Guest opinion: Gittens proud to say she has been 'the voice for the voiceless'

In 2018, Lee County advanced 132 years of history.

Four years later, in 2022, by 1,565 votes, history was reversed.

In 2018, I decided to run for the Lee County School District (LCSD) Board. I ran to use my experience, knowledge and education to help children, fellow educators and make the LCSD better for all students.

More: Lee County voters elect first African-American to school board

I would bring a missing perspective to the board.

When I signed up, I did not even realize if elected, I would be the first ever minority on the LCSD Board in 132 years. I was even asked to wait two years to run later “let someone else be the first”; I declined and said I am qualified and capable and truly want to do the job for children, not for notoriety.

I won by 56% against the incumbent.

More: Lee School Board election produces three Nov. runoffs; one incumbent loses Tuesday night

After the Florida Primary Election on August 23, 2022 I was asked in an interview how I felt. My response was: "It's an even harder pill to swallow that it took 132 years to get a minority on the board and just like that there is no minority representation on this board. We are 60%+ minority students. That is just difficult for me to understand."

132 years of no inclusion. Four years of hard work, canceled by 1,535 votes.

Why IS inclusion important in Education?  Wait…please do not stop reading because you think my topic will be about race, CRT or being “Woke.” It is NOT; I’m talking about educating our children, who are the future of our nation. A board of education should have an inclusive group of members.

Here is an example: if you are building a house, you would not hire only plumbers, you also need electricians, carpenters, designers and of course HVAC experts, etc. They all bring their expertise, and the house is beautiful and fully functioning because of their diverse skills. Everyone collaborates and each team knows his or her job and how it fits into the overall design. If we took politics out of education and measured elected officials on what they bring to the job, how they work as a team, and how that work all fits together…what a district this would be!

Inclusion and representation matter on this board. Inclusion in no way takes away the rights or needs of others. It actually makes a more harmonious, happy world because everyone feels represented.

My different view of the world allowed me to ask hard questions and speak up for those whose culture admonishes them to be quiet and just be grateful. I speak up for schools to be built — schools that are needed, not just wanted.  The Academic Services students need and deserve equality of resources to which they are entitled. All are vital to student success. Outcomes are not guaranteed but there should be a level playing field with all schools offering similar curricula and activities. I hope that by fighting successfully for these past four years that I have taught some to realize they do have a voice, to speak up for the needs and desires of their children.

As a person of color, I have first-hand experience of different cultures, having lived in three different countries and having taught in underprivileged schools. I watched both minority students and all students that struggle with learning lose. It is painful to see them lose hope of any meaningful success. I know how to be their “voice.”

Cultural awareness is essential to being “that voice” because “that voice” is in me, it is ME.

In many cultures represented in the Lee County School System, generations have been taught not “to ask questions,”  or to “follow the rules,”  or “just work hard and keep your head down and you can be whatever you want to be.” I am on the school board, so does that mean a 132-year glass ceiling was broken? Or was there just a small, temporary hole that I squeezed through?

Shortly after coming on the board, I was told “stay in my lane and stop asking questions.” Some of my friends have admonished me to not say that because it makes me look a “certain way.” They told me to talk about the positive.

Thank you to all of you who look out for me; however, there comes a time that the truth, no matter how painful, must be told. I must let those I hope will come after me, to sit on the board, know what they are in for …before they make the decision.

Be prepared! You need to know that you have to measure and evaluate each word you say, facial expressions or sounds you make. Because you will be judged. For example, “there’s that condescending smile again”  and “stop bullying and badgering staff with all your questions", and "they are leaving the District because of you.”

Being ignored, belittled or admonished in public is difficult, but  have always prayed for God to “give me the right words to say and the right attitude.” There were times He answered me so clearly. I was even amazed and had no doubt there was supernatural strength involved!

My opponent campaigned to “be the voice of the parents” that he felt had not been heard.

For the past 4 years, I have openly and proudly stated “I am the voice for the voiceless in District 5.”

Overcoming the challenges

I spoke with thousands of parents, interacted with teachers and administrators, and did tours of the schools to make sure I knew my District like the back of my hand. I communicated with my community, had a presence on social media, always maintained office hours for visits, and even went to parents’ houses to hear concerns.

The difference is I represent an area known as the “Forgotten District.”

The district with the highest achievement gap, the highest discipline numbers, the least number of teachers and bus drivers, the most students, the most Level 1 readers, the most working parents, and the largest amount of old portable classrooms. It is challenging, yet our hard-working staff of educators still find ways to educate children. Maybe you can see the correlation here…why is it harder to work in District 5?

When I leave the board, I will take with me my teacher’s heart and I will still advocate for the needs of all students and families in our school district. I want to continue to teach them how to use their “voices.”

Inclusion does not exclude anyone.

It certainly does not mean you have to push one person down to lift another person up.

Inclusion is not about politics. It is about culture, lifestyle, experience and dreams.

My vision of inclusion is a board that hears, sees and understands each other and collectively hears, sees and understands the dreams of all students and families, not just those whose “voice” sounds like theirs.

Thank you to all those that supported me and understand why the inclusion of different voices is extremely important!

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee county school board member Gwyn Gittens loses seat, keeps vision