decisions. Educational leaders have to make the final decisions based on their training and experience. They must also make decisions based on what will be best overall and in the long run. Leaders should not be intimidated by the loudest and most threatening voices when some may disagree with their decisions. We have school choice, private schools, homeschools and charter schools that are available if public schools do not meet the needs of their children. Advisory boards should be established to make recommendations when necessary.
Sadly, not only teachers, but bus drivers and other school employees are leaving, and money, believe it or not, is not the number one reason. Salaries have been improving and that's encouraging. Teachers do not feel valued and respected. All too often, they have not had the support of their leaders. Officials are often too timid to make a decision that will support teachers and other personnel. Leaders are paid to make difficult decisions but many times, they will not take a stand and will not support their employees even when it should be done. Leaders are afraid of "backlash". This happens when a decision is made and a small group in the public doesn't like the outcome. Leaders know that they will be targeted so they play it safe.
(1) Education has changed so we now have to actually market just how well our system works when it comes to educating our children. I will be our school system's best ambassador. We must promote public education as being our best school choice. Recruitment and retention are at the top of my list.
(2) Teachers as well as all employees will know that as a school board member, I will support them, value their work ethic and respect them enough to hear their side of the story when there is a conflict and stand with them if they are in the right.
(3) See to it that we improve our working relationships with proven nonprofits as we work together to educate all of our students to the best of our ability. Collaboration is a wonderful thing.
Instructional services, aka "meeting the needs of our students" must come first. Public schools are now in a very vulnerable situation that's unfortunate and unfair with the emergence of charter schools. However, we must examine all of our options and prioritize how we will proceed. More aggressive grant writing and working more closely with our education foundation than ever before will have to be explored. As the challenges mount, we will have to become more innovative and aggressive as we seek other resources. Expanding our partnerships and collaborating even more with them is important. This is essential to the quality of our educational system.
This can be achieved in a number of ways. Civic oversight and having budget disclosures available to the public. Public records requests and attending budget meetings that are open to the public, along with mandated cost reporting and publishing this information, help ensure transparency. As a board member, my door will always be open as well to any citizen that has questions about anything that pertains to the business of our school district. I will always respond to questions and concerns because I work for the public.
Professional Experience
For more than 27 years, I have dedicated my career to education—not behind a desk, but in classrooms, media centers, and communities across South Florida. My experience spans teaching, literacy leadership, technology integration, curriculum development, budget management, and community engagement, giving me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing today's schools. I currently serve as the Media Specialist at Crystal Lake Elementary in the Martin County School District, where I lead literacy and technology initiatives, manage collection development, produce daily broadcast programming, and provide professional development for teachers on emerging technologies and digital tools. I have designed innovative reading progra
Education
I hold a Master of Science in Education, Media Specialist K–12, from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education K–6 from Stetson University. I am certified by the Florida Department of Education in Elementary Education, Grades 1–6, and Educational Media Specialist, Grades PK–12, and I hold an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement.
Campaign Phone
954-536-0977
For more than 27 years, I have served as a teacher, media specialist, literacy leader, and technology educator, giving me firsthand experience with the challenges facing our schools. I currently serve in Martin County, where I lead literacy initiatives, manage budgets, support teachers, and serve on School Improvement and Literacy Committees. I have built award-winning educational programs, opened three media centers, and earned recognition for innovation and student achievement. As a licensed Realtor and business owner, I also bring experience in budgeting, negotiations, and fiscal responsibility. I offer proven educational leadership, practical experience, and a commitment to putting students, teachers, and families first.
I firmly believe public education is the foundation of our country, and I will do everything possible to ensure Martin County's public schools are the first choice for families. The best way to protect funding is to attract and retain students by providing an exceptional education. That means supporting teachers, raising academic achievement, expanding innovative programs, maintaining safe schools, and using taxpayer dollars responsibly. When families see outstanding results, they choose public schools. My focus is on building trust, strengthening our schools, and ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education so public schools remain strong, competitive, and well-funded.
As a certified Media Specialist, I bring real expertise to this issue. I created three new media programs that supported students and teachers, fostering academic achievement. Florida law already provides a clear process for handling parents' concerns, along with clear criteria for reviewing materials. My commitment: follow that process consistently and transparently, for everyone.
Media specialists are trained professionals who select materials based on curriculum standards, literary merit, and age-appropriateness, not personal opinion. When every school has certified staff, published criteria, and open communication with families, conflicts resolve before they escalate. My role on the Board is to ensure every school meets that standard.
