School Board Candidates Forum

Collier County District School Board seats will be voted on in the August 24th primary election.   The Jewish Congregation of Marco Island hosted a school board candidates’ forum in July so residents of the area had an opportunity to get to know their prospective candidates.  There were more than 50 people in attendance to hear candidate’s presentations on why they would be the best choice for a Collier County School Board seat.

Ballots in the Coastal Breeze News readership area include District 1, District 2 and District 5. To give Coastal Breeze News readers a perspective on each candidate, we’ve listed a few of each their credentials.

District 1

Pat Carrol (incumbent) was on the board of directors for the southwest Florida land preservation trust, and an active member in the Florida School Board Association. She has served on many organizations over the past 30 years including the friends of Rookery Bay, the EDC, Big Cypress Basin.

Eric Cox served as a city council member. He is also the author of the children’s literature series “Koen & Katie.” He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

Rosanne Winter has a PhD in Educational Leadership with a minor in Psychology. She has 9 years of experience as a high school principal, and two at Naples High School in Collier County. She has collaborated with others to move Naples (FL) High School from a state grade of “D” to “B”

in one school year.

District 2

Barbara B. Berry has previously served on the school board from 1984-1988, and again during 1990-1996. She believes in the public safety of the children in school, and also stressed her knowledge of how a school board should be run, because of her long tenure in the School system.

Reginald Buxton wants to revise many of the school board’s old policies, to nurture the children and encourage teachers to improve their professional development, with the ultimate purpose of achieving an ever-increasing number of graduates from the school system.

Kathy Ryan has a total of 37 years of professional experience as an educator, teacher, counselor, and as an administrator.  She has also attended or watched on television ALL of the School Board and Sub-committee meetings, and has done so for years.

District 5

Mary Ellen Cash has a Bachelors degree in business and a masters degree in Counseling. She has 23 years’ experience as an educator, and speaks three different languages, English, Spanish and French.

Roy Terry served 32 years in the Collier County District as a teacher and administrator. He was also a Collier County Principal of the year.

Joe Whitehead believes in more public safety in schools, including more law enforcement and stronger safety policies. He also believes in the accountability of the teachers’ actions and the students as well. He also wants to hold in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, and community forums for all interested parties.