Race Analysis: Manatee School Board District 2

The non-partisan Manatee County School Board District 2 race saw two candidates emerge from August's field of five who will compete in a runoff on the November ballot: incumbent Cindy Spray and challenger Sharon Jefferson.

Cindy Spray

Cindy Spray is currently serving her first four-year term.  Spray was one of three board members who voted to terminate Superintendent Jason Wysong’s contract without cause just two years into his tenure. In a 3-2 vote, members on the prevailing side cited communication issues, a loss of confidence in his leadership style, and disagreements over how he handled a case involving teacher misconduct as reasons for the dismissal.

Because Wysong ushered in a period of relative calm after a tumultuous, scandal-plagued era that saw employee morale wither, there was justified concern that a district on the upswing might falter under new leadership. However, the hiring of Dr. Laurie Breslin, who has served one year as superintendent, has led to continued improvements in both morale and performance.

Spray, 70, has been a studious board member who comes to meetings well prepared and has demonstrated an ability to thoughtfully deliberate on complex issues facing the district. The district has improved in many metrics over the past four years she has served. 

Sharon Jefferson

Dr. Sharon Jefferson is a 27-year veteran educator and National Board-Certified Teacher who currently teaches social studies at W. D. Sugg Middle School. She previously served in the district as a Title 1 Instructional Specialist. Jefferson's platform emphasizes teacher retention, student mental health, and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences in underserved schools.

Jefferson, 54, was born and raised in District 2. A Palmetto native who graduated from Palmetto High, she has worked at several District 2 schools, building relationships with the parents, students, and administrators she would serve.

Jefferson’s command of school district issues is excellent, and she brings decades of district employment experience that would provide a unique perspective. While the next board will already have three members with some experience teaching in our public schools, none of their classroom resumes compare to that of Jefferson, who would also bring the most hands-on experience with Title I schools to the board of any candidate or incumbent.

Jefferson points out that third-grade reading readiness rates have remained stubbornly stalled at less-than-ideal levels, particularly at Title I schools. She feels her experience in this area, and her better understanding of the district and its communities, make her the best candidate to represent District 2.

District 2

District 2 was redrawn to align with the county commission’s second district (which a Republican majority had redrawn after the last census to make it easier for a conservative to win) and is unique among the board’s five seats.

The district includes most of Palmetto and much of the urban corridor south of the bridge. It has the most Title 1 (poverty-metric) schools in the district, and third-grade reading readiness has remained stubbornly below goal. The district includes some of the county's oldest, tightest-knit communities. Podcast interviews with each candidate are available below.