#TK2026    Paid for by Thomas A. Kenny for School Board

Education is the foundational cornerstone of our Country. When moms and dads send their kids off to schools each morning, they want their sons and daughters intellectually challenged not sexually challenged. They want them to engage learning, not bullying threats, and, develop their thinking skills in hopes of finding a vocation they will pursue with enthusiasm. I have been an advocate for those changes for 5 years as Policy and Media Director for Moms for Liberty - IRFL and Family First Indian River County. 

 

Our parents sat on disciplinary committees every year. We recommended no cell-phone policies, strict no-bullying policies and other measures replacing restorative justice initiatives. These policy recommendations were passed unanimously by the school board. Teachers and administrators have the tools to keep control of their classrooms. We long advocated for deans in schools alongside Dr. Jacqueline Rosario. Today, disciplinary deans are a reality.

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Our advocates successfully convinced the district to remove pornographic and sexually explicit materials from the hands of unaccompanied minor children. My opponent voted for the books before she voted against them.

The movement for quality literature that meets Florida education standards inspired a remodeling of the two high school libraries. Books were weeded out and donated. New titles were curated. We led the advocacy for a new book review committee in 2022 that saw unanimous approval. 

I helped lead the charge for all new curriculum to be fundamentally geared toward teaching math, reading, history and science. Our advocacy for Amplify curriculum, with its "Science of Reading" method for the English Language Arts program was instrumental. My opponent wanted to approve HMH. It was stopped because Moms for Liberty vice chairman, Chris Allen reported to the state its problems and woke indoctrination. On her findings alone, the state approved Amplify. The Learning Alliance later endorsed Amplify.  As a result, Indian River County was already qualified when the Florida Department of Education made the "Science of Reading" method mandatory for all 67 districts.

 

Third grade reading scores have gone from 24th in the state to 2nd. Our district ranks 5th because these parents wanted and advocated for these changes and many others at every opportunity.  Dr. Moore and his staff can do what they do best: teach kids! It has been great to serve the wonderful parents of Indian River County in such a voluntary capacity. 

 

I will continue to advocate for the parents issues as your school board member. The education of your child is my number one priority. Parents hope their kids become confident to be able to not only get great test grades, but, to think with conviction about their work and go farther than their dreams can carry them. 

 

Proper education is the best opportunity for our children. There are many teachers who have chosen their profession as a vocation. They would rather do nothing else in life but to help awaken minds through teaching. It’s hard work that should be honored with great compensation. Schools should be places where teachers can educate with discipline and students can learn with enthusiasm, engaging the subjects they have a gift or passion to pursue, that will convincingly lead them to a purpose greater than themselves.