My name is Karen Pickles, your Republican candidate for the office of Madison County Superintendent of Schools. For those who do not know me, I am married to Troy Pickles, and we have two children and six grandchildren.
• Our daughter, Jessica, is married to Jimbo Ratliff, and they have two children: Emery and Wyatt. Jessica and Jimbo are the owners of White Oak Taxidermy.
• Our son, Ethan, is married to McKenzie, and they have four children: Emmitt, Rileigh, Leven, and Leighton. Most of you know Ethan as the owner of Pickles & Sons Welding.
I hold a Master’s and PhD in Education and an active Florida Teaching Certificate. I have worked in a variety of educational settings—from community college to university to primary grades—providing educational services to learners. I was elected as the District 4 School Board in 2012 and was elected as Superintendent in 2016. I am the only superintendent to achieve a District Grade of B.
The question I believe many of you want clarified is what I made the decision to resign. Although it was a difficult choice, it became clear that the Board in place at that time was unwilling to put aside their differences and work collaboratively to advance our district, our students and staff. Faced with threats and police escorts, and the added unwillingness of the Board to set aside our differences, I felt it was important not to remain in a role where I was merely collecting a paycheck. While you may disagree, it seemed best for me and our community for me to step aside. My focus remains the same: I want to provide better opportunities for the children and staff of Madison County.
I hope you’ll give me an opportunity to once again serve Madison County and work on behalf of our teachers, students, and our staff.
Question 1. In light of recent events, what steps would you take to ensure the safety of students and staff within the schools?
Answer – In response to recent events, ensuring the safety of students and staff is a top priority. To enhance school safety, we must implement several key measures. We must be prepared. We need to ensure both students and staff are trained to look for and report suspicious activity impacting our schools. We need to enhance our security measures with the latest technologies, limiting access points to a single point of entry, adding security cameras, and providing additional training for administrative personnel to help monitor and manage our school environment effectively.
Being prepared means being proactive. Due to recent events, school and weather related—we need to increase our focus on providing mental health resources-before, during or after a trauma-related event. We need to broaden our community partner relationships with a focus on resource sharing and support of our safety initiatives. Finally, staying abreast of emerging threats or changing circumstances will ensure our staff are knowledgeable and equipped to assist our students when sharing concerns. While many of these steps are currently in place, by looking to enhance and add just one of these measures, we can create a safer school learning environment that prioritizes the well-being of all our students and staff.
Question 2. What strategies do you plan on implementing to attract and retain high-quality teachers who will stay long term?
Answer – To attract and retain high-quality teachers for the long term, I plan to introduce a plan with a focus on competitive compensation and supportive work environments, and professional development. Creating a positive school culture that values our collaboration and innovation is essential, as is providing teachers with ongoing training and growth opportunities to enhance their skills and advance their careers. Additionally, offering competitive salaries and benefits and removing our compression schedule can help attract talented and retain our loyal educators. If teachers are not compensated for their value and worth, they will leave. By prioritizing these strategies, we can build a dedicated and stable team of educators committed to Madison County
Question 3. What will you do differently to improve unity and morale among board members, teachers, staff and students, especially in light of the upcoming consolidation?
Answer – Considering the upcoming consolidation approval and impending consolidation transition, I will focus on open communication. As the consolidation committee recommendations should be presented to the Board in December, communication is key. Parents want to know “what’s going on or what are the options” and staff need to be advised of additional cuts.
Working with the Board, we will share the consolidation transition plan with parents and staff at each impacted school and provide a platform for all stakeholders to ask questions, fostering transparency and trust. We will continue to recognize and celebrate achievements, both big and small, while focusing on improving and building a positive atmosphere. I aim to focus on team-building activities and professional development workshops that promote relationship-building and a shared vision. By focusing on the mutual respect of our parents and staff we can strengthen our community and navigate the consolidation process together to improve our school culture.
Political Advertisement paid for and approved by Karen Pickles, Republican Candidate, for Superintendent of Schools for Madison County.