As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.
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[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]
Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.
However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.
Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.
Volusia County School Board District 3
The Volusia County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.
School Board District 3 encompasses voters in the southeastern part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.
The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.
Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.
News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Volusia County School Board District 3, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.
Grace Kellermeier
WEBSITE: www.gracekellermeier.com/
FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?: I taught for 18 years at New Smyrna Beach High School and was Volusia County’s Teacher of the Year in 2015. I worked for 9 years in the district curriculum office, overseeing electives in all 68 schools. With both classroom and district-level experience, I am familiar with day-to-day school needs, as well as how the district runs (budget, transportation, cafeteria, maintenance, testing, athletics, etc.) I have a bachelor’s degree in French from Rutgers, a master’s degree in education leadership from Stetson University and a Doctoral degree in Education Curriculum & Instruction from UCF. I will make informed decisions, not just occupy a seat. I will continue to participate in school and district events, supporting students, colleagues and parents, never just there for the photo.
TOP ISSUES
What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
Problem Number 1 and Solution: Transparency. It is important to balance the forward-facing narrative, the celebrations and accomplishments of our school district. Our public schools have become a competitive market, so this is important. However, we must have real discussion about the challenges. Often, issues are not brought forward at school board meetings. With only one meeting per month, there are a lot of consent agenda approvals which really should be brought into the open and discussed. It’s not just an approval; it’s communication between the school district, the school board, and with the public.
Problem Number 2 and Solution: Accountability. We have a large and complex budget that includes federal, state and local revenue. At this time, we have the added challenge of FTE (full-time equivalency) reductions due to scholarship vouchers to attend private or home-school. Despite these budgetary challenges, we have a lot of big district salaries. It is important to have leadership, vision and support for the schools, but it is the school staffs who do the work! I will pay attention and question the amount of the budget that is not directly connected to students. From salaries to grant funding, our school board should be looking with attention at how the funding is allocated.
Problem Number 3 and Solution: Low morale. It is important for us to see and hear the needs of our school-based staffs. It is about more than photographs. We must treat our teachers as professionals, supporting as necessary in the classroom, managing their class sizes and compensating them appropriately. I taught for 18 years at New Smyrna Beach High School, and I know how much work it takes to teach well. It is an art, the students a joy, but it is hard work!
Administrators do a great job of recognizing their school-based staff, especially as the end of the year approaches and we have cycles of “appreciation” days and weeks. Appreciation should include respect and compensation. I hope that having the voice of a former teacher and district curriculum leader on the School Board will improve morale. My experience will always inform my decisions.
How would you handle district budget issues? Carefully and with great attention. My master’s degree in Education Leadership includes the study of Florida School Finance, and I was previously a cost analyst for a defense contractor. I understand school finance and pay attention to details. I will be comparing budget and financial data from year to year, considering shifting enrollments. I will also be paying close attention to how we are spending money. It is very important that we spend money as intended. If it is intended for student support, we must spend it on students! As a member of the school board, I would work together with the other board members, the district staff and union to reach solutions. It is the School Board’s job to oversee the budget, and I will be prepared to make informed decisions.
How should the district handle teacher shortages? More competitive salaries would be a start. Our property values have soared and teachers struggle to afford housing. In an effort to recruit highly qualified teachers, Governor DeSantis raised the beginning teacher pay, which was helpful. Unfortunately, seasoned teachers experienced salary compression, making little more than new teachers. Those same seasoned teachers often become the mentors that are so critical to the success of beginning teachers. The governor has allocated additional funding that is intended for seasoned teachers, so I will be paying very close attention to how that reaches our teachers.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? There are several possible causes for this, among them the over-reliance on technology in the classroom. I would encourage a balance between technology and the varied instructional methods that should be part of every instructional setting. Technology is important, but it should not be the only instructional tool.
