Two-term incumbent Orange County School Board Member Christine Moore has taken a sizeable lead in fundraising. Moore, running for her third term in District 7 (which includes all of Apopka) raised $17,537, including $13,350 in the May filing period.
“I am grateful for the confidence donors have expressed in my leadership on the Board,” said Moore. “We still have a ways to go in fundraising in order to tell the story about the district's higher graduation rates, reducing the achievement gap and improving operational efficiencies and customer service."
Isadora Dean
Moore was elected to the Orange County School board in the fall of 2008 and served as vice chair from 2012-2013. She has been chair of the Board’s communication committee during most of her tenure. She is a certified board member and serves on the board of directors for the Florida School Boards Association.
Christine Moore
Moore is followed by Isadora Dean in contributions, who raised $5,275. Dean is a former Orange County Public School teacher, with 42 years teaching experience at Apopka Jr. High (now Apopka Middle), Apopka High, Ocoee High and Acceleration Academy West, in Orlando. She is also a home visitor and parent involvement trainer to families of preschool through high school age children, and a parent whose children were educated in Apopka’s schools. She has been a resident and an active and concerned citizen in the Apopka community for 35 years.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is in third place in fundraising with $2,473.
Fitzpatrick has been in education for 23 years—12 as a teacher, and 11 as an administrator. He's been a teacher and administrator at Apopka Memorial MS, Ocoee HS, Boone HS, Apopka HS, and now Orange Technical College – Westside Campus in Winter Garden. He's also served for two years as the District Athletic Director over athletics and extracurricular activities at all High Schools, Middle Schools, and Elementary Schools.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
Valerie Radcliffe and Laura Rounds are also listed on the report, but have not met the requirements to qualify (1,000 signatures) by petition. Radcliffe has reported no funds raised, and Rounds has raised $368.
The Primary Election for The School Board District 7 seat is August 30th. If none of the three candidates gains a majority, the top two vote-getting candidates move on to the General Election on November 8th. The District 7 Orange County School Board seat is compromised of Apopka, Clarcona, Lockhart, Oakland, Ocoee and Winter Garden.