Two candidates are seeking the votes for the District 4 seat on the St. Johns County School Board. This is a non-partisan race that will appear on the August ballot open to all voters in the district.
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 by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| CANDIDATES |
Kelly D. Barrera
Occupation: (No response)
Age: (No response)
Family: (No response)
Education: (No response)
Political experience: (No response)
What do you see as the top three issues you’ll likely face while holding this office?
- School safety
- Parental involvement & age-appropriate instruction
- Teacher retention
“Parental rights” has recently become a law in Florida and a political buzzword. What does that concept mean to you and how would it affect your decisions on the school board?
- (No response)
How would you balance new state laws and guidelines restricting how history, gender identity and civics can be taught in public school classrooms with the need to educate children in a complex 21st Century society?
- (No response)
Outline your ideas to address teacher shortages and morale.
- (No response)
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
- (No response)
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
- (No response)
Campaign website: kellybarrera.com
Campaign’s social media site(s): facebook.com/KellyBarreraSJC
Yvonne Marianne Lockbaum
Occupation: Retired Naval Officer and Teacher
Age: 64
Family: Husband George-married 35 years, Daughter Megan and son-in-law Robert-Both have their MBA’s from Notre Dame University, son George-Naval Aviator, daughter Katharine-Civil Engineer
Education: BA in urban Studies, Teaching Credentials from Pt. Loma University and Immaculata University, Masters in education from Cabrini University
Political experience: This is my first political campaign
What do you see as the top three issues you’ll likely face while holding this office?
- Evaluating and removing all inappropriate literature in the classrooms and libraries, to include Sexually Explicit Content, CRT and Marxist Ideology
- Implementing effective security measures in our schools. This includes removing the portable classrooms that are currently endangering our students and faculty. We must add brick and mortar additions to the main school building.
- Shortage of teachers and school employees (ex: bus drivers and substitute teachers)
“Parental rights” has recently become a law in Florida and a political buzzword. What does that concept mean to you and how would it affect your decisions on the school board?
- The 14th Amendment in the US Constitution protects the fundamental right of parents to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. I respect and will uphold this right .
How would you balance new state laws and guidelines restricting how history, gender identity and civics can be taught in public school classrooms with the need to educate children in a complex 21st Century society?
- It is my duty and obligation to adhere to the state laws and guidelines on the curriculum for History and American Government/Civics. It is not the schools place to teacher gender identity, that is for a parent to discuss with their child. For every minute we focus on gender identity/confusion we are losing a minute of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.
Outline your ideas to address teacher shortages and morale.
- We must provide incentives to bring highly qualified, morally responsible teachers. Teacher’s morale is low because they have a moral compass, they are being forced to teach ideologies that go against their values and beliefs.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
- I highly respect parental rights. Currently the concerns parents have been voicing are not valued by the school board. I will diligently work with parents to ensure they are a valued partner in their child’s education.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
- I am a proactive patriot, who brought our children’s educational system back to an environment where they can be children and excel at Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.
Campaign website: Yvonne4SchoolBoard.com
Campaign’s social media site(s): Facebook.com/yvonne4SchoolBoard