Collier School Board Election, Candidates

Published: 12:02 pm. ET June 11, 2024
Updated: 8:31 pm. ET August 13, 2024 / By

Two Collier County School Board seats will be on the August ballot. Incumbents Stephanie Lucarelli and Erick Carter are seeking reelection, and each faces one challenger. With just two candidates running for each seat, the winners will be decided on Election Day, August 20.

All Collier voters may vote for one candidate for each seat, regardless of where they live and regardless of their party affiliation.

There’s a Lot at Stake

There is a lot at stake in these elections because the incumbents and the challengers have very different views of public education, school policy, and the direction they want to take the Collier County Public Schools.

For example, the new Board will decide if volunteer chaplains will be permitted to counsel students on school campuses and which science textbooks to adopt. It will also decide whether and how to implement a School Guardian program in which trained and certified teachers and administrators would carry concealed weapons on school grounds.

In addition, Collier Schools Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli’s employment contract ends in June 2026. The winners of the August elections and continuing Board members Jerry Rutherford, Kelly Mason (formerly Lichter), and Timothy Moshier will decide what happens next.

Lucarelli, Carter, and Mason voted to hire Ricciardelli last year; Rutherford and Moshier were opposed. See my post, Collier Schools Superintendent Vote: a Deeper Look, 5/7/23

In this post, I share what I learned from researching the candidates. My sources were the internet (see How I Research Candidates), candidate forums, past school board and county commission meetings, and the candidates’ responses to questionnaires developed by me and by the Collier County Republican Executive Committee (CCREC).

District 2: Pam Cunningham

About

Pam Cunningham, 49, and her husband, Benjamin, moved to Southwest Florida from Texas in 2015. Their three children attend a public charter school.

Pam Cunningham
Cunningham

She describes herself as a Christian, a wife, a physician, a small businesswoman, and the child of two immigrants who came to the United States fleeing religious persecution and seeking liberty. (Florida Citizens Alliance candidate forums)

Education and Work Experience

Cunningham attended high school in Michigan, received a B.A. degree in California, completed medical school in Michigan, and completed post-medical school education in Massachusetts. (Sparker’s Soapbox questionnaire)

The website Happy, Healthy Children with Pamela Cunningham, M.D. states that she is a Harvard-trained, board-certified medical doctor who practiced medicine for 6 1/2 years and serves as a parenting coach.

Community Service

Cunningham has volunteered in her children’s classes, chaperoned their field trips, and did fundraising for their school.

She currently volunteers with the Collier County Patriot Reader’s group, reading to children in Collier County K-2 classrooms. She also serves on the Covenant Church of Naples’s children’s ministry.

Cunningham is also active with the Collier County Republican Party. She serves on the Collier County Republican Executive Committee, is a member of the Women’s Republican Club of Naples, Federated, and was an organizer of the 2024 Collier County Lincoln Reagan dinner, which raised money to elect conservative candidates to local offices.

Platform

Cunningham stands for excellence in education for all Collier students, parents’ rights, school choice, and accountability to the taxpayer, according to her campaign website. She opposes “the progressive, liberal education agenda, indoctrination of Collier students, wasteful spending, and corruption inside the halls of CCPS.”

She is a “firm advocate of parental rights and school choice” whose main focus will be “changing or developing policies in order to promote excellence in education for all Collier students.” (Soapbox questionnaire).

She wants to “transition the district from its current progressive education curriculum to a traditional educational curriculum, such as the Hillsdale curriculum, in all K-12 classrooms except those at Lorenzo Walker.” (CCREC Candidate Questionnaire, Question #7)

With respect to the District budget, she says it is bloated and that “CCPS’ finances are mismanaged.” She wants to take a hard look at the current budget and find areas of waste and inappropriate spending. (Soapbox questionnaire)

Endorsements

Her website lists endorsements by the Collier County Republican Party, Collier County Republican State Committeeman Alfie Oakes, Captain Wayne Smith, Hispanic Republican Club of Collier, Patriot Parents, and Stand for Health Freedom. In an email of Jul. 1, she says she is also endorsed by Christian Family Coalition Florida and FLCAction.

Candidate’s Online Sources

Other Information to Consider

District 2: Stephanie Lucarelli

About

Stephanie Lucarelli, 49, and her husband, Domenic, moved to Naples in 2002 from Sea Bright, NJ. They have four children who are graduates or current students of Collier County Public Schools.

Stephanie Lucarelli
Lucarelli

Education and Work Experience

Lucarelli received a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from Cook College, Rutgers University. Additional coursework in Science Education allowed her to test for and receive her NJ Science Teaching Certificate.

