Escambia School District 2: Gerald Washington and Paul Fetsko, your 2026 School Board candidates

Last updated: August 14, 2026

By Raven Garza | University of Florida | The Florida Trib

This story is part of a statewide partnership of 27 nonpartisan newsrooms and universities working to help Florida voters make informed decisions in the 2026 school board elections. Learn more about the Florida Elections Reporting Partnership.

With a declining student population, two lawsuits, and budget shortfalls, Escambia County is confronting the 2026 School Board Elections with the choice of two candidates.

Paul Fetsko, 74, the incumbent, first assumed office in 2019, then was reelected in 2022. Fetsko is a retired Navy veteran and educator who has served for 6 years on the Escambia County School District’s Half-Cent Sales Tax Watchdog Committee and the School Attendance Zone Advisory Committee. 

Fetsko has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, English, and deaf education from Lenoir-Rhyne University, as well as a master’s in administration and supervision. He holds a certification in curriculum from the University of North Florida and a certificate in exceptional student education from the Neighborhood Justice Center of Atlanta.

Gerald Washington, 32, his challenger, is a lifelong resident of Pensacola and works for the city in sanitation services, serving as a sanitation equipment operator. He also served as a head coach and program coordinator for Brent Athletics Association Inc. 

Washington is also involved with nonprofit initiatives, youth outreach programs, and advocacy for underserved families throughout Escambia County. He attended Pensacola State College, earned an associate’s degree in pre-law, and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in legal studies at the University of West Florida, with plans to attend law school. 

School Budget Cuts and Teacher Retention

In an interview, Fetsko advocated for comprehensive community engagement, including improved outreach programs to address parental concerns and bolster school attendance. He also addressed the declining student rate and school closures that the state of Florida is facing. 

“The difficulties that we’re having at this point is making sure that we’re chosen as the school of choice, that parents see that, yes, I would really like my child to stay in the public schools, and these are the benefits of being in that. I’ve worked in the last year or two a lot on trying to look at options to keep parents engaged with the public schools and how we need to adapt so that we can compete with private parochial charter or homeschooling,” he said. 

Fetsko said he does support school choice.

“I do believe that parents have the right to choose where their child is going to go, and there are always reasons for them to choose something. As an example, they may have some religious affiliation or desire for their child, and we’re not going to offer that. But what can we do to make it easier for parents to access that religious training, but still stay in public schools?”

Considering options to battle student and teacher retention, he said, “I’m really the proponent for the K-8s, because it keeps parents tied. When a child starts in kindergarten, the parent feels very secure after the initial trauma of separation. Over the years, parents tend to really see the positives of school. They 99.9% really like what happens in elementary. They can get a bit fearful of the unknown when they transition to middle school. So, staying with a K-8 model, the parent knows the school, they know the administration, they know the teachers, and the kids know each other.” 

Fetsko, in his previous terms, has pushed for the return of about $3 million in lost funding due to school vouchers being sent to schools where the students were not attending. He discussed his financial planning to collaborate with legislators and community leaders to mitigate the effects of voucher policies and to secure sustainable funding for educational programs. 

Competitor Gerald Washington, according to his website, believes in building programs to address the lack of student retention by proposing his personal commitment to give 20% of his school board salary annually to sponsor student programs to “ensure that no student in our district misses an opportunity to compete, perform, or represent our schools at the state and national levels due to financial constraints.”

Washington is also campaigning for a comprehensive plan to address teacher losses, supporting improved compensation, performance bonuses, extended contracts to ensure job security, and real support programs for educators struggling with the demands and financial pitfalls of the profession, such as financial and wellness resources. 

Another way he will ensure teacher retention is to dedicate another 20% of his salary to a trust to recognize excellence among educators in the county. Providing meaningful financial support, such as a substantial cash bonus for the Teacher of the Year winner and pushing for community pride and partnerships for educators are among his priorities. 

Washington also proposed a Workforce Innovation Campus, a state-of-the-art educational facility designed to bridge the gap between learning and real-world industry needs. The program areas include technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing, applied innovation, healthcare technology, and business and entrepreneurship. He also proposes bachelor’s degree pathways for students to earn a bachelor’s degree upon high school graduation through dual enrollment. 

All of Washington’s proposed programs and initiatives are detailed on his campaign website.

Gerald Washington did not respond to several requests for an interview with The Florida Trib.

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