Professionally, I have spent more than 20 years in financial leadership roles, where I trained employees, collaborated across multidisciplinary teams, and presented complex financial information to executive leadership. These experiences have strengthened my ability to listen, collaborate, and make thoughtful, well-informed decisions in service to my community.

1. Why are you running?

I decided to run because, as a parent, I became concerned about the direction of our school board and felt our community deserved more engaged, accountable leadership. After attending board meetings and watching others, I was troubled by the lack of participation and thoughtful discussion from our elected representative. The district continues to face increasingly difficult financial decisions that will affect students, teachers, and taxpayers for years to come.

Given my professional background, I know I can bring a perspective that is missing from the board. I believe school board members have a responsibility to ask tough questions, understand the financial implications of their decisions, and ensure taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly.

I’m running to help restore fiscal accountability, transparency, and professionalism to the school board while keeping the focus where it belongs: supporting our teachers and providing every student with the opportunity to succeed.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

My top three priorities are fiscal stewardship, teacher retention, and improving student outcomes.

First, I want to strengthen the district’s financial position through better forecasting and long-term planning. The board should be asking thoughtful questions, understanding the financial impact of its decisions, and planning ahead rather than reacting to problems after they arise.

Second, we must recruit and retain exceptional teachers. Competitive compensation is important, but so is creating a culture where educators feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their jobs. Our students benefit most when experienced, high-quality teachers choose to stay in Brevard.

Finally, every decision should be measured by whether it improves student outcomes. That starts with strong early literacy, understanding why families leave our district, and making data-informed decisions that help every student succeed.

3. What is the single biggest problem facing the people this office serves, and how would you address it?

The single biggest challenge facing our district is the need for stronger financial leadership. Every priority we talk about, from retaining great teachers to improving student outcomes, depends on having the financial stability and resources to support it.

At a time when Brevard Public Schools is managing a roughly $1.6 billion budget and facing significant financial pressures, the district is experimenting with operating without a traditional CFO structure. We have also seen an audit-related adjustment require approximately $11 million to be reclassified, yet I there hasn’t been the level of concern or scrutiny from the board that I believe circumstances like this warrant. These are exactly the moments when board members should be asking more questions, not fewer.

I would advocate for experienced, dedicated financial leadership and stronger long-term forecasting so we can identify problems before they become crises. I would also bring greater financial scrutiny to board decisions by asking questions about assumptions, risks, long-term costs, and alternatives rather than simply accepting recommendations as presented.

Good financial stewardship isn’t just about balancing a budget. Every dollar unnecessarily spent or poorly allocated is a dollar that cannot be invested in our classrooms. Stronger financial management gives us the stability to better compensate and retain teachers, support students, maintain our schools, and make thoughtful decisions about the future of our district.

4. How will you keep constituents informed and involved in your decisions?

I believe accessibility is an important part of serving on the school board. I will make myself available to constituents by attending community and school events throughout the district, responding to emails and phone calls in a timely manner, and being willing to meet with parents, teachers, staff, and community members. My goal is to respond to constituent inquiries within 48 hours whenever possible.

Keeping people informed is just as important as listening. I believe board members should clearly explain the reasoning behind their decisions and make complex issues, especially financial ones, easier for the public to understand. I also believe the district should continually look for ways to make information on its website easier to find and communicate with families more effectively.

I will always remain open to new information and perspectives that may challenge my own thinking. Whether someone agrees with me or not, they deserve to know that their concerns have been heard and thoughtfully considered.

5. Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

I offer a combination of perspectives that is unique in this race. My background in finance and strategic planning has taught me to analyze complex issues, ask thoughtful questions, consider long-term impacts, and approach problems with data and critical thinking. Those skills are valuable when overseeing a large district budget, but they also shape how I approach every issue that comes before the board.

I also bring the perspective of a mom with two children in Brevard Public Schools and 10 years of volunteering in our schools. I have seen firsthand how much we ask of our teachers, and I believe we need to respect their expertise, support them as professionals, and give them the tools they need to succeed. Being a parent has also reinforced for me that we cannot make decisions based solely on the loudest voices in the room. We have to listen broadly and ask how we can best serve the greatest number of students while recognizing that every child matters.

Finally, I believe an effective school board member has to show up and be engaged. Throughout this campaign, I have made it a priority to attend community events, listen to parents, teachers, staff, and taxpayers, and answer difficult questions with honesty and respect. I will bring that same preparation, curiosity, and engagement to the school board.

6. Is there anything in your record you’d like to address up front?

No. I have conducted my personal and professional life with honesty and integrity, and there is nothing in my background that I believe voters would find inconsistent with my ability to serve on the Brevard County School Board.

Anything else you’d like voters to know?

I don’t believe school board service is about politics; it’s about people. Every decision should begin with one question: “What is in the best interest of students?”

I am running because I believe deeply in the value of strong public schools and what they make possible for children, families, and communities. Our schools should be places where great teachers want to stay, where parents feel confident sending their children, and where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and find their own path to success.

I won’t promise to have every answer, and I won’t promise that every decision will make everyone happy. What I can promise is that I will do the work, ask the questions, listen to different perspectives, and make decisions based on the best information available. My commitment will always be to leave Brevard Public Schools stronger than I found them.

Campaign Links

• Website: votekellywentworth.com
• Email: kellywentworthd2@gmail.com

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