Professional Experience
I have served in local government as a Council Member, Vice Mayor, and Mayor of the Village of Indiantown. My professional experience also includes serving students as a paraprofessional and working as a public health professional with the Florida Department of Health. I founded Indiantown Community Outreach in 2000 and have spent more than 25 years building partnerships, securing resources, and supporting educational, health, youth, and community programs for Martin County families.
Education
Jackie attended Martin County public schools
Campaign Phone
772-210-4641
My life and career have been rooted in service to Martin County. I began as a paraprofessional, working directly with students and teachers, and I now serve in public health. I founded Indiantown Community Outreach in 2000 and have built partnerships that connect families with educational, health, and community resources. As a former Council Member, Vice Mayor, and Mayor of Indiantown, I understand governance, budgets, transparency, and accountability. I will bring classroom awareness, community experience, and proven public leadership to every decision, always putting students first.
Public schools must remain the strong, dependable foundation of our community. I will advocate for fair and adequate funding based on the real costs of educating students, protect classroom dollars, and closely review how enrollment changes affect staffing and programs. I will press the state for funding formulas that do not leave traditional public schools carrying fixed costs without sufficient resources. Locally, I will prioritize academic programs, teachers, student services, and safe schools; pursue grants and partnerships; and require measurable results for every major expenditure.
I would follow the law, district policy, and a fair, transparent review process rather than making decisions based on political pressure. Parents, educators, librarians, students, and community members deserve to be heard respectfully. Challenges to books or instructional materials should be evaluated individually using clear educational standards, age appropriateness, professional input, and documented criteria. I support parental involvement while also protecting students’ access to a broad, high-quality education. The Board must remain focused on learning, consistency, due process, and respectful public dialogue.
Recruitment begins with competitive pay, but retention also requires respect, manageable workloads, safe classrooms, strong leadership, planning time, and meaningful professional support. I will prioritize teacher and staff compensation during budget decisions, review vacancies and turnover by school and job category, and support targeted incentives for hard-to-fill positions. I also favor stronger partnerships with colleges, educator preparation programs, and community organizations to build a local pipeline. Most importantly, employees should have a consistent voice in decisions that affect their classrooms and working conditions.
My top three priorities are: 1) Student achievement—use school-level data to expand early intervention, tutoring, career readiness, and programs that close achievement gaps. 2) Teachers and staff—prioritize competitive compensation, retention, professional support, and safe, well-resourced classrooms. 3) Financial responsibility and community trust—review spending for measurable results, publish clear budget information, strengthen oversight, and invite meaningful family and community participation. I will evaluate progress publicly and adjust strategies when results show that students need a different approach.
Students with disabilities must remain a protected priority, not a budget afterthought. I will insist that the district meet all legal obligations under students’ IEPs and provide appropriate staffing, therapies, transportation, assistive technology, and accessible learning environments. The Board should track vacancies, service delays, caseloads, and outcomes; protect exceptional student education funding; pursue available state, federal, and grant resources; and plan early for enrollment changes. Families and educators must be included in decisions so limited dollars are directed first to required services and student needs.
Transparency should be built into every stage of the budget process. I will support clear, searchable public reporting of budgets, contracts, major purchases, vendor awards, change orders, reserves, and actual spending compared with approved plans. Board materials should be posted early and written in plain language, with public workshops before major decisions. I will ask direct questions about cost, need, alternatives, and measurable student benefit; strengthen audit follow-up and conflict-of-interest safeguards; and require regular public updates so taxpayers can see where dollars went and what results they produced.
Professional Experience
2022- Present Martin County School Board Member, Past Chair & Vice Chair 2016-2021 Assistant Administrator and Financial Administrator at a Christian Academy and Early Learning Center 2014-2021 President of General Contracting Co., Handled Accounts Receivable/Payable & Payroll 2003-2013 Building Supply Company - Office Manager
Education
Some College at Tidewater Community College
I bring business, financial, educational, and parenting experience to the school board. Before education, I spent 10 years in the building supply industry and managed finances, payroll, taxes, and bookkeeping for my Husband & I's construction business. I later served as an Assistant Administrator and Financial Administrator for a private, Christian school and early learning center, overseeing operations and finances. During my four years on the Martin County School Board, our district regained its A rating, achieved record academic success, maintained fiscal responsibility, expanded student opportunities, and continued supporting our outstanding teachers and staff.
The best way to ensure public schools remain strong is by continuing to provide a quality education that families are proud of. We want them to choose to stay because we are the best choice. I will continue advocating for adequate state funding for public schools. I believe we must continue to meet the needs of our community by expanding innovative academic programs, maintaining safe schools, and communicating openly with families. When parents have confidence in their public schools, our schools remain viable.
Curriculum and instructional materials should always support high academic standards while remaining consistent with Florida law and School Board policy. I believe parents deserve transparency and should know what their children are learning in school. When concerns are raised, I believe they should be addressed through the district's established review process. Every concern deserves to be heard respectfully and evaluated thoughtfully.
Recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers begins with creating a culture where educators feel respected, supported, and valued. I will continue advocating for compensation that allows us to attract and retain highly qualified employees. However, retention is more than being just about pay. It also means providing meaningful professional development, maintaining safe learning environments, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens where possible, recognizing employee accomplishments, and ensuring teachers have the resources they need to be successful in the classroom.
As a Board member, I will continue supporting fiscally responsible budgets that prioritize both our employees and student achievement.
My first priority will be continuing to support high academic achievement and ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential. This includes prioritizing increased reading proficiency. I will continue supporting evidence-based reading instruction and early intervention. My second priority will be continuing to support expansion of our career technical education and workforce partnerships. I will
continue strengthening business partnerships, and ensuring students have access to programs that prepare them for success. Third, I will remain committed to fiscal responsibility by ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently while maintaining safe, high quality learning environments.
I will always advocate to continue investing in highly qualified exceptional student education professionals. Students with disabilities are protected under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which guarantees every eligible child the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education in the least restrictive environment. This law ensures that school districts are required to identify, evaluate, and provide the services and supports each student needs based on their Individualized Education Program. As a School Board member, I understand that these protections are not optional. Regardless of budget pressures or enrollment changes, school districts must continue to meet these requirements.
The board has monthly financial updates that are available for the public to review on our agenda. I support our millage oversight committee and independent audits that ensure accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
