Platform & Priorities
Where Carol stands.
Twelve years of decisions, not just declarations. Here is Carol's record on the issues that matter most to Santa Rosa County families.
Student Achievement
Preparing students for careers, college, and life
Santa Rosa County schools continue to provide outstanding opportunities for students. Career and Technical Education has experienced remarkable growth, with students earning nearly 10,000 industry-recognized certifications annually while generating millions of dollars in additional CAPE funding. Workforce education partnerships, academic performance, and fiscal responsibility prepare students for successful careers, military service, college, and life.
- Nearly 10,000 industry-recognized certifications earned annually
- CAPE funding growth through workforce education partnerships
- Academic performance consistently among Florida's best
- Pathways to careers, military service, and higher education
Teacher Support
Recruiting and retaining excellent educators
Supporting teachers and protecting students are not competing priorities — they go hand in hand. Carol supported creating the SRCSD Recruitment and Retention Committee and helped establish Teaching Academies in four Santa Rosa County high schools to develop future educators from within our own community. Recurring salary increases must be supported by recurring revenue, and responsible leadership means improving teacher compensation while ensuring the district remains financially stable for years to come.
- Supported creation of the Recruitment and Retention Committee
- Teaching Academies established in four county high schools
- Competitive compensation tied to long-term fiscal planning
- Building the next generation of teachers from within our community
Student Safety
Every student deserves to feel safe at school
Student safety has always been one of Carol's highest priorities. During her service, she supported strengthening school security through expanded School Resource Officer partnerships, implementation of the Guardian Program, hiring a Director of Safety, and promoting reporting resources such as FortifyFL and Crime Stoppers. Beyond the School Board, Carol serves on the Board of Directors of Santa Rosa Kids' House — an organization dedicated to protecting abused and neglected children. Every allegation involving student safety must be taken seriously, investigated immediately by law enforcement, and handled with transparency and accountability.
- Expanded School Resource Officer partnerships
- Guardian Program implementation
- Director of Safety hired to lead district-wide security
- FortifyFL and Crime Stoppers reporting resources promoted
- Board member, Santa Rosa Kids' House
Fiscal Responsibility
Protecting taxpayer dollars while investing in students
Fiscal responsibility means protecting taxpayer dollars while investing in student success. Carol's knowledge of Florida's education funding system — including the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) — allows her to evaluate budgets with both today's needs and tomorrow's obligations in mind. She has consistently supported transparent budgeting, responsible spending, and directing as many resources as possible into classrooms. She has also built productive relationships with legislators, county officials, business leaders, and economic development partners to strengthen opportunities for our schools without increasing taxes.
- Deep knowledge of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
- Transparent budgeting and responsible spending
- Resources directed into classrooms, not administration
- Economic development partnerships that benefit schools without raising taxes
Parental Rights & Curriculum
Parents are essential partners in education
School Board members swear an oath to uphold Florida law, and Carol takes that responsibility seriously. Santa Rosa County School Board policies comply with Florida law while giving parents meaningful choices regarding their child's access to media center materials. Having served thirteen years on School Advisory Councils — including as Chair — Carol strongly believes parents should remain actively involved throughout curriculum and textbook adoption. The process must be open, transparent, and fair.
- 8 years of service on School Advisory Councils, including as Chair
- Policies that comply with Florida law and respect parental choice
- Transparent curriculum and textbook adoption process
- Parents engaged as partners, not bystanders
Community Partnerships
Education succeeds when schools and communities work together
Throughout her career Carol has collaborated with County Commissioners, legislators, Chambers of Commerce, local employers, workforce education partners, and nonprofit organizations to expand opportunities for students. Her service on the Board of Directors of Santa Rosa Kids' House reflects her belief that supporting children extends beyond academics. Together, these partnerships strengthen our schools, protect our students, and prepare young people for successful futures.
- Partnerships with County Commissioners, legislators, and Chambers of Commerce
- Workforce education alliances with local employers
- Board of Directors, Santa Rosa Kids' House
- Sustained community investment over more than two decades
Voter Q&A
Questions voters are asking
Carol answered these questions directly — no talking points, no deflection. Her record speaks for itself.
I have a strong track record of making decisions that reflect the best interest of our students, the school district, and our community. With 23 years of dedicated service to Santa Rosa County School District, including 8+ years as a school board representative and two years as Chair, I advocate with legislators to support public education within the legal bounds of the position.
I am very knowledgeable on the Florida Education Finance Program, which is imperative for the long-term financial stability of the district. Being a good steward of the public trust with integrity is indispensable.
What is best for students is at the forefront of every decision I make. Good quality educators are very important, and we are blessed in Santa Rosa County to have a plethora of incredible teachers. I supported creation of and served on the SRCSD Recruitment and Retention Committee.
