Two School Board members re-elected without opposition

Following the qualifying deadline Friday, June 14, Orange County School Board members Vicki-Elaine Felder and Melissa Byrd have been re-elected while running unopposed.

Felder was elected in November 2020. A lifelong resident of Orange County, she lives in the Washington Shores community and served in the classroom as a teacher with Orange County Public Schools for 39 years. Her teaching assignments included Dr. Phillips, Maynard Evans and Edgewater high schools, as well as the Valencia College Summer Academic Program for accelerated students from Jones High. Felder represents District 5, which includes downtown Orlando and the central section of Orange County.

Byrd was originally elected in 2018. She was then re-elected in 2020 for a second term. Byrd had a passion for education at a very early age, deciding she wanted to be a teacher when she was in elementary school. She left the classroom after many years to raise her daughters but remained active as a PTSA member and substitute teacher with OCPS. She represents District 7, located in northwest Orange County.

The election for School Board districts 4 and 6 will continue as planned with multiple candidates qualifying for the seats. The general election will be held Nov. 5, with a swearing-in ceremony and reorganization meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov.19.