Lee County School Board, District 1 Candidate
vote@jennforeverychild.com ESPAÑOL
For Lee County School Board, District 1 · 2026

An education built for the world our kids will inherit.

I'm Jenn McDaigle, and I'm running for Lee County School Board District 1 because our kids are stepping into a world being rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence, and our schools should be preparing them for the future, not the past. We need an education system built for their future: hands-on, relevant, and focused on critical thinking, adaptability, and real-world experience, not just memorization. Our kids don't care about adult debates. They care whether they can read, whether their teacher shows up, whether school feels safe. That's what I care about too. It's about building a system that works for every child, every family, every time.

Jenn McDaigle, non-partisan candidate for Lee County School Board, District 1, Florida
JENN McDAIGLE Parent · Advocate · Tech Leader · Candidate

Our district has a problem it isn't solving.

These aren't talking points. They're the numbers every Lee County parent deserves to see on the front page of their district's report.

50%+
of Lee County elementary students cannot read at grade level.
FLDOE / district data
1in 3
high schoolers are proficient in math. That is not a future-ready workforce.
FLDOE assessment data
$900
spent out-of-pocket by the average Lee County teacher on classroom supplies each year.
Teacher surveys
$15.9M
cut from district operations last year, with capital funds raided to cover the gap.
District budget records
This is a structural budget problem that is not being solved. It is being patched. Our teachers are doing heroic work inside a system that keeps asking them to do more with less, and our kids are the ones paying for it.
Portrait of Jenn McDaigle, candidate for Lee County School Board District 1, serving Cape Coral, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach

I know what schools can be when they decide every child matters.

Where I come from

I grew up in Crystal River, Florida, raised by a single mother working to keep three daughters fed. I remember the government cheese lines, relying on free school lunches, and after-school programs to stay safe while she worked.

School wasn't just a place of learning for me, it was stability, structure, and a lifeline. It believed I mattered, and that belief changed the trajectory of my life.

I didn't choose those programs, I was automatically included. That's why I believe so strongly in an education system that's built around every child from day one, not one that quietly leaves kids behind while their parents try to figure out how to navigate the right paperwork.

What I do for a living

After earning my Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on youth psychology, I spent over a decade working directly with young people, helping them navigate challenges at home, in school, and in their communities.

I also bring more than a decade of experience in corporate leadership, serving in roles at companies like Instacart, dunnhumby, and Zeta Global, working in industries transformed by technology, data, and artificial intelligence.

Why this, why now

As a mother of a child with special needs, I've had a firsthand, deeply personal understanding of IEPs and where the system falls short. My daughter Quillen required extensive support, and I fought for her every step of the way to ensure she received the care and education she deserved. She passed away in 2023 at five years old, but that experience shaped how I see what families are up against, and what must change.

Now, with my daughter Waverly entering kindergarten, that mission is deeply personal once again. I know how much is at stake, and how important it is that our schools show up for every child.

Parents are a child's first teacher and their fiercest advocate. A board that doesn't listen to you isn't serving your child, it's ignoring them.

That is what I will do. For every child. For every family. Every time.

Three commitments. Built around children, not politics.

Every one of these is something a Lee County parent can see, feel, and hold me to. When I win, these outcomes get better. If they don't, hold me accountable.

01

Future-Ready Schools

An education built for their world, not ours. Thoughtful use of technology and AI that promotes critical thinking, adaptability, real-world skills, and deep human connection that no screen can replace.

02

The Whole Child

Strong schools that protect the arts and invest in experiential, hands-on learning for every child. Not memorization, mastery. Not compliance, curiosity. These are not optional. They are the curriculum.

03

Teachers Planting Roots

Lee County lost 253 teachers last year while hiring only 197. Teachers deserve to live in the community they serve. Lee County should be the district where the best teachers fight to build their careers, not the one they flee.

We need you. Pick your lane.

We're building this campaign from the ground up. Here are the roles where we need help right now. Show up however fits your life.

  • Campaign Coordinator The engine. Keeps the trains running. Campaigns, project management, or ops background.
  • Social Media Manager Tell this story online. Content, scheduling, community, IG, TikTok, FB.
  • Events Coordinator House parties. Community tabling. Speaking engagements. Make the moments happen.
  • Canvass Coordinator Lead our door-to-door voter contact. This is literally how local races are won.
  • General Volunteers Knock doors. Make calls. Share posts. Stuff envelopes. Show up. Every hour counts.

Sign me up.

We'll reach out within 48 hours with exactly what's needed next.

Your info stays with us. We don't sell or trade voter data. Ever.

This isn't a campaign about me. It's about every kid in District 1.

If you've read this far, you already believe every child deserves better. That's enough. Now let's go build it.

For every child. For every family. Every time. Let's build this together.