We should also model and encourage reading for enjoyment. When students have access to books that are compelling and interesting to them, they are more likely to read. Our media specialists work very diligently to stack library shelves with age-appropriate books that appeal to a variety of student interests. We should encourage our children to visit the library, check out books, and model reading, ourselves. The superintendent offers a summer reading challenge, as do many schools. I have seen schools offer a period in the instructional day for free reading, but that can be a scheduling challenge. As a teacher, I always encouraged my students to have a book with them, in case they had time between instructional tasks, before school, at lunchtime or waiting for the school bus.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Every campus is fenced and gated (single entry point), we have cameras, School Resource Officers and/or School Guardians, a visitor check-in system and controls, and every teacher wears a device that can alert either school staff or local emergency services. All schools participate in required safety drills and trainings. As a teacher, I always felt very secure at New Smyrna Beach High School. When we moved to the new school, the new construction brought more security. I would like to see the same for Spruce Creek High School.
As a district staff member, I visited all 68 schools. Each time, I checked in at the office with my district badge, entering my code so that my presence was recorded. My emergency badge was effective on every campus. Every campus felt secure. I always wore my identification badge, according to protocol, and it seemed that staff and students noticed. We are all trained to notice visitors, and this should continue to be encouraged.
We have embarked on a pilot program that incorporates drones for student and staff safety. It is a powerful collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, the school district and a commercial partner, funded by the Florida Legislature. I would love to see that technology become available for all schools. With more contracts and widespread use, hopefully the cost will become more accessible to school districts.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? There is a district protocol for book challenges. If a parent wishes to challenge a title, it begins with the principal; if not resolved, to the district Media Specialist, a form that invites a challenger to cite objections, considering relevant Statutes. The Media Specialist advises the Superintendent, then assembles a team of 7: 4 parents/community members, a curriculum specialist, a media specialist and an administrator within 30 days. They read the book with Florida Statute references, then make a recommendation to the Superintendent. If the challenge is successful, the book is removed from circulation. If unsuccessful and the parent continues to object, it goes to the School Board. If unsuccessful, the parent may contact the Florida Commissioner of Education.
Our policy outlines the requirement of our Media Centers to include self-selected reading materials that are age-appropriate, covering a diverse range of topics and student interests, the objective being to cultivate a love of reading. When we read, our language acquisition and reading comprehension increase. When we read fiction, our empathy increases. We read more when the material is compelling and interesting to us. If I do not want my child to read certain books, I can request “restricted access” so that the school district will not allow my child to check out a certain title or titles. It may be helpful to parents if districts provided a list of previously-challenged titles, so that parents can investigate for themselves what others have objected to and decide whether or not they wish to restrict access for their child. Library materials are carefully selected by Florida certified Media Specialists, according to district policy and Florida statutes. It is very important that school districts follow this policy, rather than simply removing challenged materials from the shelves. The materials were selected on purpose by a Florida K-12 certified Media Specialist. Although the challenge process is work, it must be followed. I have recently served on a book challenge team, and it is a fair and educational process.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Volusia Flagler Central Labor Council, Volusia United Educators, Former School Board Member Linda Cuthbert, Former Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart.
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I would like to return to two School Board meetings per month; I think that this would significantly increase transparency, all school board members in discussion.
Jessie Thompson - Incumbent
WEBSITE: www.instagram.com/mrsjessiethompson/?hl=en
FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? In the past four years, I’ve worked collaboratively with our superintendent to deliver on all the promises I made when I campaigned in 2022. Our safety and security is better and more focused than ever before, with at least 24 layers of protection in each school. Our school district has hyper-focused on reading and math through high school, and in turn we have become an A-rated school district for the first time in 16 years. Our Career & Technical Education program has been expanding each year, providing our students with approximately 5,500 industry certifications. As of April, I have personally attended over 1,200 events for Volusia County Schools, not including trainings and work with workforce and education committees with our local chambers of commerce; I’m there because I care. As the only school board member with kids in our schools, I have proven to keep my word, work hard, and show up for our students, families and schools, and that’s why I deserve to be re-elected.
TOP ISSUES
What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
Problem Number 1 and Solution: Right-sizing the district is the number one problem, not just in Volusia County, but it is something we are seeing statewide. The solution is something we are actively working on to make sure that our students don’t miss out on education, while providing the programs and teachers for a well-rounded educational experience. We don’t want to close schools or lay off teachers like some counties, so we are really looking at where we can utilize the resources we already have, and get the most bang for our buck at each location, including district staff.
