Candidate: Kari West

My name is Kari West, and my husband and I are lifelong residents of Glades County.  We have four daughters ranging in age from 23 to 7. We also have 2 grandchildren who also live in Glades County, so it is safe to say I will be involved with the Glades County School system for many years to come. Glades County has always been the center of our lives, and I want to give back to the same school system I attended and graduated from.  The amazing children of Glades County deserve the best, and I want to play an active role in ensuring they all receive the best education possible. The only way we can build a stronger school district is by showing the students, families, and stakeholders that we stand behind them and will stop at nothing to ensure they receive the best.  

As with many other districts, our school district is struggling with keeping certified teachers in core classes that our children need to be successful citizens and to further their education. By providing necessary support, we can keep certified teachers.  I vow to make it my purpose to ensure all teachers feel supported and receive resources necessary to reach every child.  I have the voice and the background to become your next School Board member. I am currently finishing my teaching degree while working in a school setting. I started my career in Glades County School District in the MIS data department. I was then transferred to the purchasing department. I have 10 years of working in finance, and I also worked in the finance department for Glades County Board of County Commissioners. After noticing the need for teachers who work with students of varying exceptionalities, I decided to transfer my degree from nursing to teaching.

I worked as a one-on-one para for a year at Moore Haven Elementary and loved every moment of that experience. After a shortage of Kindergarten teachers, I volunteered to move to teach Kindergarten where I was for 6 weeks. 

Teachers, I hear you and I see you.  I will be the voice that gives you support. 

Parents, I see the struggle you face with trying to get the best education for your child.  I will help you.  I will be the voice to help your children be academically successful.  

I have been a 4H leader, a middle school volleyball coach, and an advocate for not only my children but for other children. I have the financial background to be able to do budgets, to make cuts and save money necessary to allow our school system to grow.  

I will be the voice that Glades County needs to get involvement back in our schools. It only takes one seed to plant an idea and I am ready to take that stand for ALL of our children in order for them to blossom!