Name: Kathy (Kathryn) A. Lambert, nickname “KAT”
Age: 61
Residence: Dade City
Occupation: former substitute teacher, bilingual and migrant teacher aide; district media services video assistant
Political affiliation: write-in candidate
Political experience: none
Office being sought: Superintendent of Pasco County Schools
What separates you from your competitors(s)?
Mr. Browning and I both live in East Pasco, and we are both well educated. He has a Masters in Public Administration. I do not. I completed my degree in 1973 at the Univ. of Mo. at Rolla, now renamed Missouri Science and Technology. I am a magna cum laude. I came to Dade City in ‘73 and found that Dr. Malone at Pasco Comp. H.S. would not use me to teach history unless I could coach football, but he made sure I was welcomed by East Pasco schools as a fully degreed substitute teacher. Later, I worked for the district as a video assistant for Pasco County schools. In 1989-90, I was taught English II and Spanish I for Hernando District. I am a communicative person, out in the open with my ideas. Browning is “shrewd,” political and will not communicate openly with the public, only to his inner circle. I am not like that! Also, he is a millionaire, successful and popular. I am a free spirit who values the poor and the successful, with the same regard for their ideas.
What do you hope to accomplish in your first six months in office?
Amend the budget for savings. Contract out lawn care at all schools. Sell off, at public auction, any and all lawn equipment. Our mission is education; our money will be directed only to our educational goals. Each school is not its own “fiefdom.” Maintenance workers retrain in solar power installation. Work with board to enforce district administrators opportunity to devote time to fill in for teachers at schools, as stated in previous district agreements. Implement any and all cost savings ideas from teachers as presented to board. Meld adult education programs into “E-School.” Seek inter-local agreements with county and municipalities regarding any possible land swaps, sales, etc. Find any and all ways to heal teacher morale, reconcile relationships. Begin solarizing schools in Progress Energy Corporation corridor to save energy costs.
What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your term?
My hope is after 2 years in office, that our Pasco School Board will agree to my idea to have them seek out a professional educator with experience in running a district with almost 70,000 students, and hire such a person after a wide search, such as does Pinellas County. Its Superintendent is appointed, not elected. That would be in my mind, the pinnacle of success, because my goal, my dream, is to remove our public schools from under the thumb of politics. Teachers cannot thrive under political rule. Neither do taxpayers get their full due. After two years maximum, I will be happy to hand over the job to a professional, not a politician. This will require a public referendum. Our board can do it. I know they can. Also, a pool to teach swimming for the poor children of Northeast Pasco keeping the name “Moore-Mickens” AQUATIC EDUCATION CENTER, would be the ultimate dream!!!!
List your political endorsements:
No response given.
