Leon County School Board, District 4: A voter's guide to the 2022 primary election
Basic info
Type of race: Non-partisan
Who can vote: All registered voters living in District 4
What's next: Any candidate who wins 50% plus one of the vote will be elected. If no one tops 50%, the race will proceed to a runoff election in November.
How much does this position pay: $40,856 a year
Campaign coverage
Who's an R and who's a D?: A partisan guide to Leon County nonpartisan races
2022 Election: Meet the candidates vying for Dee Dee Rasmussen's school board seat
Election 2022: Meet Alex Stemle, candidate for Leon County School Board District 4
'Time to pass the baton': Dee Dee Rasmussen resigning from Leon County School Board
Candidates
Laurie Cox
Age: 51
Profession: Elementary physical education teacher with Leon County Schools
Qualifications: 33 years with Leon County Schools for a total of 36 years as an elementary PE teacher
Website: laurielawsoncox4schoolboard.com
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be (be specific)
A: It's hard to say one thing, but transparency and communication. I believe in building relationships with people and I do know that truth plus transparency equals trust. We need to work together with all our stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, and school staff) to build back trust in our public schools. By having open communication and transparency, we can make Leon County Schools the best in the state of Florida for our families, students, and teachers! We must also continue to focus on school health and safety, communicating with our District Safety and Security, local partnerships and agencies.
Q. What role should public schools play in students’ lives?
A: My husband and I both, along with our son, are products of Leon County public schools. Both of us have spent our careers in public education. His father (Coach Gene Cox) and mother also taught their entire careers in Leon County Schools, so it runs deep in our family. Public schools play a major role in our community, preparing students for either college or a career. We must continue to support our schools. Not only should we provide the best education academically, but also continue to provide opportunities for our students in athletics, the arts, and extracurricular activities.
Susan Hodges
Age: 51
Profession: Works for an insurance company
Qualifications: Spent about seven years volunteering with the Guardian Ad Litem program
Website: susanhodges4schoolboard.com
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be (be specific)
A: If I could accomplish one thing in office it would be to invite our Creator back into our schools and to bring peace into our school environments.
Q. What role should public schools play in students’ lives?
A: Public school roles should be only to teach and to support parents in the upbringing of their children. They are not the parent and they should never try to usurp the parent's authority.
Alex Stemle
Age: 41
Profession: Assistant principal at Amos P. Godby High School
Qualifications: 23 years as a classroom teacher, dean of students and as an assistant principal.
Website: alexstemle.com
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be (be specific)
A: It is critical that taxpayer investment is directed to student outcomes and learning spaces that match our community needs and educational gaps. If elected, my primary focus will be on increasing student learning and performance by providing a voice for our parents and classrooms. Ensuring high levels of learning for all students has many facets: improving stakeholder involvement and communication, aligning board priorities and dollars to student needs and ensuring fiscal accountability and transparency. Providing the highest quality education for all students across our district will be the priority.
Q. What role should public schools play in students’ lives?
A: Public schools should be focused on the concepts of core subject knowledge, citizenship and the skills necessary for young people to be successful adults who positively contribute to our society. Leon County Schools graduates should be prepared and confident to enter the workforce, be informed and engaged citizens, and have a life-long love for learning and service. When communities work together as partners: parents, teachers, administrators and community members can create synergy that improves academic achievement, social skills and the emotional well-being of our youth.
Contact Ana Goñi-Lessan at AGoniLessan@tallahassee.com and follow her on Twitter @goni_lessan.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Election 2022: Leon County School Board, District 4: A voter's guide
