Candidate for Nassau County School Board, District 5: Lissa Braddock
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?
I am running for the school board because I want to continue being a part of our school board and its mission to prepare all students to become life-longer learners, problem-solvers, and productive members of our society.
2. What experiences have best prepared you to serve on the School Board?
As a English Language Arts teacher in Nassau County for 34 years, I have dedicated my life to educating our county's youth and understanding their social, emotional, and academic needs. In addition, I have served eight years on our school board, enabling me to understand the complexities of a school system.
3. What do you believe are the three greatest opportunities or challenges currently facing Nassau County schools?
Probably the greatest challenge currently facing Nassau County Schools is keeping up with the tremendous growth and the changes that will occur because of that growth.
Another challenge facing all school districts, including our own, is balancing the critical need for 21st century skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, innovation, etc.) in a world now infiltrated by artificial intelligence. Finally, in light of our success as one of the highest rated school districts in the state, we must continue making strides to maintain our status.
STUDENT SUCCESS
4. How would you define student success, and what priorities would you champion to improve outcomes?
I would define student student success as every student being prepared for college and career readiness. Our state standardized test scores and graduation rate are clear evidence of this student success.
To improve outcomes for student success, I would prioritize high-quality instruction, literacy for all students, student engagement, and decision making driven by data.
5. What role should career and technical education, apprenticeships, dual enrollment, and workforce development play in preparing students for future careers?
Especially as we grow as a district, we must continue to offer various options for our students to become productive members of society. Not every student will go to a four-year university; thus, we must offer training in areas such as technical education, apprenticeships, dual enrollment, and workforce development.
6. How can the School District strengthen partnerships with local businesses to better prepare students for the workforce?
One way that our school district can strengthen partnerships with local businesses is by providing opportunities for young people to enter the workforce. Many of our high schools currently host career fairs that feature local businesses to increase awareness of job opportunities for our students.
TEACHERS & SCHOOL OPERATIONS
7. What strategies would you support to recruit, retain, and support high-quality teachers and staff?
Naturally, by increasing teacher and non-instructional personnel salaries, we will recruit, retain, and support high-quality teachers and staff. This needs to be a continuing priority in our district.
8. How should the School Board balance academic excellence with responsible financial stewardship?
A school board's primary responsibility is to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education while being a responsible steward of public funds. This requires using data to evaluate current and future programs and initiatives.
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?
While not solely responsible for providing childcare, the School Board's role IS to create partnerships, remove barriers, and support solutions that benefit students and families. Reliable after-school care is essential for many working families and contributes to student safety, academic success, and overall well-being; thus, I see the School Board's role as one of collaboration by working with district leaders, local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community partners to expand access.Â
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?
I agree. As a school board member, I would vote to support partnerships between the School District and organizations such as these to expand after-school programming.
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?
My vision for student success goes beyond the classroom. Supervised homework help, recreations, leadership activities, arts and summer programs, after-school tutoring, STEM, and robotics are just a few of the expanded out-of-school programming that are part of my vision for student success.
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?
CTE should play a central role in preparing the future workforce by ensuring students graduate with the skills they need. CTE can bridge the gap as industries continue to evolve through automation, AI, and advanced technologies.
GOVERNANCE
13. How will you promote transparency, accountability, and productive relationships with parents, teachers, businesses, and community organizations?
I will promote transparency, accountability, and productive relationships by being visible, approachable, and committed to open communication. One way I could promote transparency, for example, would be by holding meetings that are open and well-publicized.
14. What guiding principles will shape your decision-making when difficult or controversial issues come before the Board?
As a parent, former teacher, and school board member, I always try to put myself in the other's position when making a difficult decision. Depending upon the severity of the issue for which certain decisions are already in place, we board members take into consideration many factors and make decisions based on them.
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.
No
CLOSING
16. If elected, what would success look like after your first term?
After another term, I will be able to walk the halls of several new schools in Nassau County and with AI available, who knows what milestones will be made? Maybe robots will be teaching Robotics! 🙂
17. Is there anything else you would like Nassau County's business community to know?
My Braddock family name has been synonymous with education throughout Nassau County for decades. I would be proud to continue this legacy.