This school year we will have Teaching Academies at 4 Santa Rosa County High Schools to grow our own educators. We must work collaboratively as one team — avoiding an "us vs. them" mentality — while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Florida statute governs these matters. School Board members take an oath to uphold state law and Department of Education rules, and I follow that oath without exception. Santa Rosa County School Board Policies 4.21 and 4.22 implement House Bill 1467. These policies give parents the ability to restrict their child's access to media center materials, with options ranging from unlimited access to no access.
Parents exercise this role through established district processes and School Advisory Councils. Educators select age-appropriate, standards-aligned materials. The Board provides oversight to ensure full compliance with the law while keeping the focus on student learning.
Because of my 13 years' experience serving on and as chair of School Advisory Councils (SAC), I believe in engaging SAC members throughout the approval process of curriculum and textbook adoption.
I was an integral part of hiring a Director of Safety, hardening schools, ensuring that SRCSD was the first in Florida to have an armed and trained School Resource Officer in every school, and instituting the Guardian Program. Employee background checks and fingerprinting are required for employment with the district and all contract employees.
Promoting community reporting resources like Fortify FL (on the district website) and Crime Stoppers is critical. Local law enforcement is brought in immediately, and any employee accused of inappropriate behavior is placed on immediate administrative leave. We also provide boundary and awareness training to students and staff.
Through my advocacy and collaboration with Mrs. Knight, Director of Work Force Education, nearly 2,100 industry certifications were earned by our students in the last school year alone. I support plans and programs that will provide academic and vocational educational opportunities to our students that will allow them to become successful productive members of society.
I work with County Commissioners, Chambers of Commerce, and legislators to effect positive economic development that increases tax revenue without raising taxes. Strong local partnerships, curriculum improvements, and fiscal responsibility build confidence that our public schools are delivering excellent results for Santa Rosa County students.
Maintaining safe, stable learning environments while securing long-term fiscal health stands out as my priority. My first action upon re-election would be to lead a focused review of budget priorities with direct input from educators, principals, and parents.
This review would identify efficiencies and protect core classroom and safety functions. Every decision will continue to be measured by its impact on students and compliance with state requirements.
Districts must protect classroom instruction, teachers, and school safety resources first when enrollment or funding pressures arise. Santa Rosa County School Board policy targets a 5% fund balance to maintain stability during uncertain times.
We have sustained strong reserves while keeping teacher compensation competitive and expanding programs that serve students directly. Recurring costs require recurring revenue. Transparent budgeting ensures every dollar supports core functions rather than being spread too thin.
Targeted, data-driven interventions improve reading and math achievement, especially for students falling behind. Early identification of gaps combined with evidence-based instruction aligned to state standards helps close those gaps quickly.
Student performance data guides resource allocation and support strategies. Rigorous, engaging teaching in every classroom remains the foundation for raising overall achievement across Santa Rosa County.
Carol Boston has consistently advocated that taxpayer dollars must reach the classroom. She proposes continuing transparent budgeting practices that eliminate waste and direct resources to instruction, safety, and student support. Her record shows she has helped maintain strong reserves during periods of fiscal pressure. She has also supported competitive teacher compensation and expanded programs that deliver measurable results for students.
As she outlined in her April 2026 op-ed in South Santa Rosa News, long-term fiscal responsibility requires tying recurring costs to recurring revenue and avoiding unsustainable funding decisions. Every budget decision is measured by its direct benefit to students and compliance with state requirements for fiscal stability.
Carol Boston supports targeted strategies that close achievement gaps for students facing economic challenges. Florida's primary public school funding framework does not include a specific adjustment for concentrations of students from low-income households, even though districts have obligations to serve all students. Many related support requirements remain underfunded at the state level.
She would expand access to evidence-based curricula, early interventions, and rigorous instruction that prepare every child for future success. Additional methods include strengthening partnerships with community organizations and leveraging existing district and federal resources to provide academic and support services that help students overcome barriers to learning.
Carol Boston believes public funds must be protected through strict compliance with Florida law. The Family Empowerment Scholarship program explicitly prohibits fraud and abuse. State law authorizes the Department of Education to investigate complaints of misuse. It also allows denial or revocation of eligibility when funds are improperly received or retained. Penalties include requirements to repay misused funds and possible suspension or revocation of participation.
She supports robust verification processes, full cooperation with state oversight, and enforcement of existing penalties to prevent misuse while ensuring legitimate families receive the support intended by the program. Oversight and accountability remain essential to maintaining public trust in education funding.
Twelve Years of Results
Leadership measured by results.
Leadership isn't measured by the loudest voice. It's measured by the ability to bring people together, solve difficult problems, and deliver results for students.
Carol's Qualifications
More than two decades of service to Santa Rosa County
- Elected 2014 — Re-elected 2018 and 2022 — now serving her third term (12 years by term end)
- Board Chair — Elected Chair 3 times and Vice Chair twice by fellow board members
- 23 years of service — As both a district employee and elected official in Santa Rosa County
- School Advisory Councils — 8 years of service, including as Chair
- Santa Rosa Kids' House — Board of Directors — protecting abused and neglected children
Learn More
Read Carol's full biography