As the Aug. 26 primary election draws closer, the Plant City Times & Observer will be publishing profiles and Q&As from each of the candidates who will represent Plant City and its constituents. In this edition, we introduce the candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 4: Terry Kemple, Dee Prether and Melissa Snively.
DEE PRETHER
Age: 50
Family: Husband, Max, retired U.S. Army Green Beret, married for 21 years; daughter Madee, 18; son, Thomas, 15, 10th-grader at Bloomindale High School
Hometown: Born in Dothan, Ala.; raised in Orlando; lived in Valrico for 14 years
Education: Bachelor’s in political science with a minor in Army ROTC from the University of Central Florida
Experience: U.S. Army veteran; certified teacher and previous substitute teacher; managed a marina and operations manager for a veterinary hospital in Okinawa, Japan; reading tutor for third grade; current high school mentor
Favorite author and book: No favorites. I am an eclectic reader from the classics to current events.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Jesus, Confucius, Marco Polo, Benjamin Franklin and Cary Grant
Website: tomorrowssuccesses.com
What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?
Our school district is huge. We have 203,000 students, 25,000 employees and a $2.8 billion annual budget. The biggest challenge is truly how to best educate all of our students in preparation for their future successes, as well as the future of the country. We must set excellent standards while freeing up our schools and teachers to best educate to the strengths and weaknesses of its students.
What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum?
I do not support Common Core and or the new Florida Standards curriculum. First, it is politically controversial, which makes it a distraction from the goal of children and education. Second, it is another one-size-fits-all curriculum. A one-size-fits-all curriculum leaves too many of our students bored and others stressed and struggling.
What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?
Priority: Specifically for the past 13 years, education has been my priority first, because of the needs of my children and then because of my growing concerns and passion for education itself and the role it plays in the individual’s success, as well as the success of our country.
Time: I have the time to devote to Hillsborough County. The duties and responsibilities of the School Board will be my priority every day. I do not have another job or commitments.
Leadership: Excellent leadership training and experience from the U.S. Army and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Business/Operations Management: Managed two small businesses for the Department of Defense in Okinawa, Japan — a marina and a veterinary hospital.
Politics/Government: I have worked for the government as a soldier and as a civilian, I know how the government works and should work.
Experience in Education: Certified teacher, previous substitute teacher, classroom and PTA volunteer, my children have used Florida Virtual School, dual enrollment, school choice and home-schooling, and I have been a third-grade reading tutor, and I am a high school mentor.
What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions?
One of the issues for Plant City is the language gap with the migrant workers. The students must focus on growing their vocabulary and understanding the English language.
I (also) would like to see a broader understanding of the business of agriculture within our schools. Plant City is a huge agriculture center, and we should be teaching the children of Plant City the importance of this business and the role it plays in our world economy.