Karen Barber (Republican) the current superintendent has been an educator for 38 years, including 27 years in Santa Rosa County. She has experience at the pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school, and college level.
Q: School safety is always a hot button issue for parents. What additional safety measures will you implement if you’re elected?
A: Every school in our school district has a sheriff’s deputy serving as the safety officer. In 2022, I recommended adding an additional layer of security, so we opted to implement the Guardian Program. For the 2024-2025 school year, we will add yet another layer of security with volunteer safety monitors. In addition to the school safety funding that the district receives in the annual budget, an additional $1.2 million was added to ensure the highest level of security on campuses. This funding allows us to contract with the sheriff’s department. Additional safety measures include cameras, safety radios, and perimeter fencing.
Q: What do you see as the biggest infrastructure needs for the school district over the next five to ten years?
A: Santa Rosa County is experiencing significant growth, with an increase of 5,000 new residents annually. This is in large part to the quality of our schools. The school district has positioned itself well, having acquired property in Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Milton, Pace, and the north end of the county for future construction. During the last four years, the district constructed and opened East Bay K-8 and Wallace Lake K-8. Soundside High School, scheduled to open in 2026, will serve students in Navarre and Gulf Breeze. As the growth continues, the school district is ready for additional construction.
Q: What are classroom-specific issues that you plan to tackle to ensure improved education for students?
A: During the last four years, I have spearheaded our transition to a new instructional framework that focuses on providing four evidence-based conditions for learning in every classroom: high expectations, rigorous instruction, strong instructional practices, and high student engagement. This year, middle school students participated in middle school sports programs for the first time, an orchestra program was started for middle and high school students, girls beach volleyball was added as a sport, and a new football and marching band program were added at one of our rural high schools.
Q: Ultimately, test scores serve as a report card for a district and provide an easy way for parents to evaluate performance. Looking at current test scores, how do you evaluate the status of the Santa Rosa School District?
A: The 23-24 state assessments are one indicator of the excellent education students receive in Santa Rosa County. Out of 67 districts, Santa Rosa is #3 in algebra, #4 in language arts, #5 in math, # 6 in US history and biology, and #9 in geometry. During the last four years, Santa Rosa has been designated an academically high performing school district. Currently the district has the highest graduation rate in school district history (90.4%), and we have increased the industry certification earned by our students by 177%.
Q: Why should a voter choose you over your opponent? Most political candidates will tell you they are a good person, who works hard and has the best interest of students in mind. So we recommend keeping that in mind as you write your answer.
A: I am the only candidate running for superintendent in Santa Rosa County that is qualified to be a school administrator. Since 1956, every superintendent in Santa Rosa has been qualified and had experience as a school administrator. I have served six years as an assistant principal, seven years as a principal, 11 years as the director of federal programs, and the last four years as superintendent. I am also the wife and mother of an armed services member. I understand the challenges and sacrifices of military families in times of peace and war.
David Godwin (Republican) moved to Pensacola in 1989 and started working at Navarre High School in 1999. He is the elected president of Santa Rosa Professional Educators (SRPE).
Q: School safety is always a hot button issue for parents. What additional safety measures will you implement if you’re elected?
A: I am committed to executing the Guardian Program and collaborating with local law enforcement to ensure qualified individuals are trained to serve as guardians. Our high school campuses consist of multiple separate buildings, various entry points, and a continuous flow of students throughout the school day. The area is too vast and bustling for a lone resource officer to oversee effectively. My proposal is to reinstate the 7-period school day for high schools, which includes a designated duty period for teachers. During this time, teachers will monitor hallways, parking lots, and all entryways to ensure the security of the campus.
Q: What do you see as the biggest infrastructure needs for the school district over the next five to ten years?
A: Ensuring the upkeep of our school facilities is just as crucial as planning for their expansion. It is essential to keep our current buildings safe, operational, and suitable for learning. Feedback from parents and staff often includes issues like mold growth in classrooms, leaky toilets, and inefficient air conditioning systems. Continuous investment and proactive maintenance are necessary to guarantee that our school infrastructure offers the best possible environment for learning.
