Marion school board District 5: Educator Sarah James faces business owner Taylor Smith

Former educator turned preschool owner Sarah James is facing off with business owner Taylor Smith in the Aug. 23 primary for Marion County School Board in District 5, a seat being vacated by two-term member Kelly King.

School Board races are nonpartisan and elections are countywide, but members must live within the district they represent. Board members serve four-year terms and make an annual salary of $42,627, an amount set by the state.

It is the first time that career educator James, 32, and small business owner Smith, 24, have run for political office.

James announcement: Sarah James to run for District 5 seat now held by Kelly King

Smith announcement: Taylor Smith to run for seat now held by veteran Kelly King

Who is running?: Marion school board incumbents King, Browning not running in 2022

As a former teacher and assistant principal, James is the owner/operator of a Kid City USA preschool franchise, the one based in downtown Ocala at the Performing Arts Conservatory of Ocala (PAC) building.

James, 32, earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership last year. She was an assistant principal at Belleview High School until she followed her true love: early childhood education.

Touting her extensive educations, James says she is  "the educated, experienced and engaged choice for Marion County School Board in District 5."

"I have teaching and administrator experienced in Marion County," James said. "I own and operate a preschool in downtown Ocala where I am 100% responsible for all of the money as well as the operations the staffing plan."

Smith, a horse farm manager, animal breeder and owner of Circle T Equine and Foul, is a 2016 graduate of West Port High School. She manages Circle T farm with Tom Olive and helps to breed thoroughbred horses and cattle.

Smith said she entered the workforce right after high school. Smith, who is also a real estate investor and horse trainer, wants to improve an education system that she says failed her.

"I'm a candidate who has an open mind and a willingness to listen and learn from the experts," Smith said. "And those experts are the students, the parents and the teachers."

Smith added that "I don't have all the answers and I won't try to convince you that I do, but I'm dedicated to do my best to continue to build a strong, healthy, financially responsible school district that focuses dollars on priorities first."

Local election guide: Here's what Marion County voters need to know

Back in 2005-06, during the first Florida school district ranking by SchoolDigger.com, Marion County ranked 31st of the state's 67 counties, after two lab school districts were removed from the tally.

By 2011-12, the district was ranked 44th. By 2015-16, the ranking slipped to 56th and by 2019-20 it slid to 60th. Under Marion County's first appointed Superintendent of Schools Diane Gullett, the district ticked up to 59th.

Candidates on the campaign trail

In political fundraising, James leads with $17,250, including $100 of her own money and $17,150 from 36 donors, with many large donations form many large businesses in the building and engineering sector.

Smith has raised $12,730, including $675 in personal funds and $12,055 from 76 donors, including former U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns ($250), Friends of Cliff Stearns ($250) and District 3 school board member Don Browning (2 for $550).

James and Smith were interviewed by the Star-Banner for 30 minutes each to discuss educational issues. They were asked about the district and how it has been on a downward slide for more than a decade.

On the campaign trail, many of the candidates have shared that they should to be elected to right a sinking ship. But it has taken more than a decade to decline and some say it will take time for it to rise back up.

They were asked about ways to increase in-person parent involvement in a technology-driven era and how to make sure that students are progressing now that state testing has been replaced with progress monitoring.

Here is a synopsis of the comments made by those candidates, who are listed in alphabetical order.

Sarah James

James worked as a teacher and assistant principal in Marion County Public Schools for seven years and in the private school sector for three more. Recently she decide to purchase a Kid City USA preschool franchise in downtown Ocala,

James earned a doctorate in educational leadership from National Louis University in 2021, a master's degree from the University of Central Florida in 2013 and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida in 2011.

James said she has met with Gullett and believes she is "putting the right pieces in play to see an improvement over the next five years."

"But the things she has put into play so far, during the last two years, started with kindergarten and first grade, and those kids will now be going into second grade," James said. "The first year they're tested is third grade. So I will say it's going to take four years to really see the results of the practices she's put into play today."

James said the biggest impact on moving the needle is that focus on the early grades, giving children the foundation they need.

"So while she's focusing on a variety of grade levels and subject areas, I do know that early education is a real focus for this superintendent and we have to give her some time to shift and move that needle," she noted.

Despite that, James knows that the district must show improvements every year.

"The corrective practices we're putting into place should be showing some immediate progress, but the long term game is where we're going to see the most benefit and bang for our buck," she said.

James said getting more parent involvement may be difficult because of a societal changes in the past five decades.

"So we went 50 plus years ago from a mom staying home while dad worked to a dual-parent working household," James said. "And as a societal structure, we've had such a shift in what we call that traditional American family role."

She noted that some schools have students from more affluent families while "other schools in our district have a more disadvantaged population."

