The following in an announcement of intention to seek public office paid for by the candidate.
My name is Tracey Kendrick, and I am a candidate for Bradford County Superintendent of Schools.
Children in Bradford County deserve a better education than they currently receive and we, as a school district, can do better. Despite the tremendous work of our teachers and school staff, we have consistently dropped in statewide rankings over the past four years, and neighboring counties like Union, Baker, Putnam, and Clay consistently outperform our district. This lack of improvement is the direct result of ineffective leadership and misguided priorities at the district office.
With over 28 years teaching in classrooms and leading schools, I have a proven record of leading school improvement. I am known for implementing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills into classrooms to build workforce-ready and college-capable students. I am an experienced educator that has dedicated my life to the belief that students deserve the highest quality education we can provide. I believe public education is a cornerstone of our republic, vital for continued national security, and essential to keeping our technological edge against competitors like China and Russia in today’s fast-paced global environment.
I began my education career in 1996 after receiving a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of North Florida. I served internships during my coursework with the Bradford, Clay, and Duval school districts. I was hired by the Clay County School District (CCSD) immediately after graduation. While teaching with the CCSD, I served as a fifth-grade teacher at Clay Hill Elementary as well as the Title 1 Coordinator and Reading Coach for McRae Elementary.
I earned a Master of Education Leadership degree from University of North Florida in 2004 and was promoted by the CCSD in 2007 to Assistant Principal at the Oakleaf School with 1,800 students serving kindergarten through eighth graders. I also served as the Assistant Principal at Oakleaf Village Elementary. When hired, the school was still under construction, and I was responsible for overseeing the final phases of construction, hiring teachers and staff, creating school processes and procedures for how the school would operate, ordering office furniture and classroom materials, and ensuring the school was ready to open in 2008.
The Clay County School District appointed me Principal of Clay Hill Elementary in 2012, and I served there for four years. During my tenure, I was recognized by Folio Weekly for providing students with laptops through Title 1, grant funding. We were the first school to bring one-to-one computers to all our students in the district, and this led to my recognition as an “Innovative Educator” by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2016. During my term as principal, the school’s state-designated VAM (Value Added Model) score rose from unacceptable to a rating of exceeding expectations.
When the current principal at Oakleaf Village Elementary (OVE) retired, the staff at OVE urged the district to allow me to lead the school. Oakleaf Village Elementary had a population of 1,100 students, and during my first year, I led the faculty to realize a 26-point gain in school grade calculation and returned the school to an “A” grade. We maintained an “A” grade for the remainder of my tenure.
Other qualifications and experience gained over the course of my career include being a certified Intel Math Instructor Trainer, Microsoft Hacking STEM Trained educator, and a Title 1 Federal Grants Coordinator. I was a State Portfolio Reviewer for the Brevard Public School District’s Technology Integration Project, and I have served as an AdvancED School District Accreditation Team Member for numerous accreditation reviews for districts in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arizona.
I currently serve as the principal of Brookview Elementary (BVE), a 100% free and reduced lunch school, in the Duval Public School District. BVE is fully staffed instructionally and with support staff. Through my leadership, and lots of hard work by my teachers and staff, BVE improved its school grade from a projected “D” in 2020 to a 61 point “B” in 2023.
This year BVE is striving for an “A” grade, and I have been overwhelmed by the number of former and current teachers that have expressed an interest in moving to Bradford County to teach upon learning of my campaign for Superintendent of Schools.
On a personal note, I am a proud military spouse and mother. I married my high school sweetheart in Starke in 1993, and we have three daughters Katie, Chloe, and Kelsey. Our oldest daughter, Katie, is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and my husband has spent the past 35 years serving in the U.S. Army and Florida National Guard. One of the reasons that I am passionate about improving education in this district is my family’s deep ties to Bradford County. My grandfather taught in this district, my parents graduated high school here in 1965, and Brian and I graduated Bradford High School in 1989. We have many family members that live and work in the county, and we are currently renovating our “forever” home amongst our family in Graham.
I look forward to earning your vote and leading the Bradford County School District to the top of Florida rankings. The children of this county deserve more, and together we can do better!
Candidates may submit an announcement and photograph to run one time for $50. The deadline to submit announcements is Monday, June 17, at 5 p.m. Email announcements to [email protected] and make arrangements to pay prior to publication.