Problem Number 2 and Solution: Declining Enrollment is another issue that public schools are facing. While I support parent choice, and fully agree that every student learns differently, the question is how to provide the most, when students are seeking other options. I’ve been working with our superintendent on this issue, and plan to continue to expand upon it. In public schools, we have resources that many don’t have in a home-schooling environment. For example, this could be a science lab, or educators in a subject that a parent doesn’t feel comfortable teaching. In those cases, we offer options for students to come into the classroom, and have that experience, maybe even for one class, and then return home. We have to get creative with this issue, especially since birth rates are declining and options are increasing.
Problem Number 3 and Solution: The third problem that I see as a school board member and a parent is the amount of testing that students have to sit through. The state of Florida has a standardized testing system that we have to abide by. However, the data that the district and teachers receive from those tests are not sufficient in assisting students in the areas that they struggle in. In Volusia County, as in some other counties, we have created our own version of this test to really identify where students need to most assistance. This is the most individualized education plan that I have seen in public schools, and this data truly does help to focus on what students still need to learn. However, this means twice the amount of tests that I feel we should have. Not wanting to relinquish the data needed, I am working with legislators and the DOE to try to create a state test that provides this data, so that we don’t have to double up the testing time for students, and we can focus more on the educational hours.
How would you handle district budget issues? I start from one basic principle: every dollar is measured by how directly it reaches our students and our teachers. That means protecting classroom instruction and competitive teacher pay first, then funding the supports. Teacher pay isn’t a line item we trim; it’s a core investment that determines everything else, and that is why during my time on the board, we have continued to increase teacher pay. No matter what has happened, we haven’t reduced that. Because Florida funding follows enrollment, our A-rating is a budget strategy. A strong district with good teachers, and a variety of programs and options for all students is what attracts families, and stabilizes revenue. I push for more plain language budget transparency both locally and at the state level, so people can see exactly where the money goes.
How should the district handle teacher shortages? Shortages are based on two problems: getting teachers in, and then keeping them. Recruitment and retention are equal priorities, and we’ve built a great department that focuses on those two issues. For recruitment, I love that we have a home-grown pipeline that allows people already in our school access to become a certified teacher. On retention, pay matters and will always be a factor, especially when you see what districts around us pay. There are other factors that drive teachers out: workload, weak mentorship, feeling unsupported, and so I will continue to support Volusia initiatives to make sure that the good teachers we have, who love our students and schools, feel at home in their classroom.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? I’ve said before that literacy is extremely important, and so often we don’t focus on it until it’s too late and we are already in the “testing grades”. I am a firm believer that our children will rise to the challenge and continue to grow when they are given information. I would love for us to double down on reading and literacy at our younger levels, 2nd grade and below, so that children have a firm grasp on reading before they start these state tests. We have VPK programs in Florida, and focusing on incorporating reading into every aspect of those learning goals will give kids the baseline that will set them up for success. I have also seen that through COVID, there was severe learning loss in some students, especially if they weren’t continually working on reading while at home. That is why I am so proud that in Volusia, we have strengthened our reading programs through high school; not just teaching them what to read, but sometimes still how to read. Every student is different, and learns differently, and focusing on what’s best for students is the only way to move Florida forward.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Volusia County Schools is already a state leader in this category. We are the first Florida district to deploy AI weapon detection across all of our high schools, plus rapid-alert staff badges and reunification training, to name a few safety initiatives. I’d protect those investments and keep us ahead and continue to look for grants and funding to keep our safety programs secure. Real safety is also relationships and mental health. We have threat assessments, counseling, and behavioral support, and try to maintain a culture where students feel safe telling an adult when something is wrong. While I acknowledge that we are a leader in safety and security, this is an area that I will never slack on, and will always make a first priority.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? This deserves a clear, fair process, and not reaction based on headlines. Parents have every right to be involved in what their own children read. We should be transparent and have a consistent procedure for raising a concern. The goal for our schools is to have age-appropriate materials that align with state statute and support the curriculum. We will use professional judgment and respect for parents through this process.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Our Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, has endorsed my campaign.
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? When re-elected, I’ll move to expand and protect our early literacy investment, working with the state for funding a full-time VPK program, and enacting a policy that supports our early learners getting a guaranteed head start.