Candidate Profile: School Board District 2: Charlie Kennedy

School Board: District 2

Candidate: Charlie Kennedy

Residence: Bradenton

Education: Master's in Secondary Education from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh)

Manatee High School teacher Charlie Kennedy is running for the Manatee County District 2 School Board seat that will be vacated by longtime veteran Barbara Harvey. Kennedy says that his experience as an educator has put him in touch with what is happening in the schools in a way that will add valuable perspective to the board. 

Kennedy's experience as an educator includes teaching at YouthBuild Charter School in Washington, D.C. and IMG Academy in Bradenton, before taking his current position as a Social Studies teacher at Manatee High School. In an interview with TBT, he said that the school board needs someone "who know what it's like to deal with 150 kids every day."

Kennedy has also emphasized wanting to make sure that students are prioritized in budgets over all else, and that more focus should be given to Pre-K education. He also says he wants board members to be visiting schools more often to get a better handle on the needs and views of local teachers and students.

Click here to read an in-depth article on Kennedy.