"And those families are disengaged for many reasons, whether it's because they are working multiple jobs, or they don't see the value in the engagement," James noted. "So it is the job of the school to demonstrate that value so that the families show up."

She added that "we have to inspire them to want to be involved."

"So I believe to accomplish that we need to set examples and build relationships and make our schools a place where the parents want to come and feel welcome," she added.

James said vocational education has improved by leaps and bounds in the past eight years, though the district can't lose sight of the importance.

"I think we need to enhance what we have," she said. "We have more than enough programs. I think each school has its own unique programs that serve its population. And with school choice, our students can apply to these different schools based on their interests."

James said that she is a mother to three children, with the oldest heading to kindergarten next month in Marion County Public Schools.

"I'll have students in the school system for the next 20 years, so I have an incredibly vested interest in setting it up for success," James said. "Not just for my students, but for the 42,000 or so others.

"And I think that it's time to put my unique tools and experiences to work for our kids throughout Marion County," she concluded. "I believe that as a parent on the school board, I'm going to be incredibly vigilant about ensuring that we're making the right choice for our students."

Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith, a horse farm manager and animal breeder who owns Circle T Equine and Foul, volunteers with the Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation and the Protect Our Children Project.

Smith is a real estate investor, horse trainer and a Marion County graduate.

"I bring a fresh and new perspective to the school board," Smith said. "I want transparency and I will bring common sense to the school board."

Smith said she's not a teacher and the board needs diversity. "I bring a fresh new perspective," she noted. She is a proponent of vocational training because "not every student is destined for college."

"First I want to strengthen trade schools and alternative pathways," Smith noted. "I personally went directly into the workforce, where I created my own path and I didn't have any guidance. I think we need to utilize our guidance counselors more."

Smith says she wants to insure that traditional guidance counselors are more readily available for students to visit and to help the student determine a career path.

"I think by promoting parental and family involvement, we can begin to chip away at issues," said Smith, adding that all students need to be free to choose a career path that is best for them.

Smith also believes that the district needs to get back to the basics.

"We need to focus on reading, writing, arithmetic and science and fill in with the arts," Smith said. "We need to ensure that we continue preparing students for college should they choose that path and we also need to refocus our efforts on trades, too."

Smith asked: "What happened to the days like when our parents attended high school in the morning for their mandatory classes and partnered with a business to learn trade skills in the afternoon?"

Smith, a staunch supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis, said she wants to raise school standards because "when we keep lowering the standard all we achieve is less."

"is that what we really want?" she said. "It's not okay to fail a class and we need to send a message to our students that 'good' is not enough and they must take their education seriously to succeed and be successful in life."

In terms of parent involvement, Smith said each school has its unique issues.

"Each advisory council may have different action plans," she noted. "We need to encourage the community, to include families and business partners, and create paths to success."

Smith believes that schools need to get back to hosting more events that foster family engagement. Smith said she is the best choice because she will bring to that fresh perspective and will fight for all students.

In Smith's political profile on the county's election website, www.voitemarion.com, she wrote that "I support Gov. DeSantis' educational reforms and will work to support an education where every child can succeed."

"I will invest the time and hours to address the issues facing our schools to include the overcrowding," Smith noted. "I am able to offer a fresh perspective that we have not had in many years."

Smith said she "supports our teachers and supports policy conducive to learning and empowering teachers to maintain discipline."

Joe Callahan can be reached at (352) 817-1750 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

School board members

School Board candidates in District 5 are non-partisan. They must live in District 5, though voters across the county can vote. Board members earn $42,627 annually, a salary set by the state. The winner will be decided at Aug. 23 primary.

Sarah James

Age: 32

Residence: Ocala

Experience: Owner/operator of the downtown franchise of Kid City USA preschool off Southeast Eighth Street; former assistant principal, four years; former public school teacher, three years; and four years in the private school sector.

Education: Doctorate degree in educational leadership from National Louis University in 2021; master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida in 2013; bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida in 2011.

Family: Married eight years to husband, Danny James III; they have three children, ages newborn to 5.

Learn more: Dr. Sarah James for Marion County School Board District 5 on Facebook.

Taylor Smith

Age: 24

Residence: Ocala

Experience: Manages Circle T farm with Tom Olive and breeds thoroughbred horses and cattle; owner of Circle T Equine and Foul; real estate investor; volunteered with the Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation; volunteer for ProtectOurChildren.org.

Education: 2016 graduate of West Port High School.

Family: Daughter of Republican Party of Marion County Chairwoman Brigitte Smith.

Learn more: Taylor Smith For Marion County School Board Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Sarah James, Taylor Smith vying for Marion school board in District 5