Candidate: LaDonna Corbin

I am LaDonna Corbin, a native of Indian River County, resident of Gifford, a wife, a working mother of eight, and an active member of the community. I have a firsthand understanding of the everyday challenges, concerns, and opportunities in Indian River County. 

My passion is advocating for all people. I have a proven track record of helping advance critical issues for the betterment of our community. Given that the bedrock of any strong society is the education of our children, I have filed to be a candidate for the Indian River County School Board representing District 2. Born and raised in Indian River County to the late Jeannette Newton and Robert Williams, I attended Citrus Elementary and am a proud Vero Beach High School graduate. I received my Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Mercer University with a concentration in Mental Health and a minor in Education. I also earned a master’s degree in Health Policy, Law, and Ethics from Strayer University. 

My entire career has been dedicated to serving others. For over three decades, I have advocated for underserved populations and given those a voice that cannot speak for themselves. It is essential to ensure that those with any disability have core access to healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and education. I will continue to advocate for early childhood development and economic opportunity. It is very important to increase mental health awareness, training, and support within the Indian River County School District. It is concerning that some politicians have forgotten about the children and families they represent and instead focus on political pandering. This behavior is failing our children, our community, and therefore our future.

As a former Executive Director of a for-profit organization that provided services for adults and children with Development Disabilities, I understand what it takes to raise awareness of issues and manage a business. I have firsthand experience in operations, budgeting, strategic planning, and navigating a challenging regulatory environment and can assist the school district administration in furthering the education of children. Being heavily involved in the community, I am fortunate to have developed strong relationships with many diverse sectors, organizations, and community leaders. These relationships at the state and local level have enabled me to understand the clear and direct impact mental health can have on our children, both positive and negative. 

The education and health of our children must be our number one priority. I am currently employed with Treasure Coast Community Health as a Wellness Coordinator of the First Community Partnership School serving Dodgertown Elementary. 

This experience has afforded me a direct view of the district's challenges and opportunities for improvement.