Incumbent
No
Education
Colgate University BA
City of Residence
Ocala
Campaign Phone
352-414-9171
My teaching started with teaching younger kids dance steps in eighth grade. I had a twenty-year career in sales and marketing but came back to teaching in my forties. I have served as a site leader for our teacher union and delegate to the national convention twice. I am a twenty-five year resident of Marion County. I have served on two Marion County nonprofit boards, twice as president. I am a business owner. My wife and I have been ministers for twenty years. I know how to serve, lead and come to consensus when making decisions. Because of my teaching, public service, business and leadership experience I hope to be elected and serve the taxpayers, students, staff and students as a member of the Marion County School Board.
Florida is in the unenviable position of being the last state in terms of starting teacher pay. Marion County is also in the bottom half of teacher pay for Florida districts. To attract and retain qualified teachers, Marion County has to compete with other counties and states for the best, most qualified teachers. To retain teachers and improve student outcomes, we need to improve classroom safety, teacher satisfaction. When school leadership creates a collegial atmosphere where teachers are respected and protected as they teach the children under their care. I will work with school leadership to improve student outcomes at all levels.
It is important to listen to all parties. Everyone has a voice, concerns, and their point of view should be valued and heard. I will build a relationship with each constituency by being out and about talking to people. Parent Teacher organizations regularly meet at schools to make a positive impact at each school. Meeting parents and community stakeholders at public forums will be a positive routine for me. I will also seek opportunities to drop in and discuss issues with school leadership, staff and interact with students. at the schools in my district.
I am a Christian of nearly fifty years and a minister for over 20. My wife Lynda and I have been married for twenty-two years. My educational career has taken me to many positions: from bus driver to social studies teach at a Christian school, to teaching special education at a juvenile correctional institution, to teaching behavior students. I was recruited and helped turn around two failing schools in Marion County and raised their grade from an F to a C schools. I can be voice for parents and students because I know how decision at the board level may impact things in the classroom. I have the experience, understanding and insight to help our board make wise decisions.
Incumbent
No
Education
MBA (Florida Atlantic University), MCPS Graduate
City of Residence
Ocala
The Marion County School Board needs someone with experience in operating businesses at scale. I'm the only District 4 candidate that has successfully managed large budgets, logistics, transportation, insurance, employees, SOP's etc. I'm a proven leader with multiple awards in volunteerism and service to Public Education. I'm a US Navy Veteran, a business owner, and a College Business Professor.
Our teachers are doing more than they ever have before! We need to better equip the classroom to support the teachers and students. I can do this by assessing the money we spend on classroom initiatives and programs. We audit the desire and productivity of the programs. Reallocate spend from programs that do not have a return on investment for the students and teachers.
I have the unique and valuable position as a proud graduate of our public school system, a parent of students enrolled in our school system, and I'm a College professor actively teaching todays graduates. In addition to that, I am a past president of the Education Foundation and have been a consistent host, sponsor, speaker, and attendee of many events ranging from Superintendent Breakfasts with Golden Apple teachers to Graduation ceremonies.
Teachers are being called to do more than ever in Marion County. With such a high percentage of our population impoverished, there is little space for families to have a stay at home parent and all studies show that this impacts the students chances at excelling. Our students deserve the same opportunities we had and I'm committed to making sure we equip and empower our classrooms.
Incumbent
No
Education
Registered Nurse, Diploma of Nursing, CNOR (advanced certification in operating room; United States Army Reserve Officer Basic Course Ft Sam Houston; Advanced Cardiac Life Support;Catonsville Community College-general studies;Dundalk Community College-paralegal studies;Jacksonville University-nursing studies
City of Residence
Ocala
Campaign Phone
352-783-1911
35 years as a trauma/open heart nurse, including serving as the dedicated nurse educator for perioperative services, taught me to develop educational programs, mentor staff, assess competencies, and implement evidence based practices. That experience in teaching, onboarding and driving quality improvement directly transfers to overseeing educational standards and supporting teachers and students. For twenty years, I have served as Board Secretary of a children's medical foundation (PCCHF), gaining deep experience in policy, governance and improving the lives of children all around the world. I also participated in the MCPS textbook review process, adopting new K-12 instructional materials. 1st LT in U.S. Army, leadership came naturally.
As a nurse, I know compensation is about more than just the paycheck - it's the whole package. We must build a culture where teachers feel protected, heard and valued everyday, not just when they're about to quit. That equates to listening to their feedback, reducing unnecessary burdens, providing strong mentoring for new teachers and recognizing excellence consistently throughout the year. Provide for strategic use of funds for targeted recruitment and retention, e.g.- critical shortage supplements, advanced degree stipends, certification fee reimbursements, moving assistance, and early career incentives and more. Top professionals stay when truly supported, where culture protects & listens to them and values their expertise everyday.
As a board member, I will actively seek input through regular listening sessions, town halls, school visits, teacher advisory & student groups as well as open forums for parents and students, I'll also maintain an open door policy for direct feedback. Once collected, I'll weigh that input honestly and bring it directly to the superintendent. Since the board appoints the superintendent, it's our job to ensure their decisions reflect the real needs and voices of our teachers, parents, staff and students, not just top-down directives. My role is to be that consistent bridge - listening first, then advocating for our community at every level. I will never shield the superintendent from difficult feedback - my loyalty is to our community.
Thank you for taking the time to read, shows you truly care and are an informed voter. It's hard to fully express emotion in a questionnaire, but I'm running because I can put a face to our statistics. My granddaughter attends Dunnellon Middle, and I've seen her struggles firsthand. Marion County ranks 58th out of 67 districts, that hits home. I bring both heart and experience to this role, and I'm committed to practical changes that help teachers teach and kids learn. Our children only get one change at their education. I want to be part of classrooms where every student can thrive, no matter what challenges they face at home or at school. Let's make sure Marion County gives them every advantage, not just another average year!
Incumbent
No
Education
BS in Business Administration - Management from Towson University of Maryland
City of Residence
Ocala
Campaign Phone
352-282-2520
I am a retired high school Math teacher of 40 years.
Community service in the Boy Scouts of America, 4-H, FFA and AWANA.
Volunteer with the Reilly Arts Center of Ocala, Citizens Academy of Marion County, and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
Take Stock in Children volunteer with Marion County Public Schools. A mentoring service for high school students.
Decompress the salary schedule for all teachers, causing yearly increases for everyone.
Starting teachers at the the State median salary.
Keep up salary increases, COLA, based on biannual data.
Continue the Student School Board Members for all the high schools.
Have the School Board travel each month to a high school for a Town Meeting to meet with each community for Q & A only.
My individual responsibility is Transparency, to students, families, teachers and community.
