Candidate: Rebecca Cook

When I was first elected I began a journey….one of a “Public Servant.” I’ve enjoyed working alongside the most wonderful, dedicated employees, and with the most precious children. Many people ask me, “What makes the Wakulla County School System so successful?” I answer with a simple phrase….”We’re a Team.” There is no “I” in Team and everyone is important. I have always felt that in order to know how to create and improve the policies that govern our school district, I needed to really KNOW the jobs our employees are asked to do. During my tenure on the board I have worked in every area of our system: I have taught school, worked in the lunch rooms, worked with our custodians, worked with our maintenance department, in the libraries, offices, and even driven the Redi-mobile bus. These wonderful employees have helped me experience not only what they do, but realize what they need to be able to do their jobs even better. I still continue to give my time as a volunteer teaching music two days a week to all of our Pre-K students at both the Wakulla Education Center and Sopchoppy Pre-K campus. I still participate in as many school functions as possible and enjoy volunteering with my husband in my grandchildren’s classes. We have experienced exceptional growth periods and years when our student population was declining. We have survived extreme budget cuts and shortfalls, while the bar for student success was being raised and our teachers and staffs were expected to work longer, harder, and for less than ever before. I feel it is important to not only prepare our children to enroll in college, but also to be successful upon entering the workforce. I believe that a successful school system can’t be judged on just one grade level, by just one test, by looking at only one subject area, or monitoring just one random day. A successful school system can be judged by the young adults it graduates and sends on to higher education and the workforce. There are many challenges ahead for our Nation, our State and our County. As elected officials we must be good stewards of not only the local dollars generated to operate our schools, but the state and federal dollars that we receive as well. Wakulla is in the top eight districts in Florida holding “The Best Bang for Your Buck” distinction. To guarantee that our School District lives up to its’ motto “Committed To Success” will require vision, wisdom, courage and commitment. I am up to that challenge. I appreciate the opportunity the citizens of Wakulla have given me to serve them. I am very actively involved in our schools and will continue to give my time as a volunteer in any area necessary to make sure our children have the best we can offer. I am a full-time board member. I have no other “job” and devote myself to the success of our schools and our students. I have a vested interest in our success since my grandchildren attend Medart Elementary and Wakulla Pre-K. I am committed to being …. “Your Voice In Education.” Please remember this election is in the primary...Early voting Aug. 16-23, with the primary on Tues. Aug. 26th. Keep Rebecca S. “Becky” Cook YOUR School Board Member, Dist. 3