Candidate for Nassau County School Board, District 5: Angel Cole
The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce recently asked each candidate running for the Nassau County School Board to answer a candidate questionnaire that we could share with members and the community. Answers to each question have been copied and pasted exactly as they were submitted.Â
For additional information or questions, please contact the Chamber at (904) 261-3248
2026 Nassau County School Board Candidate Questionnaire
EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP
1. Why are you running for the Nassau County School Board?
Nassau County Schools invested in me as a student, allowed me to serve as an educator and administrator, and now educates my grandchildren. I want to be able to give back to a community that deserves students who are prepared to enter the workforce, military, college, or technical careers as productive citizens.
2. What experiences have best prepared you to serve on the School Board?
My career in education has provided me with the experience, leadership, and financial responsibility necessary to serve effectively on the Nassau County School Board.
30 years of classroom experience teaching elementary students, giving me firsthand knowledge of student learning, curriculum, classroom management, and the challenges teachers face every day.
Classroom Teacher dedicated to helping students succeed academically while developing character, responsibility, and the skills needed to become productive citizens.
Administrator for eight years at Nassau County Adult Education, where our program achieved a 74–78% success rate, the highest in the State of Florida.
District Board Member for ACE of Florida (Adult and Community Educators), where I advocated with Florida state officials for funding and policies that support adult education programs.
Grant Writer and Program Manager for two Adult Education grants, responsible for writing successful grant applications, preparing budgets, managing expenditures, and ensuring taxpayer dollars were spent responsibly and in compliance with grant requirements.
These experiences have given me a strong understanding of education, leadership, budgeting, accountability, and public service. I am prepared to make informed decisions that put students first, support our teachers, and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
3. What do you believe are the three greatest opportunities or challenges currently facing Nassau County schools?
Nassau County Schools are in need of more Career and Technical Education. The majority of our students go into the workforce and need workers equipped to be problem solvers, task managers, clear communicators, team players, trustworthy and skill-based trained.
Parents with special needs children need to know that their child's Individual Educational Plan (IEP) is being met and their child can attend in their community school along with peers/friends with whom they are familiar. Nassau County Schools need to provide the BEST situation for our special needs students, not just what’s convenient.
Wildlight Elementary is currently overcrowded by 300 students. The boundaries need to be redrawn to equally distribute the students between Wildlight Elementary, Yulee Elementary and Yulee Primary until new schools can be built.
STUDENT SUCCESS
4. How would you define student success, and what priorities would you champion to improve outcomes?
Student success means preparing every student with the knowledge, skills, and character needed to succeed in whatever path they choose—whether that is college, career and technical education, military service, or entering the workforce. Success should be measured not only by academic achievement, but also by a student's ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and become a responsible, productive member of the community. Without these, we have failed our students by not preparing them for their future.
Students must have a strong academic foundation in reading, writing, math, history, and science. This can only be accomplished by providing outstanding teachers.
Expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and industry certifications to meet the workforce needs of our community would be a priority. This could strengthen partnerships among schools, families, businesses, and community organizations, which would create opportunities for mentoring, shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and workforce development.
5. What role should career and technical education, apprenticeships, dual enrollment, and workforce development play in preparing students for future careers?
CTE, Apprenticeships, advancement opportunities like dual enrollment, and workforce development may be the most important thing in the district that will provide a future for our students. There's one clear way that we can do this. Nassau County used to be the innovator where these things were concerned. When the high schools moved to a seven period class it made it impossible to build the programs needed for our students.
6. How can the School District strengthen partnerships with local businesses to better prepare students for the workforce?
I saw effective leadership where this was concerned. The key was the willingness to listen to employers and honor commitments. When things are working like they should, local businesses help us find qualified CTE teachers, hire our students, and we teach according to the tenets that they believe are important. The partnership between the EAA, Fernandina Airport, and Friends of Fernandina Aviation created an Aerospace program at Fernandina High School that has endured for over a decade now. Back in 2015, we partnered with a national technology company to launch our Java program. We need to get back to that level. Â
TEACHERS & SCHOOL OPERATIONS
7. What strategies would you support to recruit, retain, and support high-quality teachers and staff?
To recruit, retain, and support high-quality teachers and staff, we must make education a profession where talented individuals want to build their careers. I will advocate for competitive salaries and benefits that help attract and keep outstanding educators. I support providing new teachers with experienced mentors for multiple years to help them succeed and remain in the profession. I will also work to protect teachers’ time by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on the needs of the students and their preparation for lessons.
8. How should the School Board balance academic excellence with responsible financial stewardship?
Academic excellence should be the primary focus of the School Board. Student success begins with outstanding teachers, and we must ensure they are fairly compensated and supported for the important work they do every day. I believe the district should regularly evaluate administrative spending to ensure resources are directed where they have the greatest impact in our classrooms. By maintaining an efficient administration and prioritizing classroom instruction, we can invest more in our teachers, strengthen student achievement, and provide the high-quality education our children deserve.Â
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
9. Families and businesses across Nassau County have expressed concern about the shortage of affordable, accessible after-school What do you see as the School Board's role in helping address this challenge?
