Boston plans to build partnerships with businesses, military, STEM organizations

Editor’s Note: The Santa Rosa Press Gazette continues its series featuring Santa Rosa County candidates running in the Aug. 28 primary election and Nov. 6 general election.

MILTON — Carol Boston of Navarre is running for Santa Rosa County School Board District 3 with no party affiliation. Boston was elected to the school board and took office in November 2014. 

Boston earned her Bachelor of Business Administration at Kent State University and worked in sales and marketing. She moved to Navarre in 1999 with her husband of 30 years and their two children.

Tell us about yourself.

I was appointed to the Santa Rosa County Economic Reorganization Committee and the Santa Rosa County Zoning Board. I served as president of the Santa Rosa Federated Republican Women and was secretary of the Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee for four years.

I served on school advisory councils, PTO, booster clubs and am working to bring STEM education to Santa Rosa County schools.

I continue to mentor students through the Take Stock in Children Program, where my students have been awarded scholarships and been recognized for their outstanding academic performance.

If re-elected, what will you bring to the school district as a school board member?

I believe all students have a right to a quality education that prepares them for the workforce and college, and that quality education is vital to our country’s competitive future. 

My nonpareil work ethic and dedication to students and teachers is evident because I live what I am running for: honesty, integrity and accessibility in our school system. 

I am still engaged at the grass roots level, still mentoring students, still devoted to outreach and fostering collaborations: increasing partnerships with local businesses, the area’s military and STEM organizations — all sources of unique learning opportunities, skills attainment and future jobs for today’s youth.

I put honesty, integrity and accessibility into action. My involvement with Santa Rosa County schools dates back to when my husband and I moved to Santa Rosa County in 1999. 

I immediately took action as a volunteer at my children’s schools. From there, I immersed myself in the school system: substituting, mentoring and tutoring students, serving on PTOs, being elected as the chairman of the School Advisory Council at Navarre High School. 

These actions helped hone my knowledge and leadership skills in how the county’s schools operated and the effect they had on various equities in a county-wide school system. I chose to take my experience, leadership and honesty to the next level, so I ran for District 3 School Board in 2010.

Although I lost by less the 2.5 percent of the vote to the incumbent, I remained true to my principles and remained involved in Santa Rosa County schools. I served as a mentor to many students, working to bring STEM to the schools, substituting and serving on various committees.

In 2014, I recommitted myself to running for school board. I remained honest to who I am and my goals for Santa Rosa; I remained accessible, not just to constituents but to the students and teachers I had built relationships with over the 15 years I have lived in Santa Rosa County.

During the grueling process of running for school board, I never swayed from who I am, and in the end, the voters overwhelmingly elected me to be their District 3 Santa Rosa County School Board member.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Boston plans to build partnerships with businesses, military, STEM organizations