Chantal Wilford
FOR MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD | DISTRICT 5
Public Education Advocate with experience as:
- 🍎 League of Women Voters’ Education Issues Action Team Member
- 🍎 Education Matters in Manatee County Facebook Page Founder
- 🍎 Continuing Substitute Teacher (middle school) in District 5
- 🍎 Public Education Caucus of Manasota Board Member
- 🍎 Former teacher of English as a Foreign Language to Adults
As a mother of four children who have graduated from or are currently in traditional public schools in Manatee County, education has been a focus of my life for many years. As your School Board member, I will ensure the provision of outstanding educational and extracurricular opportunities and supports for students at all levels in Manatee County.
My priority is to support safe and high-quality public education for ALL students and to support the professionals who provide that education both in District 5 and throughout the county. We must attract and retain qualified education professionals to meet the diverse needs of the students in our community.
I want to make it abundantly clear that I believe we have a strong and successful district in so many ways. My own kids have received and are receiving an excellent education here. We are doing a lot of things right. There is always room for self reflection and improvement, and I am running for School Board to ensure we stay on a good trajectory.
Because Education Matters in Manatee County!
Chantal’s Platform
Student Achievement & Well-Being
🍎 Strengthen collegiate and vocational pathways
We have innovative programs around the district from automotive and aviation pathways to marine science and robotics and animatronics programs. These hands-on experiential programs build the problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership skills our students will need beyond graduation. I would like to expand these programs to more students, and broaden our AP, AICE and DE course offerings for our college-bound students.
🍎 Beyond the basics: Expand elective and extracurricular offerings
We want well-rounded and well-adjusted students. Our academics have to go beyond reading, writing and arithmetic – which are all critical – and into more advanced areas for our college-bound students, and into more vocational areas. We cannot imagine the jobs that will be available to the students of today so critical thinking, adaptability, and a love of learning are essential.
Electives and extracurriculars are so important to student development and growth: they need to use their brains and bodies in the ways that music and athletics allow. Programs like Family & Consumer Sciences, TSA, FFA, FBLA teach students essential skills and responsibilities — sometimes that’s the thing that gets a student to school. The referendum has helped fund these programs and we have to make sure we continue to do so.
🍎 Support mental and emotional health needs for ALL students
We need adequate numbers of counselors and behavior specialists in schools, along with paraprofessionals to support teachers in classrooms to ensure every student feels safe, seen, and supported.
Just as teachers cannot do it all alone, neither can parents. We know families struggle with economic hardships, complicated relationships, substance abuse, domestic violence, lack of sleep, and not enough groceries to go around, but there are resources and so we need to continue to improve our community partnerships and collaborations with those who can help students both at school and at home.
Attract and Retain Our Teachers
🍎 Support newer teachers with peer mentor programs
Too many teachers leave within five years. Let’s set them up for success! Peer mentors should receive a stipend.
🍎 Listen to teachers and help solve the systemic problems they are facing
Are behavior issues out of control? Is testing too much? Is their work environment safe? Do they feel supported or micromanaged? Are there policies in place that are not helping our teachers do their jobs? Let’s hear what teachers have to say and how we can make things better because we want them to stay!
Communication & Transparency
🍎 Encourage conversations about parental rights & responsibilities
Parental rights have been well-protected in Florida for many years. Let’s also have a conversation about parental responsibilities. We need to encourage more parents to get involved with early learning initiatives, to partner with teachers as a team to provide the best education for all our students, reduce absenteeism, model respect and conflict resolution skills, teach life skills, and support student mental and emotional well-being.
🍎 Support continued transparency of educational materials, financial oversight, legislative concerns, and board decision-making processes
We have an extraordinary level of transparency already in Manatee County. We need to work on communicating effectively so that the public can easily find the information they seek, in order to prevent misperceptions.
🍎 Work to improve public communication and understanding
We are in an era of increased competition in the field of education and need to actively market the fantastic programs and opportunities our students have access to in this district. We also need more communication about what’s going on in Tallahassee because legislative decisions affect our kids, our families, our wallets, and our future.
My top priority is always: What is in the best interest of the students?
My singular focus is education and I have no other political aspirations.
I put our students and teachers first and will endeavor to always listen to them and to the concerns of families and community members.
I will ask the right questions, deliver ideas and solutions, and partner with community members so that ALL of our children reach their highest potential.