Editor's Note: All candidates in this race were invited to respond to each prompt in 175 words or less. The responses in this candidate forum are presented exactly as submitted by each candidate. Minor edits may have been made for grammar, spelling, punctuation or formatting, but the intent of each response has not been altered.
Erin Skipper, District 1:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
I reside in Fleming Island with my husband, Joshua, and our two daughters, Kannyn and Ansleigh, who attend Clay County District Schools. As a lifelong Clay County resident and graduate of Middleburg High, I have deep roots in this community. My mother dedicated more than 30 years to teaching in our public schools, instilling in me a lifelong commitment to education and service. I graduated with honors from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As an Emergency Room nurse at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, I developed the leadership, critical thinking, and decision making skills needed to serve others during their challenging moments. Today, I bring that same servant leadership to the School Board. I am committed to protecting our children, supporting our teachers, ensuring parents have a meaningful voice, and being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. My focus has been on putting students first, strengthening our schools, and preserving the values that make Clay County one of the best places to live, learn, and raise a family.
What are the challenges for the School District?
Education is changing faster than ever. The classroom of yesterday is not the classroom of today, and it certainly won’t be the classroom of tomorrow. Florida continues to lead the nation with new education policies, expanded school choice, technology, and higher expectations for student achievement. Change can be challenging, but it is not something to fear, it is something to lead. Our district’s greatest challenge is navigating that change while keeping students at the center of every decision. We must continue recruiting and retaining great teachers, maintaining safe schools, preparing students for an evolving workforce, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. While others are quick to declare a crisis, I believe leadership is measured by the ability to bring solutions. My record demonstrates that I don’t simply identify problems, I work collaboratively to solve them. Strong leadership means embracing change, listening to our community, making informed decisions, and ensuring Clay County Schools remain a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
I bring a proven record of leadership, accountability, and delivering results. As Chair of the School Board, I have worked to strengthen parental rights, improve transparency, support our teachers, and prioritize the safety and success of every student. Clay County is an A rated district, highest academic success in Clay County history, and highest graduation rates in Clay County history. I understand that education is evolving, and I believe change is an opportunity, not a crisis when guided by strong leadership. My perspective as a registered nurse, mother, and community leader allows me to evaluate decisions through the lens of safety, fiscal responsibility, and what is best for children. I believe in listening to parents, respecting our educators, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Importantly, I bring solutions. While some focus on problems, I focus on building consensus, making data informed decisions, and preparing students for success in an ever changing world. My commitment is to keep students first, empower parents, support our employees, and move our district forward with integrity and accountability.
Lara Libretto, District 1:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
Michael Rathjen, District 4:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
A dedicated husband of over 20 years, father of three daughters who were both homeschooled and attend(ed) Clay schools, and an accomplished business executive offering a strong record of responsible leadership and results-driven experience. As the Vice President of School Programs for a major credit union, I lead a complex student internship/career education program that has delivered financial education to over 180,000 students and provided over 2,400 paid yearlong internship opportunities to students from twenty high schools across nine different school districts. My professional career is highly visible to all levels of education, community organizations, and business partners. I have built a respected reputation with school district personnel and business leaders across multiple counties and have proven to be ready to serve all students, teachers, and families within our community. As of announcing my candidacy, I served as Chair for our Clay Education Foundation, board member for Clay Economic Development Corporation, Clay County Fair Association, Clay County Farm Bureau, CareerSource Northeast Florida, and a business partner to multiple career and trade education programs.
What are the challenges for the School District?
Budget and Rebuilding Trust. House Bill 1 from a couple years ago created the Family Empowerment Scholarship fundamentally changing the financial landscape of the public-school systems across Florida. Lack of proactive advocacy and management of our School District's budget has contributed to a massive multimillion dollar budgetary shortfall. A deficiency in responsible leadership has led to distrust. Most School Board members accepted the state offered pay raise while failing to allocate funding to provide a pay raise to nearly 45% of our District's teachers. A bloated vehicle fleet and excessive switching of technology/programs have created confusion and frustration for our educators and additional costs to our District. Our contract with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office stays, everything else should be gone through with a fine-toothed comb. We must find additional funding sources or reallocate funds to protect the high safety standards our students, families, and staff deserve, and our community has come to expect. The 1 mil tax referendum is necessary but will be a temporary solution that must be voted on to maintain.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
With proven experience in setting goals and direction of a program that includes over two hundred student interns, twenty high school branches, thirty-one support branches, ten collegiate academy representatives, and a multimillion dollar annual budget, I will [utilize] my business acumen and lean six sigma black belt process improvement certification to work diligently and collaboratively to protect programs that are working well and driving results while thoughtfully and strategically making improvements to increase opportunities for students, respect for educators, and support for parents. I am the only candidate with my unique professional background that is also super specific to creating/leading a complex outcome-based internship and financial education program for students and an income source for our school partners; all while maintaining fiscal oversight of a multimillion-dollar budget. In summary, I have the right experience at the right time, and I am the right choice to lead our District through this unique budgetary terrain. Although a current or former educator’s perspective does matter, we are not in an academic crisis, we are in a budget crisis.
Michele Hanson, District 4:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
I have dedicated myself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in Clay County Schools for 19 years and as a School Board member for the last 3.5 years. I began my teaching career in 2003 and obtained a master’s degree in special education, complemented by a certificate in Educational Leadership. In my role as a school board member, I achieved Master Board Certification through the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) and completed the Master School Board training with my fellow board members, while also participating in the FSBA Advocacy and Policy Committees.
What are the challenges for the School District?
