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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This race is a door-to-door, parent-to-parent, PTA-to-coffee-shop campaign. Every one of these asks directly decides whether Jenn wins.
One hour of door-knocking in your own neighborhood is worth more to this race than a $500 check. Seriously. That's how local elections work.
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If you've read this far, you already believe every child deserves better. That's enough. Now let's go build it.