Affordable child care is essential for working families and for students who benefit from safe, supervised after-school programs. Child care subsidies are administered through local agencies, such as the Department of Social Services or other designated organizations, to help eligible low-income and working families offset the cost of child care and after-school services. However, it is not the School Board’s role to oversee these programs.
10. Schools can serve as valuable community hubs outside of instructional How would you support partnerships between the School District and organizations such as the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other nonprofit organizations to expand after-school programming?
Schools are integral to the social fabric of every community and have the potential to serve a much broader purpose than providing instruction during the school day. They can become dynamic centers of community engagement and lifelong learning, offering opportunities that benefit people of all ages.
Too often, school buildings sit unused once the school day ends or after the final student activity has concluded. By viewing schools as community resources—not only for students but for families and residents as well—districts can create meaningful opportunities for collaboration and shared use.
This approach fosters a reciprocal relationship in which the community supports its schools, and schools, in turn, provide valuable educational, recreational, and enrichment opportunities. When schools become vibrant community hubs, they strengthen connections among residents, expand access to resources, and contribute to the well-being of the entire community while enhancing the educational experience for students.
11. Research consistently shows that quality after-school programs improve academic achievement, attendance, and student well-being. How would you incorporate expanded out-of-school programming into your vision for student success?
I think you start with co-curricular activities like Career and Technical Student Organization’s (CTSO), FFA, FBLA and Skills USA are programs that we've had in the past. There are others like TSA, HOSA, FCCLA.
The challenge is finding teachers that are passionate about these programs and properly compensating them for their time. After that, we look to tap into our local resources — retirees, engaged parents, business and community leaders — people that have a passion for impacting lives You build these things one program at a time in our schools.
12. What role do you believe Career & Technical Education (CTE) should play in preparing the future workforce, and how would you work to strengthen collaboration between the School District and the local business community to ensure these programs align with current and future workforce needs?
Career and Technical Education should play an important role in preparing students for future opportunities by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce needs.
A strong CTE program requires collaboration between schools and local employers. By engaging with the business community through organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, education leaders can better understand current and projected workforce needs and identify the skills, certifications, and training opportunities that will best serve students.
These partnerships allow schools to align CTE programs with the needs of local industries while providing students with meaningful pathways to careers, certifications, and continued education. When schools and businesses work together, students benefit from opportunities that prepare them for success in the workforce and contribute to the strength of the local economy.
GOVERNANCE
13. How will you promote transparency, accountability, and productive relationships with parents, teachers, businesses, and community organizations?
Promoting transparency, accountability, and productive relationships begins with publicly sharing information about the workshops before the board meetings. Life is so busy that the stakeholders need a brief summary of the discussions for the workshop before the night of the workshop. The stakeholders in Nassau County deserve to know exactly what is transpiring in our school systems.Â
Curriculum materials under consideration should be made publicly available before the school board votes on them. Providing advance access allows community members to review the materials, understand what is being proposed, and offer feedback during the public comment process. This promotes transparency and gives the board the opportunity to consider community input as part of its decision-making process.
14. What guiding principles will shape your decision-making when difficult or controversial issues come before the Board?
My principles are guided by my faith and grounded in high moral standards, honesty, integrity, and accountability. I believe in treating every person with respect, making decisions based on what is right rather than what is easy, and serving our community with transparency and fairness. These values have guided me throughout my career as an educator and administrator, and they will continue to guide me as a member of the Nassau County School Board.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE & PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
15. Have you ever received, or do you currently receive, compensation, advertising revenue, sponsorship income, monetization revenue, consulting fees, in-kind benefits, or any other thing of value connected to online content in which you discuss local government issues, public policy matters, elected officials, candidates, or campaigns? If yes, please describe the source and nature of the compensation, the issue or candidate involved, and whether the financial relationship was publicly disclosed.
I have never received any compensation from the above-mentioned entities.
CLOSING
16. If elected, what would success look like after your first term?
If elected, by the end of my first term I will have expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs throughout our schools, providing students with more opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications and develop the skills needed for successful careers. My goal is to strengthen our local workforce by preparing qualified, certified graduates who are ready to meet the needs of Nassau County's workforce and be productive citizens in our local community.
17. Is there anything else you would like Nassau County's business community to know?
I have been an active member of our community throughout my adult life. I have served my local church in many capacities, including music ministry, teaching, fundraising, and mentoring youth. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of serving others and investing in the next generation.
For more than 20 years, I have volunteered with JOY To The Children, helping provide Christmas gifts and support to homeless children in Nassau County Schools. Today, I serve on the organization's Board of Directors, allowing me to make an even greater impact on families in need throughout our community.
During my time in Adult Education, I built strong partnerships with local businesses that hired many of our graduates, creating opportunities for students to transition successfully into the workforce. Those relationships demonstrated the important connection between education and economic growth.
Our local businesses are just as vital to the success of our community as our schools. I look forward to continuing to work alongside educators, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to strengthen these partnerships for the benefit of our children, our families, and the future of Nassau County.