I am Jenny Granse and I am a candidate for Santa Rosa County School Board, District 4. This seat is presently held by Mrs. JoAnn Simpson who will be retiring at the end of this month. My husband, Jim, and I are originally from Michigan, and we were transferred to Pensacola by Auto Owners Insurance Company in 1981. We have lived in Santa Rosa County for 31 years and in District 4 for 16 years. Jim and I have been married for 44 years; we have two grown children, both educated in Santa Rosa County. My daughter, Bridget, is a second grade teacher at West Navarre Primary, and my son, Bryan, is a medical device sales representative with Intuitive Surgical. My grandchildren attend school in Gulf Breeze where my daughter in-law is an active volunteer. We are "school" people. I feel that I am the most qualified for this position. I have both undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. I was an elementary and middle school classroom teacher both in Michigan and Santa Rosa County for 23 years. In 1997, Mr. Johnny Rogers hired me as his assistant principal at Gulf Breeze Middle School. Three years later, when we lost our beloved Benny Russell and Mr. Rogers became Superintendent, I became principal of Gulf Breeze Middle. I held that position for 9 years; I retired in 2009. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Santa Rosa Education Foundation. I am on the Teacher Grants committee and help to choose the SRC Rookie of the Year. Each Wednesday, one can find me at Pace High School and Simms Middle School where I mentor two Take Stock In Children scholarship recipients. I feel my experience as an educator and my school community involvement makes me a well qualified candidate for School Board. I know how Board decisions effect the classrooms and the teachers. I understand Tallahassee mandates, and I am hoping that as an elected official, I will have more clout when speaking with the Department of Education. Every decision I make will be in the best interest of our children, and I have the time necessary to serve the students and parents in District 4. Being a School Board member will be my only job. Please consider my qualifications when making your decision on Nov. 6. I have a website; GranseForSchoolBoard.com if you need additional information. I also have a FaceBook page; GranseForSchoolBoard, that you may access. Both sites will allow you to contact me. I appreciate your support.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Granse seeks District 4 School Board seat