New school board members sworn in
Three new school board members and an incumbent were sworn in Tuesday afternoon before the regularly scheduled district’s board meeting.
Those board members included Samuel Fisher, District 1; Armor Persons, District 5; Jada Langford-Fleming, District 6 and incumbent Debbie Jordan, District 4.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Is everyone excited tonight,” Fisher said after being sworn in. “Thank you all for coming out tonight.”
He went on to thank his friends and family for listening and supporting him during the campaign, as he could not do it without them. Tuesday, Fisher said marked a new day for Lee County.
“I am excited. I am looking forward to working with the team to put students first, empower parents and support hard working teachers and staff,” he said. “I want you to know that I will put in the hard work to make sure we are going to make this district even better. Let’s get this going. Thank you.”
Jordan followed and after being sworn in thanked her constituents for their confidence in reelecting her for another four years.
“I am humbled to continue to serve and do the work of the district. As I embark on this journey, I look forward to moving this district forward with my colleagues and look forward to us working together and engaging in our strategic plan,” she said.
Jordan thanked all of those who knocked on doors with her, adding that together they will make the district great.
Persons daughter, Jenna Persons-Mulicka, swore him in, ending it with “Congratulations daddy. We are so proud of you.”
“I want to thank everyone. There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle that has to come together. To win the campaign the very important piece was my family. They were all behind me. The other piece of the puzzle was Gov. DeSantis, his endorsement was very important,” Persons said.
He said he also wants to make the people who did not vote for him proud.
Langford-Fleming was sworn in by her father Pat Langford, who said “Congratulations, I am proud of you. I love you.”
She said if the audience looked to her left then they would see her reason why she ran, her family.
“Thank you so much for the community that put the faith in me and elected me to this position. This journey has been so tremendous and something I will never forget. The number one reason I am running is for the students and I promise you I will not loose sight of that. I could not have done this if it was not for my family, my wonderful husband. My children have sacrificed quite a bit,” Langford-Fleming said, adding that her parents also mentored her. “I am blessed to be here and I will fight for the children and fight to empower parents.”
During the regularly scheduled board meeting, the new chair and vice chair were elected. Persons was elected as the chairman of the board, while Fisher was elected as the vice chair.
Board member Melisa Giovannelli said she was excited for the new day and the new board. She also expressed she is excited to work with the board to continue to do great things for the kids in Lee County.
Board member Chris Patricca expressed similar sentiments, sharing that it was wonderful to see the board members with their families and children.
“This is a full family commitment and it is going to be harder on your families than it is on you,” she said adding that watching Persons daughter swear him in was a goose bump moment because it is all about family.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com