Teacher and staff shortages are personal to me after decades of teaching. My focus will be on competitive salaries and better benefits, so we stop losing good people to neighboring counties. This includes rebalancing the salary schedule to allocate more toward our most experienced teachers, not just entry-level pay. We can help fund this by exploring shared purchasing with other county departments for better quotes on benefits, lowering costs without cutting corners. I will also look into grants supporting a train-the-teacher leadership program. Retention also means respect, trusting teachers as professionals, a better teaching environment, and more real classroom support. We must achieve this so both teachers and students can succeed.
My top 3 priorities: Academic Excellence, Fiscal Responsibility, and Transparency. Academic Excellence: *Advocate for more classroom resources & individualized learning support, so every student gets what they need to succeed. *Close the high school ELA gap while strengthening elementary and middle school gains. * Adding more innovative programs starting in elementary, middle, and career tech programs. Fiscal Responsibility: Advocate for budgets tied to measurable student outcomes, and explore shared purchasing with other county departments to lower costs without cutting programs.Transparency: Ensure every major decision and expenditure is clearly communicated to families and taxpayers, with real opportunities for public input before votes.
Students with disabilities have federally protected rights under IDEA, those services are not optional, regardless of enrollment or funding pressure. As voucher-driven declines strain our budget, I will protect ESE staffing and services as non-negotiable, and look for savings elsewhere first.
That means protecting certified ESE staff and therapists, exploring shared services with neighboring districts to stretch limited dollars, and advocating at the state level for full funding of obligations Tallahassee has placed on local districts.
Families deserve transparency and a real voice in these decisions. I have worked alongside ESE teachers and therapists for years, I know what these students need.
Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how their money is spent, no exceptions. As a Board member, I will push for clear, accessible budget reporting that families and residents can actually understand, not buried in jargon or hard-to-find documents.
That means publishing spending data online in plain language, holding public discussion on major expenditures before votes, and ensuring every dollar is tied to measurable student outcomes rather than politics or favoritism.
I will also advocate for regular independent audits and open Q&A opportunities at Board meetings, so residents can ask direct questions and get direct answers. Trust is built through visibility, not assurances.
Professional Experience
Orange and Rockland Utilities - Executive Communications - Retired-1999-2013, Clarkstown Central School District-1997-1999, Teaching Assistant
Education
Bachelor of Arts SUNY Empire College
Campaign Phone
845-671-0125
As the incumbent, I bring 4 years of proven results; helping regain our A-rating, passing balanced budgets that keep our taxes low, raising starting teacher pay to the highest on the TC. We limited cellphones in classrooms. I am a Leadership Martin graduate, FSBA Advanced Certified Board Member, and community volunteer at HSTC, reader at PSE, and Arts Council representative. I put students first. In 2022 we had 12 schools that were C or below. Today we have 4 C schools. Those schools will be B or higher within the next year or so!
Public schools remain strong when we deliver results and live within our means. The voucher program does not take funding away from students who attend public schools. MCSD operates in the black, one of the few districts that does, and we managed ESSR funds without spending money that we didn't have. I will continue prioritizing smart budgets, transparency, and excellence, so families will choose Martin County public schools.
I support parents' and taxpayers' right to be involved. Florida law guides appropriate material in schools; I will continue to follow state law on removing inappropriate content while ensuring age-appropriate, high-quality options that focus on core academics. Open dialogue and transparency build trust.
We have already increased starting teacher salaries to the highest on the TC at $53,100. I will continue advocating fair, sustainable compensation tied to performance and budget reality, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy so more dollars reach classrooms, and creating a positive work environment through clear policies, safety measures, and respect for our teachers. Over the past four years we have made huge gains and continue to move forward. We are not complacent! There is more work to be done!
1. Student Achievement/Safety-Maintain our A rating. This is accomplished through what has worked: individualized programming to meet the needs of those who require it and continued support that has proven successful. Action: Focus resources on personalized learning and sustained effective programs. 2. Fiscal Responsibility-Protect taxpayer dollars and keep taxes at the lowest possible rate. Action-Deliver balanced budgets and transparent spending as we have for the past 4 years. 3. Supporting teachers and families-Attract and retain great staff while empowering parents. Action: Negotiate a fair contract for our teachers, keep healthcare costs as low as possible, prioritize classroom funding and maintain open communication,
We meet these needs by focusing every decision on students in our classrooms. Vouchers do not reduce funding for public students who remain enrolled. I will continue to ensure efficient use of resources, protect special education funding, and deliver targeted support so that every child, regardless of ability, receives what they need to succeed.
I have championed open meetings, clear budgets, and public access to information. I will continue to require detailed reporting on spending (especially Federal funds), posting clear financials, and welcoming public scrutiny so taxpayers know their dollars support classrooms, not bureaucracy. In the past year, we have reorganized upper executive staff that has resulted in a savings of $3.9 million.
