Candidate: Felicia Bruce

Being a candidate for the School Board is an honor because education is the ONLY vehicle that will help ALL our children to fulfill their potential and become responsible citizens. Constructing an equitable environment suitable for each child to achieve his/ her potential is the best way our community can thrive. To accomplish this, I recognize that as a Board member, balance must be achieved between the roles of all stakeholders: parents, students, teachers, administrators and support staff. Collaboration with all and accountability for all is essential and my commitment will be FULL TIME. 

Raising the graduation rate, lowering the drop out rate, and making ALL our schools achieve an above average standard is not an easy task but one I believe I am uniquely qualified to undertake. The challenges ahead are multiple: new demands for increased school safety, a rapidly increasing multi ethnic population, a rising number of children qualifying for free/ reduced lunch, and a problematic testing regimen schedule. These expanding needs are coupled with minuscule increases in student funding from Tallahassee making the need for creative solutions that are cost efficient greater than ever.

As a proven problem solver, my experience and passion will be an asset to the Saint Lucie County School Board. Decades of experience in the classroom as well as training teachers for their unique environments, I am particularly well suited and prepared. It is my desire to replace the emphasis of a politically driven grading system and restore the focus on student achievement. If this is done, we will be better able to create opportunities for our children to transition to work, the military and post secondary plans. 

Finally, with my pursuit of advanced degrees, working as a ‘teacher of teachers’, ordination as a minister, and volunteerism in our community, as well as parenting and grand parenting , I have broadened my ability to minimize obstacles, monitor processes and achieve goals. 

We may sense that we live in a fractured , divisive world but our community is better than that. I have faith that St Lucie County can be an educational leader and I hope that you will vote for me on August 28 to make that happen.