Candidate: Dean Paterakis

Hello, Our schools are in desperate need of leadership. In the last 10 years I have seen our schools lose sight on what is important. I have a passion for education and government accountability. We need a person we can trust to help improve the situation of our schools and not keep coming back to the citizens who are having their own financial difficulties to bail out the schools because of mismanagement. There are so many reasons why I am running for school board. The current school board doesn\'t do anything to stop the ridiculous federal and state mandates that prevent teachers from teaching effectively. The current school board keeps misspending our tax-dollars. As we have seen with the $8 million NO-BID contract voted in favor by ALL school board members. Not one person is prosecuted when an investigation reveals over $3 million had been misspent by the facilities department. The current school board closed schools that didn\'t save the schools any significant amount of money while they displaced students again. And I have been told the board is looking to close and sell one or more of the district 5 schools (University Elementary, Stone Middle School and Palm Bay High are the rumored schools to be sold) I believe we need someone that we can trust do make sure our children needs and education are the priority. That students are learning and are safe. We need someone who has a degree in education so sound decisions in educational policies are made instead of politicians continuing to ruin our schools. I believe we need someone that has children that are in the district so there is a true personal interest to make sure students come first. We also need someone to expose the wrong-doings that continue to occur in our schools so we can address those issues. I have been very involved in our schools. I had taught in Brevard and have always had FCAT scores in the top 1% in the WHOLE state of Florida as a classroom teacher. I never had a student fail the FCAT BUT I also know that the FCATs and this new high-stakes standardized tests need to be eliminated because they cost millions of dollars to the taxpayer and make test publishers rich without improving education. That money could be better utilized by hiring more teachers and teacher assistants. I made national news by being strong-armed out from the BPS board building by a Brevard Sheriff\'s Deputy from a Common Core Forum at Brevard Schools, because I spoke out against the Common Core. I am dedicated to STOP Common Core. I have been outspoken about the misspending and bullying by administrators on teachers and students. I have been critical of the current school board for putting music, arts, and sports along with other activities on the chopping block before we clean the fat at the top. I am a teacher, a parent of TWO children in the school district and an honorably discharged USAF veteran. I am ready to clean up our schools and help teachers get back to teaching children effectively and efficiently. Please do your part and help bring back accountability and true local control by supporting me this election year. I also encourage you to visit my website at www.Dean4schools.com We have seen the failed policies these past 10 years they need us to bail them out with another tax. The question that you have to ask yourself is this- Do you want a RULER or do you want a SERVANT? I hope to be your servant and serve you well on the school board and be a good steward of your tax-dollars. Feel free to email or call me at home. Thank you, Dean Paterakis, Candidate for Brevard County School Board, District 5 Parent, Teacher, Veteran