She began her career in education as a 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Fair Haven, NJ.

Community Service

Lucarelli was a guest teacher for Collier County Public Schools, volunteered at various schools since 2004, and has played an active role in her children’s school Parents/Teachers Organization (PTO) for 17 years. She has also served on the District’s Accreditation Committee and Head Start Policy Council.

She also serves on several non-profit boards throughout the community, is a graduate of Leadership Collier and Leadership Florida, and has been awarded Certified Board Member status several times through the Florida School Board Association.

Recently, Lucarelli helped the Education Foundation of Collier County fill a new Chief Operating Officer role. Selected to chair the search committee, she coordinated the national search, organized the timeline, and ensured that everyone was informed and all voices were heard throughout the process.

She was first elected to the school board in 2016 and seeks reelection to a third term this year.

Platform

According to her campaign website, Lucarelli wants to increase student literacy rates, assist students in becoming college- and career-ready, and support educators and staff.

With respect to the District budget, she has encouraged a focus on needs over wants and trimming burdensome programs, all of which she says has happened this year. “I will continue to stress the same as well as staying focused on becoming debt free by 2026.” (Soapbox Questionnaire)

Endorsements

Lucarelli’s website lists endorsements from former United States Congressman Francis Rooney, Naples City Council member Bill Kramer, CCPS Board member Kelly Lichter, former CCPS Board member Jen Mitchell, former Naples City Council member Gary Price, and former CCREC chairmen Mike Lyster and Ron Kezeske. She is also endorsed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and Collier County Citizens Values PAC (CCCVPAC).

Candidate’s Online Sources

Other Information to Consider

District 2 Candidate Differences

I can’t summarize the candidates’ answers to all nine questions on the Soapbox questionnaire and the 65 questions on the CCREC questionnaire. I strongly recommend that you read them yourself:

However screenshots of their answers to Question #44 on the CCREC questionnaire succinctly illustrate key differences between the candidates.

Question #44: What are the 5 most important items/issues that you want to address during your term in this position?

Cunningham’s response:

CCREC Cunningham #44
CCREC Question #44 – Cunningham Response

Lucarelli’s response:

CCREC Lucarelli #44
CCREC Question #44 – Lucarelli Response

District 4: Erick Carter

About

Erick Carter, 54, and his wife, Anita, moved to Naples in 1992. Their son attended Collier County Public Schools and graduated from Naples High School.

Erick Carter School Boards
Carter

Education and Work Experience

After graduating from high school in South Carolina, Carter studied the performing arts at Trident Technical College (TTC) in North Charleston. His interest in athletics and the performing arts led to his first career as a ballroom dance instructor with a national organization and brought him to Naples. He later studied cosmetology at Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC), a Collier County adult-education public school.

In his second career of more than twenty years, he has been a cosmetologist and co-owner of Salon Zenergy, a local business with 18 employees. He is also a national training course instructor for cosmetology products and owns and manages rental properties.

Community Service

Carter has served as a guest instructor at LWTC and served on advisory councils for its entrepreneurship courses and cosmetology program. He routinely hosts interns, mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

His community involvement has included the Zonta Club of Naples, PACE Center for Girls – Collier at Immokalee, Bosom Buddies of Naples, Makeover in Paradise, Santa’s Workshop, Hats in the Garden, and Collier Literacy.

He was first elected to the school board in 2016 and seeks reelection to a third term this year.

Platform

According to his campaign website, Carter’s first priority for the upcoming term is to create more opportunities for CCPS juniors and seniors to attend technical colleges “so they can confidently start their careers debt-free.”

He also wants to reduce unnecessary spending by setting quantifiable goals and monitoring the return on investment for all District programs, engaging budget reduction committees, and establishing zero-based budgeting where applicable.

A third priority is to “continue to build on elementary students’ reading gains with a strong focus on phonetical learning.”

He would like to change CCPS policy to allow students going into the armed services to represent their commitment by wearing a sash representing the service they will be going into. He supports “Teaching pride for serving our country!” (Soapbox Questionnaire)

Endorsements

Carter has been endorsed by former United States Congressman Francis Rooney, The Honorable Sandra Lee and Reg Buxton, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Paul E. Garrah, Pat Jira, Ron Kezeske, Pat and Brenda O’Connor, Dr. Stephen and Melanie Schwartz, and Jacob Winge. He was also endorsed by Collier County Citizens Values PAC (CCCVPAC) and the Collier County Medical Society PAC.

Candidate’s Online Sources

Other Information to Consider

District 4: Tom Henning

About

Henning, 66, has been a Collier County resident since 1973, and was previously from Michigan.

