Name: “Joe” Jordan-Robinson
Age: 58
Residence: Tampa
Occupation: RHC and Associates, Inc. -consulting engineers-president/CEO
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: worked on several winning campaigns
Office being sought: Hillsborough County School Board District 7
- Joe Jordan Robinson
Why are you running for this office?
Because of my experience with the Hillsborough County Public School Board’s issues over the years, qualifications and the passion to help bring about a change and make a positive impact for our students, assistant teachers, resource teachers, coaches, teachers’ aides, bus drivers, principals, APs, lunch room staff, custodians, media specialists, and guidance counselors that should help students get the courses they need as well as maintain the facilities they use to achieve their academic goals and be successful in life. The school board needs some fresh ideas and leadership to take it through the 21st century in these trying times.
What are your top three priorities?
1. We must stop teaching to tests and encourage learning for its own sake. I recommend the district go back to teaching the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic in grades K-3. Also increase cultural competency for employees so students feel valued and capable of achieving.
2. Teachers are the backbone of student learning. New teachers should co- or team-teach their first year with a seasoned and excellent teacher. This would ensure they had the proper foundation. Additionally, the evaluation process should be one of training rather than judgment.
3. The district’s budget was $1.686 billion for about 193,000 students in 2011-12. The last information available (08-09) indicated the district spent $4,250 per student. That indicates over half of all monies are spent outside the school. This is not acceptable. I would call for detailed accounting.
Why should voters choose you?
Voters should choose me because of my qualifications, experience, education and ability to communicate and listen to them with an open door policy. In addition, the School Board is responsible for the fiscal oversight of the school district as well as all policy decisions. As a board member, my job is to stay informed about the condition of our schools and education country-wide. I would pay special attention to proven policies that result in a high quality education for all students. Because the superintendent is employed by the School Board to carry out the policies that it adopts.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Iowa
Past Gubernatorial appointment-vice chair Southwest Florida Water Management District- past member Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board- and past member Hillsborough River Basin Board
Past member- Hillsborough County Charter Review Board
Past member- City of Tampa’s Enterprise Community Based Partnership (Enterprise Zone)
Board member- vice chairperson and founding member- The West Tampa Community Development Corporation
Name: Terry Kemple
Age: 65
Residence: Brandon
Occupation: lead Christian Ministry in Tampa Bay Area
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: 17 years advocating for families at all levels of government
Office being sought: Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Why are you running for this office?
My main reason for running for our local school board is to do more to improve the educational outcomes for our students. I am also an advocate for Parents’ Rights so that they can make important decisions regarding their children’s education. Our current system is failing many of the young people who attend our schools. I have some specific proposals that can be implemented to begin the process of correcting the major problems that negatively impact our students’ educations.
What are your top three priorities?
1. Protect Parents’ Rights in making important education decisions for their children. A current example among many: A super-majority of this board decided they didn’t want to discuss a known fact that people from an organization linked to the funding of terrorism was invited into Hillsborough classrooms. Parents should, at the very minimum, be informed and allow their children to opt out of classes when controversial organizations are invited.
2. Promote Active Accountability & Budget Transparency. The board, staff, teachers, parents, students, and the community need to have goals and know what’s expected of them. There also needs to be transparency regarding the financial and operational practices within the educational system.
3. Promote Community Collaboration by reaching out within the community to gain insight and assistance to improve the educational outcomes of students who are experiencing difficulties.
Why should voters choose you?
I’m a conservative Christian and I’ve been active in the community advocating for parents, children and families for over 17 years. Much of this advocacy has been at the Hillsborough School Board, but has also included work with national, state and other local elected officials and business owners. I’ve led many successful local efforts, as can be seen by checking any local media source. These successes have given me an understanding of how to find points of commonality among diverse groups in order to bring them together.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
I’m married and have 5 daughters and 17 grandchildren. My wife and 2 daughters graduated from Brandon High. Four of my grandchildren are in Hillsborough Public Schools. My vested interest in public education has given me a passion to see the educational outcomes for my family and every student in our schools improve. My advocacy experience has provided a clear understanding of how to recognize problems, how to unite people in a desire to correct the problems, and how to bring together existing resources to accomplish the objective.
What I have done in support of the efforts of other community leaders will insure that school board matters will receive a fair hearing at all level
Name: Carl Francis “Captain Carl” Kosierowski
Age: 62
Residence: Dover
Occupation: former Hillsborough school bus driver, administrator and instructor at Brandon Family YMCA
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: ran for state Senate in 1986
Office being sought: Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Why are you running for this office?
