3 running for open School Board district 4 seat

Two-term School Board member Clarence Thacker is giving up his district 4 seat, and three candidates have lined up to run for it.

They are: Former Navy ombudsman and proud spouse of a decorated military veteran Mindy Brewster, youth coach and real estate/ mortgage consultant Will “Coach” Fonseca, and former teacher and current marketing small business owner Heather Kahoun.

Mindy Brewster, a parent to two daughters, touts her position in this race that she’s, “Not a politician, period.”

“I’m a concerned parent. It is that simple,” she said. “You’ll see that I advocate for parental rights, teacher pay, and student achievement, making sure that those three things are on the top priority list. As far as parental rights, making sure that the parents are involved at all times. With education, you need to have a trifecta: your students, your teachers and your parents. That’s the key to success and student achievement is having all 3. And teacher pay, including out ESTs, if we’ve got such a problem with teachers not getting a livable wage, we get low morale because they are worried about when their next paycheck is going to make the bills.

“Advocating for those things is huge. Making sure we have high teacher morale based off of pay and high student achievement and so many other aspects and listening to what the teachers need – that’s what is going to bring our school district back from where it is going.”

1. We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to the School District?

A complete recovery would be getting those students who fell behind back to where they need to be academically. Setting better goals and having proper procedures in place for future issues. Making sure parents and teacher work together to benefit their students education. 

2. Speaking as a potential School Board member, what should parents and students expect from the School District from an education standpoint?

Transparency, communication, goal setting, safety. Ensuring the highest level of education that pushes our children to their dreams and goals. Every child deserves the best. 

3. Staffing has been an issue — many teaching and support staff (bus drivers, food service) positions remain unfilled. What’s the best strategy for filling them?

Support and respect for teachers, ESPs and all support staff. Stand beside them and helping them. They work so many hours and they are constantly being asked to do more, show more, be more without complaint, without appreciation and without compensation. They need support not only from the district but from parents as well. And bridging that gap is key. 

4. What should the leading consideration be when the School Board considers vendors and other business contracts?

Keep it local, we have many amazing Osceola county businesses that would thrive. They work here, live here and have children in school here, let’s keep their tax dollars here, too. Reading the ENTIRE contract and making sure it fits in with the budget and the policies set forth. Having proper discussion with the community and having transparency. 

5. What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the School Board?

I am a military spouse and have only been local since 2018. My time as a military family has helped me be involved in many communities. I was the activities advisory chair in Centerton, Arkansas. Military Spouse of the Year and PTO president in Key West, Fl. Seabee Spouse Association Committee Woman in Keflavik, Iceland. A member of the Fort Hood Realtor Association Events Committee in Fort Hood Texas. NRD Nashville Ombudsman while stations with NRD Nashville. FRG member in Gulfport, Mississippi during all deployments. 

My oldest child has been through 10 different schools since her kindergarten year. She is now a Harmony High School Graduate and member of the US Navy. My youngest is starting 7th grade. We have worked with many schools and teachers to help not only my children thrive but that the teacher is motivated and helped at all times. Each of these have given me an opportunity to work with people from around the world and collaborate on better ways to serve our community and implement programs to benefit families. We worked within the civilian community to help bridge the gaps that military and civilians face. 

Will “Coach” Fonseca, 39, speaks of a strong presence in the community, and has run for public office before.

“I’ve sat on boards, and the county and city levels and in the schools, including the SRO (school resource officer) committee. So, a vote for ‘Coach Will’ is someone who’s been in the community, serving from the heart,” he said. “Being elected is the next step that I can do to help, for the youth especially. I think when we’re looking for a community leader, that’s what we should look for, someone who didn’t just pop up as soon as they put their name on the ballot.”

Fonseca said School District staffing is its biggest issue right now.

“The solution is to work with the teachers work with the support staff as a unit as not a separate entity. If I was a business owner or leader of an organization like the School Board, I would want to talk with my closest employees working with the most important asset, which is the youth, and be transparent,” he said. “I think that’s the key is to look out for our longevity teachers as well. I know at a state legislative level we’re kind of tied on certain aspects, but there’s other companies that are thinking outside the box looking out for their longevity teachers, which is key in building morale. If you have a mentor that’s mentoring a brand new teacher, and they feel like the district’s looked out for them, they feel like we’re thinking of outside of the box ways to incentivize them and give them the pay that they deserve, it is just going to create an overall positive environment which in turn will help fill those positions.”

We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to the School District?

I believe we are on the tail end of COVID, yet it is still a good idea to always practice safe cleaning habits.  In additional to physical health, we have to address the mental and academic challenges COVID left behind.  The district should be providing the proper support and programs needed to catch students up and make sure each school has a full complement of staff that includes mental health specialists. Additional help to teachers that need to have some one on one with the students that are still behind would be a start to help to complete recovery . 

Speaking as a potential School Board member, what should parents and students expect from the School District from an education standpoint?

To be student centered from a holistic approach that doesn’t just focus on test scores. At a young age building a foundation through teachers and parents working together is key for the future success. I believe in athletics, arts, vocational programs, and internships that give students a well-rounded set of skills to prepare them for the future marketplace. We should strive for greatness and prepare students for higher education, however we cannot forget that some are not motivated to attend traditional college and the district should equally emphasize the value of technical and vocation training. The district should foster a work environment where employees trust and desire to perform their best, communicate effectively with all stakeholders (parents, business partners, staff, school board and students) and lead by example in terms of integrity, work ethic, and peak performance.

