Florida
Florida Education Watch: Classical Curriculum and Parental Rights Highlight Indian River School Board Race
In the Indian River County District 2 School Board race, incumbent Jackie Rosario faces Thomas Lange, both veteran educators. The post Meet the candidates for Indian River County School Board District 2 appeared first on The Florida Trib.
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Key points
- Two-term incumbent Jackie Rosario points to her work on parental rights and classical public education options.
- Challenger Thomas Lange brings 20 years of teaching and technical education experience to the nonpartisan race.
- Indian River County schools currently hold an A-rating from the state, serving approximately 14,000 students.
NewsWK — As Florida voters evaluate local school board races across the state, core education topics such as parental rights, classical curriculum models, and workforce preparation are driving the debate in Indian River County’s District 2 race.
According to a report first published by The Florida Trib, incumbent Jackie Rosario is seeking a third term on the school board and faces a challenge from veteran educator Thomas Lange. The nonpartisan contest covers the northeastern section of the county, which includes the City of Sebastian.
Rosario, 56, was first elected to the board in 2018. A former homeschooling parent, she holds a doctorate in educational law from Liberty University, where her academic research focused on school board governance and training. During her tenure, Rosario championed district parental rights policies following COVID-19 and supported the creation of Pelican Island Classical Magnet School, one of Florida’s few traditional public classical education programs.
“We don’t teach them what to think,” Rosario told The Florida Trib regarding the school’s approach. “We teach them how to think.”
Rosario’s priorities for a potential third term include ensuring clear pathways for high school graduates entering trade schools, college, military service, or the workforce, alongside creating guidelines for artificial intelligence in schools and strengthening math, reading, and special education programs. Campaign finance records show Rosario has raised $28,440, with notable support from local residents, small business owners, and $2,500 from the Republican Executive Committee of Indian River County. Her campaign has spent $15,873 on direct mail, communications, and voter outreach.
Lange, 43, enters the race with more than two decades of experience in public education. He has worked as an English teacher, department chair, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) specialist within the district, and holds a master’s degree in teaching from Grand Canyon University. As a father of two children enrolled in local public schools, Lange’s platform emphasizes expanding CTE opportunities, supporting classroom teachers, maintaining fiscal discipline, and focusing on transparent, data-driven decisions.
In statements detailed by The Florida Trib, Lange explained that he wants to ensure “our kids, not just mine, but all the kids who go to our public schools are in good hands.” Campaign reports indicate Lange has raised over $16,800, primarily from individual contributors, while spending under $1,500.
The Indian River County School District serves roughly 14,000 students and currently holds a four-year consecutive A-rating from the state of Florida.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Nick Pakuris | Florida International University, Samantha Espinosa | Florida International University, and Jaime Rubio | Florida International University originally published by The Florida Trib. Read the original story.
