Candidate: Tina Certain

My name is Tina Certain, and I am running for the District 1 seat on the Alachua County School Board. As a lifelong resident of Alachua County, I have deep roots and affection for my community. I have been married to my husband Lawrence for twenty seven years. Lawrence is also a native of Alachua County and a career law enforcement officer. We raised our two children in the community we both love. All of my family is a product of the Alachua County Public School System, making me a witness to the deterioration of our public school system. I graduated from Gainesville High School, and went on to attend Santa Fe College and the University of Florida, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. I worked for 23 years as an accountant with Gainesville Regional Utilities and currently work as an accountant with a local healthcare company. Through those years of work experience with the City of Gainesville, I gained valuable governmental accounting and budgeting experience. I believe in public service, and have been a lifelong volunteer. I have served as an adult trainer and the Treasurer for Girls Scouts of Gateway Council. I served as the assistant treasurer for the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee and I am an active member of the NAACP where I work on the Educational Subcommittee. I am also a Sunday School teacher at my church, Passage Family Church. I currently mentor a student in the United Way Reading Pals program. I am a founding member of the Education Task Force (ETF) and an active participant in Gainesville for All Initiative (Gnv4All).