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Florida

Bay County School Board District 2 Race Features Two Experienced Educators Eyeing Academic Improvements

Bay County District 2 School Board election overview The post Two seasoned educators lay out competing visions for Bay Schools in its District 2 race appeared first on The Florida Trib.

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Key points

  • Former school board member Ginger Littleton and veteran educator Michael Petty are competing for the open District 2 seat on the Bay County School Board.
  • Petty emphasizes accountability and full implementation of past recommendations for Exceptional Student Education programs.
  • Littleton focuses her platform on expanding career, technical, and STEM education opportunities for students.

Voters in Neighboring Bay County to Choose Between Two Veteran Educators on Aug. 18

— Voters across Northwest Florida are preparing for upcoming local primary elections, including a key school board contest in neighboring Bay County where two longtime educators are competing to represent District 2.

According to a report first published by The Florida Trib, the nonpartisan seat became open after current board member Ann Leonard decided not to seek re-election. The race pits Michael Petty, a Guardian ad Litem and former literacy teacher with over two decades of education experience, against Ginger Littleton, a 30-year classroom veteran who previously served 13 years on the Bay County School Board before stepping down in 2019.

Focus on Exceptional Student Education and STEM Pathways

Petty has centered much of his campaign on improving outcomes for students with special needs, drawing on his personal experience as a student who relied on an Individualized Education Plan. He is advocating for full accountability and implementation of recommendations from a past district review of Exceptional Student Education services.

“Lasting change requires more than good intentions; it requires accountability, action, and follow-through,” Petty stated regarding the district’s special education programs, as reported by The Florida Trib.

Littleton is seeking to return to the board with a platform prioritized around strengthening career and technical education, as well as expanding science, technology, engineering, and math pathways. Her campaign has earned endorsements from Paul Cottle, chair of Florida State University’s physics department, and former board member Ryan Neves.

“Every Bay County student who walks away from a science or math class thinking it was not for them is a runway we failed to build. I am going back to that boardroom to build it,” Littleton wrote in a social media post cited by The Florida Trib.

Bay County voters will decide the race during the Aug. 18 primary election.

This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

Based on reporting by Chloe G. Beasley | Florida A&M University originally published by The Florida Trib. Read the original story.

See a typo? Report it here.

Randy Breland is the Managing Editor of NewsWK Pensacola, covering local government, public safety, and Gulf Coast community news. A retired U.S. military veteran and Pensacola resident, Randy brings a commitment to accuracy and accountability journalism to Escambia County and the surrounding region. He has called the Gulf Coast home for several years and covers breaking news, civic affairs, and community events across Northwest Florida. https://www.linkedin.com/in/randybreland/ To contact Randy you can email him at News@pensacola.newswk.com

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