Candidate: Kim Short

Kim Short was born in Buffalo, NY in 1975. She spent her elementary through high school years in Davie, FL.  After graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Short attended Florida State University, where she received her B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing, with a minor in computer science.  She went on to intern at Saks 5th Ave., in New York City, and then took her first job with Burdines/Federated Department Stores, in the buying office, located in Miami, FL. 

Kim married her longtime friend and neighbor, Al Short, on October 16th, 1999. Al works for the JM&A Group, and his job is what brought them to Volusia County in 2006. 

The Short’s have three children.  Their oldest son, Tommy, is a student at Florida State University and will be starting his third year there this fall. He is planning on going into the building industry.  Their middle son, Joey, just graduated from high school this year, and started this summer at the University of Florida.  He is studying business, with no set career goal.  Their youngest son, Michael, will be starting high school in the Fall at Mainland High School, in the Academy of Science, Inquiry, and Medicine. 

Kim worked for Burdines in the Moderate Sportswear office, where she ran a $30 million dollar business, with the highest profit margin in Federated. She then switched gears, and went to work in the demolition business, where she attained her own license for demolition (non explosive) for Broward and Palm Beach County. Kim has worked as a retail consultant, advertising salesperson, and as a substitute teacher. For the last fifteen years, however, the majority of her time has been spent as a homemaker, and volunteer in Volusia County Schools. Kim is a Certified Educational Surrogate with Volusia County Schools, which means that she volunteers her time to help families, at no cost, by attending IEP meetings to get the correct programming for their children. Kim is also a mentor, the Volusia County Council of PTAs Treasurer, Business Partner Liaison, and Legislative Representative.  In addition to serving on multiple committees with the district, over the past ten years, Kim has attended 95% of the school board meetings in person, or online, since November 13th, 2012. The schools are her passion. She believes all children have the ability to learn, and that all children deserve a world class education. 

www.kimshort4volusia.com