District 4 board member Michele Hanson was re-elected in the August primary, in this non-partisan race. It will not appear on the November ballot.
News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Michele Hanson
Occupation: I have dedicated myself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in Clay County Schools for 19 years and as a School Board member for the last 3.5 years.
Age: 64
Family: I have been married to my husband John, a 24-year veteran of the United States Army, for 43 years and I am the proud mother of three Ridgeview High School graduates. Additionally, my two granddaughters are currently enrolled in Clay County Schools. One of my greatest joys as a mother is seeing my daughter become a master teacher, following in my footsteps.
Education: I have dedicated myself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in Clay County Schools for 19 years and as a School Board member for the last 2.5 years. In my role as a school board member, I achieved Master Board Certification through the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) and completed the Master School Board training with my fellow board members.
Political experience: For the past three and a half years, I have proudly served our community on the Clay County School Board. In addition to my local leadership, I am an active member of the Florida School Boards Association’s State Advocacy Committee, fighting for our district’s needs at the state level.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
While Clay County celebrates high levels of student achievement and has one of the most robust Career and Technical Education programs in the state, we cannot lose sight of the foundational gaps that remain. Right now, approximately 1/3 of our students continue to struggle with essential reading and critical thinking skills, a reality that demands a renewed, urgency. To close this gap we must operate with a modern, business-minded approach. Public education can’t afford to be complacent; we must view families as our customers and continuously earn their trust. By embracing innovation, stream-lining operations, and adapting quickly to new challenges, we will ensure that Clay County District Schools remains the number one choice of parents.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I am uniquely qualified to serve the voters of Clay County because I spent19 years of my life in the trenches of a classroom serving parents, teachers, and students. I believe it is vitally important that at least one board member have experience in the classroom because the classroom has dramatically changed over the years. My background helps me understand the concerns of voters and as a school board member I listen to voters and fight for solutions that better serve the educational community. I am also solutions forward thinker willing to look outside of the box to solve today’s challenges. As a military wife for 43 years, I am keenly aware of what it means to be a team. The Clay County School Board needs to work together as nonpartisan elected officials to improve the quality of student education, write new policies and procedures, and create new solutions to challenging issues.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to leave behind a district where our teachers are no longer bogged down by administrative red tape, but are supported with competitive salaries through our 1-millage advocacy and protected by universal discipline policies. I want to be remembered for ensuring that our classrooms are safe, focused environments where the 32 percent of students struggling with reading get the urgent attention they need. Above all, I want my legacy to be that we drove innovation, respected the parent-school partnership, and cemented Clay County as a leader in state education.
Campaign website: michelehanson4ccsb.wixsite.com/mysite
Campaign social media: Facebook