I will bring leadership to the school board, specifically in three areas: Christian values, accountability and bully intolerance. Through leadership of my Christian values by example, I hope to demonstrate a high dosage of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis and expect to be held accountable for my actions. In addition, I expect myself and the other school board members to account for every penny of taxpayers’ monies we are responsible for.
What are your top three priorities?
My top priority, after taking office, is determining the status of a situation the board has been dealing with since October. A parent appeared before the school board pleading on behalf of her special needs daughter. She has appeared before the school board at every regular meeting between October and now, begging for a resolution to her situation. I need to know what’s going on here.
Safety of our school children and teachers is of paramount importance. I want to have the school district implement a fingerprint identification system for our students on all our school buses. Parents want to know where their children are and that they are safe. On our school buses, we also need to put an end to the practice of trying to cram three high school students into a seat, which three elementary students can barely fit.
Why should voters choose you?
As far as I can determine, never before in the history of Hillsborough County has an education support person, especially one with a Bachelor of Science degree (decision analysis concentration) and an MBA (specialization in leadership and organizational behavior) been a candidate for the school board! I am bringing a unique perspective to the school board based on my eight years of being on the inside of the system as a school bus driver. Additionally, due to my level of education, I’m comfortable dealing with large dollar amounts, complex issues and divergent personalities.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
No response given
Name: Carol Kurdell
Age: 61
Residence: Tampa
Occupation: Hillsborough County School Board member since 1992
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: school board since 1992
Office being sought: Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Why are you running for this office?
“Education is a better safeguard of Liberty than a standing army.” Edward Everett
I’m running because I truly believe in the above quote and because excellence in public education is my life’s work. The forces that challenge school boards today are complicated. It takes someone who has an understanding of the complexities, has the ability to work with all people and who has taken action to ensure the opportunities for students to achieve at their highest level.
What are your top three priorities?
Hiring, retaining and empowering effective teachers, including further development of evaluation methods.
Fiscal stability and continual improvement in accountability via persistent cost cutting, especially in the use of energy throughout the district and the cost effective application of technology.
Increasing student achievement through the implementation of the proper curriculum for the 21st century and continual development and encouragement of greater parental involvement in the education of their child.
Why should voters choose you?
I am nonpartisan, independent and inclusive of all … qualities that are essential for a school board seat. My experience and knowledge fuel my abilities to take positive action that benefits and continually improves the educational experience of all students.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
I received my BA from Eckerd College in Human Growth & Development which has helped fulfill what I am … child advocate, education activist and teacher champion. 30 years of being involved in the complicated issues of education have prepared me to further refine the educational processes of the 21st Century classroom. I graciously ask for your vote on August 14th to continue as your county-wide, District 7, school board member. And thank you for your support!
Name: Robert McElheny
Age: 64
Residence: Lithia
Occupation: vice president – Gator Ford
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: City Commissioner, Vice Mayor Anna Maria Island
Office being sought: Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for School Board because I believe with my business background, educational background and common sense approach I can make a difference in the effectiveness of our school system. The incumbent in this race has been in office for 20 years and I think it is time for change in the make-up of the board. Fresh views, ideas, and energy are what could make a difference in our system.
What are your top three priorities?
1. Improve teacher moral. In the current battery of test for students and the evaluation of teachers has created a negative environment for learning. We should determine which tests are required and necessary and avoid duplication. I am all for responsibility and accountability for teachers and students, but we should be able to accomplish our goals without the stress and confusion that is present.
2. Look at contract process with vendors. Make sure we have the best possible price for services and try to use vendors based in Hillsborough. Our money should be spent with business in the county to create jobs.
3. Reward the best teachers. The best teachers will develop our children and challenge them to learn. Create a school district that is more efficient in every aspect. Make sure every dollar possible ends up in the classroom where we will see results in our children.
Why should voters choose you?
I feel I can bring to the board with my background a fresh look and business approach to issues that the district faces on a daily basis. I have worked in Hillsborough County for 37 years and feel that I am in touch with our issues and needs as a community. I am committed, energetic and determined to help make the Hillsborough County School District the best it can be.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
I have two grown daughters that are teachers and five grandchildren, two of which are in public school in Hillsborough County. I have a degree in education from the University of Tennessee. I taught school in Miami Florida for 3 years before moving into the business world. I have 37 successful years of business experience in million dollar budgets, payrolls and dealing with a diverse group of people.
s.
