Leon Teachers Throw Support To Striplin, Jones and Nicolas In School Board Races

The Leon County Classroom Teachers Association is backing three people for school board races including two newcombers.

The local teacher’s union is supporting Darryl Jones and Marcus Nicolas for school board. Jones is running to replace Maggie Lewis Butler in the 3^rd district and Nicolas wants to replace Joy Bowen in the 5^th district. Bowen and Butler are the two longest-serving members of the school board. Nicolas previously taught at Godby High School and Jones is a community activist.

The classroom teachers are also backing the re-election bid of Alva Striplin in the 1^st district over Ricky Bell, a school district administrator. Union President Scott Mazur says the decisions were, "not personal" and made by committees and approved by the association’s board.

He says all the candidates are public school supporters but local union members wanted board members who would be visible in schools and engaged with instructional staff. He also noted Alva Striplin’s early opposition to two charter schools and arming teachers.

The candidates and teachers were notified of the LCTA's decisions Friday.