Pam Gould announces re-election bid for School Board

District 4 School Board Member Pam Gould is hoping to be re-elected to serve a third term on the Orange County School Board.

Gould officially announced her re-election bid Monday, May 18. She was first elected to the School Board in 2012 and currently is serving her second term. The District 4 race is part of the upcoming Florida state primary on Aug. 18.

"I am eager to continue our work on behalf of District 4," Gould said in a press release. "It has been an honor and a privilege to champion change and issues on behalf of the students, staff and teachers during my tenure. We have made substantial progress in addressing skills building, career path opportunities and advancing school construction. I look forward to accelerating the momentum of this work on behalf of our students and the community."

Throughout Gould’s tenure, 11 new schools have opened in District 4 and eight more are planned to open by 2025. Additionally, the release states, District 4 career and technical certifications have increased more than 270% in seven years.

"The growth in West Orange County continues to outpace most of the country, and as we emerge from the current social and economic setback, we can anticipate that growth will continue," Gould said. "Working with Orange County Public Schools staff, my fellow School Board members, partnering with local and state elected officials and the community at large, I have been successful in facilitating increases in budgets, enhanced programming and accelerated expansion of new schools.

"But my work is not done," she said. "I will continue to advocate for our district and state's education system to create critical pathways to careers while maintaining academic opportunities. In fact, I am championing a polytechnic sixth- through 12th-grade option that could offer disciplines in energy and autonomous vehicle programs. This model enhances the experiential learning environment and provides students with the skills needed in today's economy."

In addition to serving on the School Board, Gould is the president/CEO of Shepherd's Hope, Inc., the vice chair of the School Board, and a board member on the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and United Arts of Central Florida.