LEE COUNTY, Fla. — If you’re a registered voter in Lee County, you will get your chance to hire the district’s next school superintendent.
It will no longer be up to the school board members to hire a superintendent; instead, voters will make the decision.
So far, two people have filed to run for the job, and neither is the current Superintendent, Dr. Christopher Bernier.
Denise Carlin clarified in the interview she is a conservative Republican and made clear that voters know that about her.
Carlin’s opponent, Morgan Wright, is also a Republican, but he doesn’t believe that should be the focus of the race.
“It’s going to turn in again to a political campaign instead of one fixing the many grievous problems we have and have been facing for decades now in our county,” Wright said.
One problem both candidates identified is keeping schoolteachers.
Carline blames much of the teacher shortage on student behavior, while Wright points mostly to low wages.
“We have kids that are hitting, kicking, spitting, and knocking people unconscious. That has to stop. We have to provide for their needs but not at the expense of the other children,” Carlin stated.
“Lee County specifically has teachers fleeing the county right now to go to Collier and these other counties because they need money. We can’t get substitutes,” Wright said.
Carlin is a retired educator with 32 years in Lee County education as a teacher, principal, and administrator.
“Everybody in this school district deserves to be treated with respect. That’s my track record,” she noted.
Wright is currently a physical education teacher and — a former American Ninja Warrior.
“I’m 20 years in and the first physical education teacher to ever receive The Golden Apple. I’m a decorated combat veteran from Afghanistan,” Wright said.
Current Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said in early August that he planned to announce whether he planned to run for the job he was appointed to.
He has not done that, nor did he return messages when asked.
So far, no Democrat has filed to run for the seat.