Staffing has been an issue — many teaching and support staff (bus drivers, food service) positions remain unfilled. What’s the best strategy for filling them?

The No. 1 priority is to bring morale UP! We have to communicate with the staff that works the closest with our students to find out “the why”. It should be common sense, however it takes the right approach with staff so they can speak freely without being afraid of retaliation. Attention needs to be equally focused on staff recruitment and retention, especially veteran teachers that have been in the district for more than 10 years.  I understand the Governor wanted to increase the starting salary of our teachers, which is great, but we cannot forget our veteran teachers.  I believe in longevity pay in some form as an incentive and thank you for their dedicated service. When a new teacher is starting in what we hope is a lifelong career, they should be welcomed by an experienced teacher that feels that the district has done everything in their power to look out for their best interest.

Also, this past year has been a tremendous strain on the transportation department.  Students can’t learn if they are not in school.  We need to pay our bus drivers more and equip them with random rotating attendants to monitor discipline on buses that request it. That way the drivers can focus on safely driving on the road.

What should the leading consideration be when the School Board considers vendors and other business contracts?

Constant exposure and education to our local vendors is key to having a successful local business partnerships. Vendors should feel that the process is fair and fully transparent to all that request information.  The district is currently modifying its local vendor and veterans preferences to increase the number of local businesses working with the schools.

What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the School Board?

I have sat on the Osceola County Charter Review Commission, the City of Kissimmee Board of Adjustments and the School Boards SRO Police Task Force Committee.  I have also been a strong advocate and volunteer with organizations like Special Olympics, the Council On Aging, Meals on Wheels (for seniors), City of Life Church, and the President of my HOA. 

Service to the community has always been a part of my life, and I would like the honor to continue serving others as your next school board member for District 4.

Heather Kahoun, 37, said that after working in the classroom, she can “speak for the teachers.”

“I also worked on the administrative side of things under the community relations department, managing the social media and marketing for the district, so I have a wide perspective of what’s happening in our schools from that of a teacher,” she said. “We haven’t had an educator on the board in many, many years, so it is the perfect time to ensure that we have someone speaking for the teachers, as well as having that understanding of what happens and takes place day-to-day in our schools.”

Kahoun said she can provide, “Tthe professionalism and integrity that we used to see all of the time on the School Board.”

“We do not see as much of that now, and I would really like to help usher in some of that again and really focus our energy back on our students and teachers — I feel like there has been things that have taken away from that in the last two years,” she said. “I would really like to make sure we are focused back on our strategic plan and all of our goals that are outlined in there, ensuring that we become an ‘A’ district sooner rather than later, because we are so close to doing so.”

1. We’re still recovering from the pandemic. What would a complete recovery look like as it pertains to the School District?

Navigating the pandemic and the aftermaths of such have been unprecedented in all areas of life, but I believe school districts have had one of the greatest tasks at hand in doing so. While we may be back to in-person learning, which was dire in meeting students' needs for learning, there are great deficits to make up for now. Not only are there students that have fallen behind academically, there are emotional factors our school leaders are dealing with from students and staff. As it stands today, I don’t necessarily believe we “recover” from the pandemic. Instead, we work with tenacity and innovative solutions to combat the obstacles the pandemic has placed in front of us. This includes advocating for additional funding to fill teacher shortage gaps, equip teachers and staff with additional resources to fill learning gaps, and provide the necessary emotional supports students, families, and staff require.

2. Speaking as a potential School Board member, what should parents and students expect from the School District from an education standpoint?

The job of the Osceola School District is clearly stated in its mission and vision statements. We are to inspire all learners to reach their highest potential as responsible, productive citizens by providing all students within our community a quality education. In addition, we will work in partnership with our families and the community to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to strengthen our community. As a lifelong resident, product of our school district, and former Osceola School District teacher of nearly ten years, I understand the importance of a solid educational foundation on our community and live my life by the “live, work, play” mentality right here in Kissimmee.

3. Staffing has been an issue — many teaching and support staff (bus drivers, food service) positions remain unfilled. What’s the best strategy for filling them?

With Florida ranking as one of the lowest for per-pupil-spending, advocating at the state level for additional funding is important. I think we have to think outside the box in addition to this. Advocating for less standardized testing and more teacher flexibility allows our educators to feel empowered in the work they do and keeps them in our classrooms.

4. What should the leading consideration be when the School Board considers vendors and other business contracts?

As a steward of taxpayer dollars, the School Board needs to safeguard the investment of our taxpayers by ensuring due-diligence with every vendor application and business contract. We should maximize our purchasing value of these public funds while maintaining a procurement system that is transparent and unbiased.

5. What boards or local organizations have you sat on or joined that would enhance your abilities on the School Board?

I currently serve as an advisory committee member for Addition Financial, a steering committee member for the University of South Florida College of Business and Digital Marketing, a Take Stock in Children Mentor with the Osceola Education Foundation, a Board Member for the Osceola Chamber, and have served in the past as a advisory committee member for Osceola Technical College’s Digital Design Program, a committee member for the Nemours/American Girl Central Florida Fundraiser, and as an ambassador for the Central Florida March of Dimes. I am also a graduate of Leadership Osceola, was Vice President of Communications for The Sunshine State School Public Relations Association, and participate in various community service projects in our community.