Q: What are classroom-specific issues that you plan to tackle to ensure improved education for students?
A: In 2011, Santa Rosa County transitioned from a seven-period day to a six-period day in high schools and from a two-tier bus system to a three-tier bus system. Those transitions resulted in fewer learning opportunities for our high school students and reduced learning time for all students. For example, elementary students lost 30-minute of learning time per day. As superintendent, I will work diligently to return our high schools to a seven-period days. I also want to go back to a two-tier bus system so we can recover the lost learning time for all students.
Q: Ultimately, test scores serve as a report card for a district and provide an easy way for parents to evaluate performance. Looking at current test scores, how do you evaluate the status of the Santa Rosa School District?
A: Prior to 2020, Santa Rosa was consistently a top ten ranked school district in Florida. In 2020-21 we dropped to 12th. In 2021-22, we dropped to 14th. In 2022-23 Santa Rosa tied for the 15th ranked district in the state. Santa Rosa County School District is still a high performing district, but the decline in state rankings over the last three years is concerning and possibly a result of the lost learning time from the changes made to the school day in 2011. Given that Santa Rosa students have less learning time than neighboring districts, there is room for improvement.
Q: Why should a voter choose you over your opponent? Most political candidates will tell you they are a good person, who works hard and has the best interest of students in mind. So we recommend keeping that in mind as you write your answer.
A: I am the only superintendent candidate with recent and relevant teaching experience. As superintendent, I will support teachers and school administrators so they can have discipline and structure in the classroom. As superintendent, I will be financially transparent. I will follow state statute and will only transfer funds after I have secured school board approval. Under my leadership, teachers will be valued and appropriately compensated, eliminating the need for them to plead for equitable salary increments. They will receive salary adjustments that either match or surpass those granted to district administrators.
Brenda Stephens (Republican) worked as a bilingual teacher for nine years and currently is the owner, president & CEO of a moving labor company serving the Emerald Coast. She moved to Navarre in 2018.
Q: School safety is always a hot button issue for parents. What additional safety measures will you implement if you’re elected?
A: The current Guardian Program has not been fully staffed. I would fully staff this program and reach out to retired veterans to assist on a volunteer or possibly paid basis. I would beef up door locks and checks of doors to ensure that they were locked. Verify that anyone entering the school is checked for weapons. Possibly install metal detectors or designate specific personnel to have and use metal detecting wands.
Q: What do you see as the biggest infrastructure needs for the school district over the next five to ten years?
A: Review with the BOCC estimated community growth and be proactive in selecting the best locations to build new schools as well as repair, remodel and expand space at existing schools. The bussing issues will also need to be addressed for current issues as well as planning ahead for anticipated growth. I would also like to propose new and better sports facilities.
Q: What are classroom-specific issues that you plan to tackle to ensure improved education for students?
A: Establish discipline & respect in the classroom. Train teachers in methods they can use to maintain discipline as well as the procedure for dealing with an out-of-control student. Work closely with parents to help reinforce respect for staff and teachers. Staff will monitor and secure the hallways and keep an eye out for any bullying. Improved education will be addressed with better curriculum and better teaching methods.
Q: Ultimately, test scores serve as a report card for a district and provide an easy way for parents to evaluate performance. Looking at current test scores, how do you evaluate the status of the Santa Rosa School District?
A: Based on the recent proficiency scores I would say they are poor.
Q: Why should a voter choose you over your opponent? Most political candidates will tell you they are a good person, who works hard and has the best interest of students in mind. So we recommend keeping that in mind as you write your answer.
A: My human resources education and extensive experience in the corporate world provide me with the knowledge & skills to help revitalize the school district into a program for protecting and preparing students for the real world. I am the only candidate that has the ability to lead the district into a new era of education.