What are your top goals if you’re elected?
My top goals when elected would be to bridge the gap between the teachers and the parents and the students and the School Board members, and help to build trust between the teachers and the parents and our students with the School Board. To reassure them that the School Board is there to listen to their needs and help address their needs.
What are the biggest issues you think the School Bard faces?
Like I said, open communication and then keeping our teachers in our school system.
What are some changes you would like to see made if you’re elected?
First, I want to say one person can’t make changes. It does take the whole School Board to make the changes. Some of the ideas that I would like to bring to the board to see about changing would be our VE and ESE department to give them more enhancements and tools, like technology. Bigger keyboards and tablets for our students who have the inability to use the traditional-size keyboard or tablet. And substitute training. yearly training right before school would start. Even seasoned subs don’t know some of the changes that happen during the year, like safety changes and classroom maintenance and management and things that come down from the state. For example, this year, I have been subbing in Gilchrsit County for 22. I saw a student take Tylenol out of their backpack and proceed to take it. And I started to get on to them and tell them you’re not allowed to do that. And I was going to send them to the office and the student and their classmates proceeded to tell me, no, it was a new change taht was made this year. So I called the front office to make sure they weren’t telling me a story, and it was a change that was made from state legislators. So that’s one example for substitute training. And to help create new disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions that are more of a teaching opportunity for our students, instead of just the punishment. And to advocate for our students with exceptionalities in the general education classrom and for their teachers and classmates. And have cleaner campuses. And maintaining a safe environment in our schools. And bringing back some parent involvement with background checks.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing the schools?
I would agree with our county commissioners that one of our biggest challenges is growth. With growth comes more students in our already almost-at-capacity elementary schools. SO the state has approved a new elementary school. Our School Board members are researching and making sure that with the budget we can take on going ahead and getting started and opening that sooner.
What are some things you think the School Board does well right now?
Well, I think our School Board does a lot of things well. For me, I’m just going to give you a couple highlights. They know how to stay on budget, they really do. I’ve watched that over and over and over. They recognize and celebrate the achievements of our students with sports, band, FFA, different academies, and in our elementary. And our School Board members, they give back to the community and back to the school. I’ve been to many School Board meetings, and I’ve seen the School Board members take out their own personal checkbooks and write a check to donate to an organization within the school because there just wasn’t enough money in the budget.
What makes you the best candidate for the position?
I’m the only one who is currently running in our race that works in our schools, so I know firsthand experience what our teachers and our staff faces with the educational system. I’ve built great relationships with our teachers and our students and our parents. So, with those relationships, I feel that I could bridge that gap more easily. In addition this would be my only job, so I would be able to focus more on our district schools and be there to go into the school system when invited in to see concerns or hear praises. And I would also be there to help celebrate our students and our staff, grades pre-K through 12th grade.
What experience do you have and how will that help you once you’re elected?
My experiences are more hands on. I’ve subbed, I’ve been a volunteer in Gilchrist County for 23 years. I have been a sub in all four schools for 22 years. I was Christian Education Director for three years at Spring Ridge Church of God. I’ve served six years on the District Advisory Council for Gilchrist County Schools. On that board, we would go into the schools, and we talk to the teachers and would help come up with a solution and then bring it back to the School Board, and they would hear it and they would work on it. Some of the concerns that we would hear is about technology and carpet, new carpet. Well, now all students ninth through 12th grade has their own laptop, and the teachers have received ELMOs or overhead projectors that was asked for, and carpet has slowly started to come in. And I served two years on the School Advisory Committee for Bell High School. On that committee, we help advise the administration on where to spend money that they earn from making it as an “A” or “B” school. And I’ve been treasurer for FSTC indoor drumline for six years and treasurer for WGI, which is a collegiate marching drumline, and it was mostly University of Florida students for three years. And I’ve been Bell Band Booster president for 10 years, and I was in charge of basketball concessions for 15 years
What can the citizens of Gilchrist County expect from Dena Griffith, School Board Member?
The citizens of Gilchrist County can expect to be able to reach me with any concerns, see me at events throughout the school district, given that I will be giving back to our community, also. It’s a great community, and they trust me, I’m definitely going to be giving back to the community that trusted me. I’ll answer questions in a timely manner. I might have to say, just give me a few days because I need to research something or look something up, but I will get back to you. And, again, this is my only job, so I will be there for them.
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you feel like everyone needs to know?
Yes, I have lived in Gilchrist County for 42 years. I graduated at Bell High School in 1992. I played volleyball in middle school and high school. I married my husband shortly after graduation. We’ve been married for 32 yeras. We have four kids, to daughters-in-law, and five grandkids. Ouor daugher teaches at Bell Elementary School and our daughter-in-law teaches at Trenton High School. And we have two grandkids that are enrolled in Trenton Elementary. I really am just an ordinary mom and grandma, and I started substituting to be there for my kids, for your kids, for the community. I’m just someone who loves our community. I love our schools. I love our students. I think we have a great, great school system. Eight and a half years ago, the community was there for my family in our darkest time, and I feel called by God that it is now my time to give back to our community. What I would like to share is the Bible verse that I’ve lived by in everything that I do. It’s Colossians 3:23. It states: “Everything that you do, do it wholeheartedly as if working for the Lord.” So I appreciate your votes and your support, and vote for me on Aug. 20 for School Board District 4.