Henning has a daughter at Vineyards Elementary School, a son who graduated from Lely High School, and another son who graduated from Barron Collier High School.

Tom Henning 2024
Henning

Education and Work Experience

Henning attended Naples High School, graduated from Lely High School, and has a graduate certificate from the Lorenzo Walker Vocational School in HVAC. He owned and operated Golden Gate Auto Repair for approximately twenty years.

Community Service

As a local business owner, Henning served on the Golden Gate Civic Advisory Board and as president of the Golden Gate Civic Association.

He was elected fire commissioner of the Golden Gate Fire District in 1996, serving one term. After that, he was elected to the Collier County Commission, where he served for four four-year terms. In 2016, he was elected fire commissioner of the Greater Naples Fire District and served for one term.

Henning served as Vice Chairman of the CCREC from 2008 to 2010 (campaign website) and recently “helped conservative candidates get elected to the School Board and County Commission.” (Soapbox Questionnaire)

Platform

Henning’s website mentions these issues: save and expand Lorenzo Walker High School; more resources in the classroom; common sense “normal math;” parents have rights; fiscal responsibility; school ratings; and safety.

At the recent school board candidate forums:

  • he said his “first priority” is bringing the invocation to the school board, and he wants the School Board Vice Chair, not staff, to have responsibility for inviting faith leaders to give the invocation,
  • he said he would like to see chaplains in Collier County public schools, and
  • he said he does not support having “LBGTQ clubs” in the schools, because schools are not the “proper place for that type of activity.”

For more, see my post, Collier County School Board Candidate Forums.

In addition, his responses to the Soapbox and the CCREC questionnaires indicate several areas of dissatisfaction with the status quo. For example:

  • He challenged the recent decision by the Superintendent to close the Lorenzo Walker High School, saying that “only the Board can change the status of any facility.” (Soapbox Questionnaire)
  • He disagrees with the December 2022 decision of the current Board to separate the responsibilities of School District General Counsel into two positions. He wants the positions merged, with the new position reporting to the Board, not the Superintendent as it had previously. (Soapbox Questionnaire).
  • He supports the School Guardian program. (CCREC Questionnaire #24)
  • He says the CCPS budget “lacks transparency” and alleges that “Revenue sources are missing and budgeted positions are funded with no real intent to fill these positions.” (Soapbox Questionnaire)

Endorsements

Henning is endorsed by the Collier GOP, the Naples Republican club, Hispanic Republican Club, Collier Commissioners Chris Hall and Dan Kowal, and Captain Wayne Smith.

Candidate’s Online Sources

Other Information to Consider

My Google research turned up some additional information to consider.

While the residence address on the Candidate Statement Henning filed with the Supervisor of Elections is in School Board Residence District 1, he is running for the District 4 school board seat.

Under Florida law, as amended in 2023, a candidate must live in the district for which he is elected by the date he assumes office. Henning would have to move from District 1 to District 4 if elected.

In 2022, Henning contributed $500 and $1,300, respectively, to the campaigns of Jerry Rutherford and Kelly Mason, who now sit on the school board.

In 2020, Henning was arrested for possession of crawfish out of season. He was found guilty, fined, and placed on probation for 12 months.

In 2016, the Board of County Commissioners voted to continue providing fluoride in its water system by a vote of 4-1. Henning cast the sole no vote.

District 4 Candidate Differences

Again, I recommend you review both candidates’ responses to the Sparker’s Soapbox and CCREC Candidate Questionnaires.

The below screenshots of their answers to CCREC Question #44 illustrate key differences.

Question #44: What are the 5 most important items/issues that you want to address during your term in this position?

Carter’s response:

CCREC Carter #44
CCREC Question #44 – Carter Response

Henning’s response:

CCREC Henning #44
CCREC Question #44 – Henning Response

Campaign Money

This chart summarizes the total amounts reported as of 8/7/24.

colliervotes.gov

Each candidate’s contributions, loans, and expenditures are listed in the candidates’ campaign treasurer’s reports, which can be found on the Supervisor of Elections website by clicking a candidate’s name.

Conclusion

The outcome of these school board elections will determine the future of Collier County Public Schools. Take the time to learn about the candidates and understand their values and priorities.

These elections will be decided in August. Your vote matters. Be sure to vote.

In Case You Missed It

These previous Sparker’s Soapbox posts may also help you decide how you will vote in the August school board elections:

LIKE THIS POST?

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE!

More from Sparker's Soapbox

Be a More Informed Voter in Collier County's August Primaries
Naples City Council Candidates 2026
Naples Elections are Weeks Away

Start typing and press enter to search

Scroll to Top