Keesha Benson, PhD, has announced her candidacy for the District 3 At-Large seat on the Pinellas County School Board. This is a district wide race open to all registered voters in Pinellas County. For Dr. Benson, the child of an educator and a sixth-generation resident of Pinellas County, education has been the cornerstone of her life’s work. She has led the development of equitable early childhood systems, shaped inclusive teaching practices in higher-education, and worked as an educator for over a decade. As a community practitioner, her work has crossed multiple disciplines including child welfare, public health, business, and education.
Dr. Benson believes in healthy children, strong families, and engaged communities. As an educator, she knows what student-centric, high-quality education looks like. As a Pinellas County resident, she wants to ensure an educated citizenry as the future of our community. As a parent, she will advocate for the needs of every child in Pinellas County as if they were her own.
The Pinellas County School Board serves as the governing body of the administration of 150 schools in the district from St. Petersburg through Tarpon Springs, with the oversight of a $1.6 billion dollar budget. In 2021, there were over 109,000 students enrolled across the county, from pre-k through technical colleges and adult general education.
“My life experience has led me to run for school board. I have a deep understanding of inequities in our community and the long-term consequences for our most vulnerable populations. When the mental, physical and socioemotional needs of the individual are met, they thrive. I strongly believe that an educated and diverse citizenry leads to better outcomes and a stronger economy for our county as a whole. For these reasons, I am stepping in the gap to support better outcomes for all stakeholders of Pinellas County Schools in a role that will create lasting change.”
For more information on Dr. Benson’s campaign, please visit bensonforschoolboard.com.
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About Keesha Benson, PhD | www.bensonforschoolboard.com
Dr. Keesha Benson was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, and educated in Pinellas County Schools for K-12. As a champion of public education, Dr. Benson received both her Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Social Work with a focus in community intervention and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration from Florida A&M University. Dr. Benson is an experienced educator, a dedicated community advocate, a proven leader, and a loving parent to three children currently attending Pinellas County Schools.
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Keesha Benson, non-partisan, for Pinellas County School Board, District 3