Photo: AFP
This story is a continuation of our coverage of the race for Palm Beach County School Board, District 6.
Incumbent Marcia Andrews wants a fourth term and faces four challengers. We heard from Jeff Browning in an earlier story.
Fellow candidate Jennifer Showalter shares why she's running.
"I feel like we need to have integrity and a person who will stand up to the values and the will of the people."
She's a freelance graphic designer and sells essential oils.
Showalter is also the mother of three kids who have or are currently attending local public schools. Her daughter just graduated valedictorian from Wellington High. One son currently attends the high school while Showalter pulled her middle school aged son out of school due to harassment and bullying. He is now home-schooled. Both sons are special needs and Showalter is a parent advocate.
Like many other candidates for the school board races, she brings up the issue of "equity" being promoted by the school district.
"They have 'white advantage' in the mission statement. I was part of the moms groups and frankly the citizens group that helped get that out, but we still have a whole equity department."
Andrews defends "equity."
"I don't know why they feel equity is a bad word, I think equity is an excellent word because it is working with each individual child to make sure they reach their ultimate success level as they move through their educational career."
Showalter has been an outspoken critic of the school board's former mask mandate.
"I feel that there's been gross overreach from the board and a disregard for rule of law."
Candidate Amanda Silvestri also speaks out in favor of parental rights.
"I know for my children it was a struggle and it was certainly something that I felt I should have had the control to make that decision for them, not have it taken away from me yet again. And they definitely should have followed the order."
She's referencing an executive order from the governor being ignored by the school board, prior to a law being passed that ensured parents have the final say as to whether their kids mask up in class.
Andrews has told us that she was following the advice of local health officials rather than the state.
Silvestri's two daughters go to local public elementary schools.
"For me, every decision that's made directly affects my children so I know as a board member I would make the right decisions because I would be directly affected by them."
She points out that Andrews is in her seventies and has no kids in the public schools. In fact, only one current board member has a kid attending a local school.
Here's more from the incumbent speaking out in favor of the school district promoting equity.
"Every child having the ability to be able to be successful. We've got to look at their own individual needs and make sure we have equitable outcomes for them, not a group."
But Silvestri says focusing on equity will result in lower standards for all students.
"What's going on here is they're talking about equitable outcomes. We don't get to predict the future. We don't get to decide what the outcome of every student is gonna be."
V. Deanne Ewers is a teacher at Lake Worth High School. She says that gives her an upper hand in this race because "teachers know firsthand what is happening in the classroom. We know and understand the students' needs. We know and understand the curriculum that needs to be taught. We know and we understand the needs of the parents and their concerns, and how we can meet their needs."
She also says the teacher salaries are "horrible." She vows to vote for an increase in teacher salaries if elected to the school board.
Ewers also discusses her desire to create a program in schools that would "bridge the divide" between police and students of color. If there ever is a merger with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, she says that needs to be done first.