School board member Shirley Owens campaigns to retain position

The 2024 election is fast approaching. It has been an honor to serve  you as District 4 School Board Member for the past 3 terms. It has been such an enjoyable experience and I feel I can continue to make positive changes for the youth of Holmes County. I’m asking for your vote, to serve you for four more years, on the Holmes County School Board. 

Retiring after 36 years of teaching education is still one of my passions. I want to see every child succeed in the classroom as well as in life. This passion is what has guided me to use my knowledge and experience from the classroom to seek re election. I feel with my determination, experience and time I can continue to be a great advocate for the children of Holmes County. It is my goal and belief that every child should receive a quality education. Every child counts.

While our a district is not perfect nor where I would like for it to be, we’ve accomplished a lot. I am proud of the $30+ million dollars we were able to get for the Bonifay K8 school. Now it looks very promising that we will get special facilities money from the state to build a new K-12 school in Ponce de Leon. I am humbled to say that I served as chair for three years on the Florida School Board Association Small District Council. This association helps small districts like Holmes County, with less than 24,000 students, get extra funds like mentioned above. 

I am also proud of the distinction I have for being the first Holmes County School Board member to become a certified Board Member for the state. I feel strongly about training and believe that teachers should to be certified in what they teach to help them perform to their best abilities. It is important to me to get all the training I can to be the best school board member I can be for Holmes County. 

I feel my community involvement contributes to my success as a school board member. I spend countless hours volunteering for Kiwanis (past two years as President) in which all proceeds go to the youth in our area. I have countless hours serving on the board for Council on Aging, Retired Teachers, my church (Little Rock Assembly), Woman’s Club and Garden Club. I have attended state competitions in support for basketball teams in Lakeland as well as several Beta State Conventions in Orlando, all at my expense. 

School Safety is very important to me and I want to touch on this.The shooting in Parkland should not have happened. Our district did not hesitate to take action, protecting our schools, so it never happens here. With passion and persistence we wanted better for our children and staff. Children should thrive in classrooms, not fear for their lives. We were one of the very first districts to have a resource officer at every school, much thanks to Sherriff Tate. The Holmes County School Board is committed to the safety and security of all students, staff, and visitors. We have detailed comprehensive safety and emergency plans for every site, and all schools regularly conduct various drills, to prepare students for an emergency.

I am reminded that I am one of only two board members with classroom teaching experiences that understands what it entails on a day to day basis to be in the classroom with students. I spent 36 years in the classroom and loved every minute. 

While I’m grateful not to have had an opponent the last few years, I believe that competitive elections are critical for democracy and recognize that the power of incumbency is a dangerous one. I know that I need to keep earning your vote. If you vote for me,  I promise to work as hard as I can for the next four years to build on our work together. I will continue to seek Gods guidance and my prayer is that God will always accomplish his supreme purpose in every decision I make. 

I am married to Howard Owens, former County Commissioner, and have three children, Howie, Chris and Dr. Sherie Mitchell. I also have five grandchildren Austin, Chase, Haley, Rylee, and Wesley. My parents are Bonnie Carnley and the late Festus Carnley. 

However you vote, please get out there and do it. It’s your right as an American. God Bless the USA.