Candidate: Leonardo Pires Trent

Hello. I am Leonardo Trent, and I am a concerned citizen running for District 2 of the Charlotte County School Board. I have lived in Charlotte County since 2014 and have considerable experience and inside knowledge of the public school system and culture within the classroom -- I am a senior student at Charlotte High School! I am the founder and President of the school’s Republican Club and have successfully promoted the creation of similar clubs in high schools across Southwest Florida.

First of all, I am concerned about the quality of education in our schools. Despite what current members of the board may say, Charlotte County is not an “A”-graded district. Of the twenty five schools in our district, only Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School and Charlotte Technical College are “A”-graded, and neither of these is a public school. The quality of our schools has stagnated over the past decade, despite tax levies having increased 94% over the same period. The school board desperately needs new leadership and I support our new Superintendent Mr. Vianello’s call for vocational career training to prepare students for real-world jobs after graduation. 

I have attended every school board meeting this year and am concerned that the board is not listening to citizen input about student instruction and the classroom environment. As a current student, I can say firsthand that DEI programs have gone too far, creating a distraction to students and depriving them of the important education they need to lead successful lives. Instead of teaching young minds to be ashamed of American history, I believe American accomplishments and ingenuity should be celebrated, along the lines of the 1776 Project, which I would integrate into the curriculum.

I would also disassociate the board from NEOLA, a for-profit consultancy that creates policies and regulations our school board votes into effect. The board needs to reclaim ownership of school policy, incorporating parent and citizen feedback through public workshops.

Finally, the board needs to gain the trust and confidence of the public by being more open and accountable.  Tuesday morning is not an acceptable time to hold policy workshops that working parents cannot attend. I would move workshops to Saturday morning. I will also propose taping and live-streaming both the workshops and school board meetings to increase transparency and citizen involvement.

In summary, I am committed to the following:

1. Improving the quality of education and our district’s standing among Florida schools.
2. Giving a voice to the needs and concerns of students and their parents.
3. Reining in DEI programs that are running amok in our schools.
4. Separating the board from its dependence on NEOLA policy-making.
5. Restoring transparency and accountability to the school board.

This is my campaign platform and my pledge to Charlotte County voters.

As a politically-active student running for the School Board, I will always be committed to the best education and opportunities for our students. I will fight to ensure the voices of parents and tax paying citizens are heard. Whether I am elected to the Board or not, I will remain committed to that vision. I ask for your support and a vote to bring positive change to Charlotte County Schools.

Please visit my campaign website at:  LeonardoTrent.com.

If you would like to chat, feel free to email me at schoolboard@leonardotrent.com, or call my cell at 757-597-8103.