Help Me Support Our Schools in Jacksonville, FL

 Fellow Community, today I'd like to share my journey; a timeline that shaped who I am and why I'm standing before you today. My entire life, my parents have called me their "miracle child".

I was born with Cerebral Palsy, and unable to walk or talk until I was almost four. I grew up as a student in the special ed program at Mandarin Oaks Elementary. By the end of fifth grade, I witnessed three out of my six original classmates die as a result of their disability. By my college graduation, I became - to my knowledge - the last member of my original elementary class still alive. I am running for school board as a voice for them, and for all of our district’s children.

As that last member, I’ve struggled with survivor’s guilt. I’ve been told I’m here for a reason, and I’ve embraced that by doing work to support youth for the last eighteen years. I’ve always felt pride and gratitude for having grown up in our District 7 schools, which led me to give back by spending the last year and a half teaching in them.

Unfortunately, what I’ve witnessed first-hand during this time was disheartening, both for our teachers and our children.

I’ve taught in the exact same classrooms that I sat in as a student, watching students playing with 40-year-old toys that haven’t been replaced. I’ve been rushed to urgent care twice for injuries I sustained in the classroom due to understaffing in my classroom. and zero training by ESS on limited safe management of students with behavioral disabilities.

It's time to prioritize what's on the inside and reclaim our schools. I am running as a former student of these schools and a current educator in their schools; a voice for the students who are no longer here.

Thank You for your continued support for the Grassroots, People Powered, Campaign for Truth in our Schools. Michael “MadDog” Anderson 

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