SPACE COAST, FLORIDA.The Space Coast Rocket invited candidates for the Brevard School Board to answer a questionnaire in their own words. Below are the responses from Michele McCormack, candidate for Brevard School Board, District 5. Her answers are published verbatim.
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About the Candidate
Name on ballot
Michele McCormack
Office
Brevard School Board, District 5
Race
Nonpartisan
Residence
West Melbourne
Years in Brevard
20+ years
Occupation / employer
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for Brevard Public Schools
Military veteran
No
Education
I earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Deaf Education, followed by a master’s degree in Deaf Education from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. I hold a Professional Florida Teaching Certificate in both Elementary Education (K-6) and Deaf Education (K-12), along with endorsements in ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages), Reading, and American Sign Language.
Political, Civic, or Community Experience
I have been an active member of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, where I also served on the executive board as the Political Coordinator. For the past six years, I have advocated for public education locally and in Tallahassee, participating in weekly statewide meetings during legislative sessions to review proposed legislation and communicate feedback to local leaders.
I serve as a Mentor Teacher supporting new professionals entering our field, and I am an active member of our School Advisory Council and Literacy Leadership Team. I also regularly engage with families, educators, and community members to support strong public schools in Brevard County.
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I am proud to have been selected by my peers as Meadowlane Primary’s Teacher of the Year in 2019–2020 and again in 2022–2023. Earlier in my career, I was honored to be named the Muroc Joint Unified School District Teacher of the Year for my work on Edwards Air Force Base during the 2013–2014 school year.
1. Why are you running?
I’m running because I see every day how policy decisions directly affect students, teachers, staff, and families in Brevard County. After over 20 years teaching in our schools, I know how our system works and where it needs support. I want to bring a classroom-informed perspective to the Board so decisions stay focused on students, transparency, and strengthening public education. My goal is to ensure every child in Brevard has access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment.
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2. What are your top three priorities if elected?
Keep politics out of the classroom by ensuring teachers can focus on teaching the Florida Standards without unnecessary political interference or distractions. Students learn best when classrooms are stable, respectful, and centered on high-quality instruction, not shifting political agendas.
Retain and support teachers and paraprofessionals by strengthening working conditions, improving communication, and ensuring staff feel valued and heard. Stability in our schools begins with the adults who show up for students every day, and Brevard must prioritize keeping experienced educators and paraprofessionals in our classrooms.
Strengthen services for students with disabilities by improving consistency, staffing, and collaboration with families. Every child deserves access to the supports they need to thrive, and I will work to ensure our district meets its obligations and provides high-quality, equitable services across all schools.
3. What is the single biggest problem facing the people this office serves, and how would you address it?
The single biggest problem facing the people this office serves is the growing disconnect between district-level decision-making and the realities inside our classrooms. When policies are created without understanding how they affect students, staff, and families, it leads to instability, frustration, and barriers to learning. I would address this by bringing 20 years of classroom experience to the Board, strengthening transparency, and ensuring decisions are made by educators and families, and based in evidence-based practices. My focus is on restoring trust, stability and keeping students at the center of every policy discussion.
4. How will you keep constituents informed and involved in your decisions?
Keeping constituents informed and involved starts with building trust. I will communicate regularly and in plain language about the issues before the Board and why I vote the way I do. I’ll share updates before meetings, summaries afterward, and make myself available through listening sessions, School Advisory Council meetings, school visits, and timely email responses. I want families, educators, and community members to feel heard, respected, and included in the work of the Board. My goal is to make the decision-making process open, accessible, and centered on the people we serve.
5. Why are you a better choice than your opponents?
I am a strong choice for this seat because I bring over 20 years of direct classroom experience in Brevard County and a deep understanding of how Board decisions affect students, teachers, and families. I also bring a unique lens as someone who has lived the BPS experience from every angle – as a former BPS student, a parent whose children attended our public schools, and a teacher who has served in BPS classrooms for more than 20 years. My background as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and my advocacy work in Tallahassee give me insight into both instructional needs and district operations. I lead with transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to keeping politics out of the classroom so educators can focus on teaching, and students can focus on learning. My decisions will always be grounded in real-world experience and centered on what strengthens our public schools.
Anything else you’d like voters to know?
I want voters to know that my commitment to Brevard’s students and families comes from a lifetime spent in this community and in our schools. I’m a former BPS student, a parent whose children attended our public schools, and a teacher who has served in BPS classrooms for more than 20 years. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful our schools can be when trust, communication, and stability are strong.
If elected, I will work every day to rebuild trust between the School Board and the community by listening with intention, communicating with honesty, and grounding every decision in the lived experiences of students, families, and the staff who serve them. My goal is to bring a steady, student-centered voice to the Board and help create the kind of schools our community can be proud of.