Clay County has much to celebrate, including strong student achievement and one of the state's most robust Career and Technical Education programs. However, we cannot overlook the fact that nearly one-third of our students continue to struggle with foundational reading and critical thinking skills. Closing these gaps requires urgency, innovation, and accountability. We must take a modern, business-minded approach by continuously improving operations, using resources wisely, and adapting to the evolving needs of students and families. Public education cannot be complacent. We must earn the trust of parents every day by providing high-quality educational opportunities and excellent customer service. By staying focused on continuous improvement, we can ensure Clay County District Schools remains the first choice for families and prepares every student for future success.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
One of the greatest strengths I bring to the School Board is my experience serving in both the classroom and the boardroom. As a veteran teacher and School Board member for the past 3.5 years, I understand how board decisions directly impact students, teachers, administrators, and families. My years in education have given me firsthand knowledge of what students need to succeed and what educators need to provide high-quality instruction. I understand the challenges teachers face, the importance of supporting and retaining excellent staff, and the value of creating learning environments where every student can thrive. I believe effective leadership begins with listening. I am committed to collaboration, transparency, and open communication with students, families, educators, and our community. By combining my classroom experience with my board service, I help bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring every decision is thoughtful, informed, fiscally responsible, and focused on student success.
Ashley Gilhousen, District 5:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
I am a fourth-generation resident of Green Cove Springs, a third-generation graduate of Clay High, and the proud mother of three children who attend Clay County public schools. Professionally, I am a registered nurse, former classroom teacher, and currently serve as Director of Programs at Seamark Ranch, where I oversee programs that help vulnerable children thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of serving on the Clay County School Board, working alongside our community to strengthen our schools through responsible fiscal stewardship, strategic planning, and a commitment to student success. I believe parents are the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, teachers deserve our support and respect, and every student deserves access to a safe, high-quality education. I remain committed to ensuring Clay County Schools continue to be a source of pride for our community and a place where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
What are the challenges for the School District?
Clay County Schools has made significant progress, but we must continue addressing the challenges that come with a growing community. Recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers and support staff remains a top priority, as does keeping compensation competitive while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We must also balance rapid growth with responsible planning to ensure our facilities, transportation, and educational programs keep pace without sacrificing quality. At the same time, we must continue improving student achievement, expanding career and technical education opportunities, strengthening school safety, and supporting students with diverse learning needs. Meeting these challenges requires long-term planning, strong community partnerships, and a continued focus on what matters most—preparing every student for success after graduation.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
My perspective is shaped by experience in education, healthcare, child development, and public service. As a registered nurse, former teacher, nonprofit leader, and long-serving School Board member, I understand that successful schools require thoughtful leadership, sound financial management, and a student-centered approach. Having helped guide Clay County Schools through years of growth, strategic planning, and academic improvement, I bring institutional knowledge while remaining focused on continuous improvement. I believe in listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, making decisions based on facts, and always keeping students at the center of every discussion. I also believe parents are essential partners in education and that public schools should have the flexibility to innovate while remaining accountable for results. My goal is to continue building on our successes while ensuring Clay County Schools remains one of Florida’s premier public school districts.
Gerald Beasley, District 5:
Please tell our readers about yourself.
I grew up in Clay County and graduated from Clay High. I honorably served 18 years in the U.S. Air Force. I also worked in the real estate industry for 21 years. I returned home in 2011 and currently work at Clay County District Schools.
What are the challenges for the School District?
The biggest challenge for the school district as I see it is the budget. I work the support side of the district and do not always agree where and how the funds are allocated. I feel there needs to be change and the purse strings need to be a little tighter.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
I feel the school board should have a balanced mix of persons from the instructional side, the administrative side and the operations or support side of the district. I feel I would be an asset with my 14 plus years of experience as a support person.
Veronica Powell-Faison, District 5
Please tell our readers about yourself.
My name is Veronica Powell-Faison and I am running for the Clay County School Board because I believe every child deserves a quality education and every educator deserves to feel respected and supported. I am a military veteran, a mother, and an active community volunteer. Through my involvement in our schools, I have seen firsthand the dedication of our teachers, support staff, and administrators, as well as the challenges they face. My military service taught me the importance of integrity, accountability, teamwork, and servant leadership—values that continue to guide me today. I decided to run because I believe our schools are strongest when families, educators, and the community work together. I want to help build trust through transparency, responsible decision-making, and open communication. My goal is to ensure every decision made by the School Board puts students first while supporting the employees who help them succeed every day.
What are the challenges for the School District?
One of the biggest challenges facing our district is attracting and retaining excellent teachers and support staff. Competitive pay matters, but so do respectful working conditions, strong leadership, and ensuring employees have the resources they need to be successful. Another challenge is balancing responsible budgeting with the growing needs of our schools. Taxpayers deserve transparency and confidence that every dollar is being spent wisely and with students' best interests in mind. Communication is also essential. Families, employees, and the community should feel informed, heard, and included in the conversation. Building trust requires openness and accountability. As a School Board member, I believe every decision should come back to one question: "Is this in the best interest of our students?" Keeping students at the center of every decision will help us strengthen our schools and prepare them for the future.
What insight would you bring to the School Board?
I would bring the perspective of a military veteran, parent, volunteer, and engaged community member. My experiences have taught me the importance of accountability, preparation, collaboration, and servant leadership. I am not afraid to ask questions, listen to different viewpoints, and make thoughtful decisions based on facts. I believe effective leadership means being accessible, transparent, and willing to work with educators, families, staff, and community members to solve problems. I also understand that school board members are responsible for setting policy and providing oversight—not managing the day-to-day operations of the district. My role would be to ensure decisions are made with integrity, fiscal responsibility, and a clear focus on student success. I will always strive to be a voice that listens first, leads with respect, and puts students at the center of every decision.
