Dear Citizens of Levy County,

          I am Jerry Lawrence, and I am seeking to serve the citizens of Levy County as your next Superintendent of Schools. I am excited about what we will be able to do together. I have a vision for education that honors our past successes and provides our children with the education that will best prepare them to face their future, and I bring to the table the qualifications of excellence that have to be in place in order for us to deliver the quality education that our community expects and that our children deserve.

          I have been an educator for 26 years. Eighteen of my years in education have been in the classroom as a middle and high school teacher, where my students have won 25 National Literary Arts Magazine awards, 10 National writing awards, 70 State writing awards, and 64 County writing awards. Eight of my years in education have been in administration as a principal, vice-principal and assistant principal. During the time I served as an administrator at Bronson Middle High School, the faculty and staff raised our school grade from a low ‘C’ to one point away from an ‘A’, an increase of 79 student-achievement points. I have a proven track record of educational excellence in the classroom and in administration, and I will bring my work ethic of excellence to the office of Superintendent of Schools.

          Every year just as schools hand out report cards for students, so, too, does the State of Florida hand out report cards for school districts. I believe that there are not any smarter or harder working educators and employees than those in Levy County who take care of and teach our children. Yet sadly, for the last 11 years Levy County has scored in the bottom 50 percent of Florida counties when it comes to preparing students for their future. In 2014, out of 67 Florida counties, 52 counties did a better job of educating their students than did Levy County. In 2014, if we had been a Division I football team, our win/loss record would have been 2 and 8, and when a team has an 11-year losing streak, the problem is not with the team: the problem is with leadership.

          As taxpayers of Levy County, you deserve a school system that is second to none, and I will make sure our students get the best education for your educational dollar. A well-educated work force helps students fulfill their dreams, it helps local businesses thrive, and it goes a long way toward attracting new businesses to our county. There isn’t any reason why Levy County should not rank in the top half of Florida counties when it comes to preparing our children for their future.

          As your superintendent and public servant, I will make this covenant with you: I will serve you. I will put you and your children first. We will return to a way of work where those on the frontline—our teachers and staff—are treated as professionals and where their expertise is valued. I will listen to your ideas. Together, we will create a culture where all people are treated with dignity, where everyone is treated with respect, and where there is one playing field for all of us. Everyone will belong. We will have transparency, and we will take care of business in the light.

          If we keep doing the same things the same way, we will continue to get the same results. Join me and let’s make education in Levy County the very best that it can possibly be. As I seek office as an educator and as your public servant, I am asking for your vote.

          Thank you. God bless you, and may God continue to richly bless Levy County.

Jerry Lawrence

(Please watch my video “Lawrence for Levy Superintendent of Schools” on Facebook @ Jerry Lawrence, or YouTube @ https://youtu.be/mOSJNAdxEoM

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