'Don't know exactly why I'm being targeted': Indian River County School board chair on removal list
Three Treasure Coast school board members are on Gov. Ron DeSantis' so-called "target list" of 14 names to defeat in the 2024 election.
Indian River County School Board Chair Dr. Peggy Jones is a lifelong educator on the Treasure Coast.
"I just thought as an educator every position I had from coach to being assistant principal, principal, executive director," Jones said. "That I had the base knowledge to help our students and our parents in the community."
Jones said she doesn't know why she's on a list of school board members identified for removal by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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"You know, I don't know exactly why I'm being targeted so I'd like to turn it on him and the people targeting me because every decision I made on the school board or as a principal as a dean or teacher, was in the best interest of the students and I stand by that."
In a tweet from the chairman of the Florida GOP, the list features 14 school board members across the state who "do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from woke ideologies."
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Fellow board member Brian Barefoot is also on the list and issued this response:
"I was both surprised and disappointed that my name was on such a list since I am the complete opposite of being 'woke,'" Barefoot said.
Jack Kelly, who sits on the St. Lucie County School Board, is also on the list. He released a statement that reads:
"Someone didn't do their homework. They must be talking about a different person or another Jack Kelly. Their dispersions are incorrect and do not represent any of my policies or past practices. I have never voted against parental rights. I am a registered independent. Furthermore, the issue is Moot as I have said Publicly from the day, I got elected that I would not be running for a second term, a well-known fact. I'm disappointed."
We reached out to the governor’s office for comment.
They directed us to his political team, and we are still waiting for a response.
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