FORECAST: Meet new Orange County School Board member Anne Douglas

Anne Douglas started teaching her dolls using an easel in her makeshift school at her childhood home when she was 6 years old. As an adult, her dream of teaching became a reality after moving from France to the United States. Observing America’s education systems, she again became inspired. 

The public school teacher has 25 years of experience under her belt, and she will use that experience to guide her as a Orange County School Board District 4 member. The District 4 area includes four high schools, nine middle schools and 20 elementary schools stretching throughout West Orange and Southwest Orange. Douglas won the seat over two other candidates, Jake Petroski and Kyle Goudy. 

She was sworn into office for her four-year term at the School Board meeting Nov. 19. She replaces longtime member Pam Gould, who served for three separate terms starting in 2012.

“I am deeply honored and overjoyed to have won this election,” Douglas said following the results. “Joining this incredible School Board is a privilege, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work for our students, teachers and community. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to God for His guidance throughout this journey. I am profoundly grateful to the organizations that stood by me — The Florida Democratic Party, the Florida Executive Committee, Ruth’s List, the Rainbow Democrats, Florida Rising, CTA and many others. Your support has been the backbone of this campaign — thank you! I would also like to extend special thanks to the individuals who have been instrumental in my success: Vivian Lyte Johnson, president of the Democratic Women’s Club of West Orange, who offered unwavering support; my exceptional campaign manager, Jeremy Rodriguez, who guided me every step of the way; Scott Hottenstein and Stephany Vanos for their invaluable contributions; Congressman Maxwell Frost; (Orange County) Commissioner Nicole Wilson; State Rep. Rita Harris; my friend and canvassing partner Terri Falbo; Senator Torres; Ms. Carmen Torres; and so many others who believed in me. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my wonderful family, who were the true foundation of this campaign, lifting me up every day. Thank you all for your belief, encouragement and dedication. Together, we’re about to make a real difference.” 

Although West Orange is an expansive community, Douglas dreams of bringing residents together using the tool she believes is best equipped to change the future: education. 

“I am incredibly honored that the residents in the area chose to select me to represent them on the School Board, and I am truly humbled to have the trust of the people within my own community where I work and live,” she said. “Them trusting me means they believe in my vision, and my vision is to be able to create a better public education system where all students are accepted, no matter who they are. I want the students to have all the tools and opportunities they need to have a bright future. That’s my goal. Although I know I have a lot to learn in my first year, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and begin. I’m ready to go to work and advocate for our students. I promise you, I will go full force with that.”

DREAM TURNED REALITY
As an immigrant, Douglas said her family is the embodiment of the American Dream. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish in France, where she originally contemplated working for an embassy because she loved learning new languages and traveling. However, when she came to the U.S. in 1988 in pursuit of career opportunities with Walt Disney World and saw the education profession, she fell back in love with teaching. She worked at the French pavilion at Disney for a year, which is where she met her husband, Naldi Douglas.

Douglas began teaching in 1999 and worked to earn her master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. She started her teaching career at Washington Shores Elementary School, where she worked for about five years before moving on to Eagles Nest Elementary School for four years, followed by Mollie Rae Elementary School and Pineloch Elementary School. She then worked at Union Park Middle School and served as an adjunct professor at Valencia College for four years. 

She joined the Olympia High School team in 2015. Speaking three languages fluently, Douglas used these skills to teach English as a second language, as well as intensive reading. 

“Being a teacher has been a very rewarding profession for me, because I love working with kids,” she said. “I’m actually more comfortable being around and talking to kids than I am with adults. I just love them — especially at the high school age. You can have real-life conversations with them, and they’re very talkative. They want to share what’s going on in their lives. It’s just a fun experience. It has been such a precious gift working with the children, and it’s something I will never forget.”

Not only has Douglas observed public schools throughout the years as a teacher, but also she is a mother of three children — Philicia Douglas, 34; Kaitlynn Douglas, 29; and Nate Douglas, 24 — who graduated from Orange County public schools.

She believes public schools are where students are given the chance to weave their way into the fabric of the community, and she knows the students of today are the workforce of tomorrow. She said she understands strong public schools must recruit and retain high-quality teachers, administrators and staff. Then, they must empower them to build strong school cultures and foster safe, welcoming schools where every student has the opportunity to succeed, she said. Douglas’ priorities include providing high-quality, welcoming learning environments; supporting professional educators and staff; promoting a positive school climate and culture; and ensuring students are safe at school.

Improving teachers’ salaries is one of Douglas’ main goals as a School Board member. 

At one point, she worked at Universal Studios while she was teaching to be able to better provide for her family. She said it was hot and hard work, but she also loved meeting new people, hearing the different languages they spoke and having people share their stories. Douglas said she has been lucky enough to have a husband who works and helps provide for the family, but not all teachers can afford that same luxury. 

“There are many single mothers or fathers who work in our school district (who) have to live with one paycheck like this,” she said. “I just can’t even imagine. Why do we have teachers, professionals that have master’s or (doctoral) degrees, having to work two jobs to take care of their families? Teaching alone is a lot, and when you leave the classroom, your work is not done. It’s a very heavy burden to bear. It breaks my heart.”

Douglas said she will use her experience as a teacher to share a unique, inside perspective on the School Board.

“I want the other members to be able to visualize the classrooms, the students, the schools and the needs,” she said. “It’s not always about infrastructure, although that is an important piece. Mental health is something I think is very important in the school environment that often is overlooked. We need to put greater emphasis on eliminating bullying in our schools, because the students are dealing with a lot of things inside and outside of the classroom, and we have to understand where they’re coming from if we want to be able to help. Sometimes, as a teacher, we feel like it’s about us when a student comes to the classroom angry or upset, but usually it’s something that started before they even stepped onto campus. And mental health isn’t just about the students, it’s also about the teachers and the administrators. We all go through things in life, and in order to be healthy and learn, we have to be able to talk these things through and express our emotions, even when it’s hard.”

Teacher retention and recruitment also are issues Douglas plans to focus on improving. 

“We have to take care of our teachers,” she said. “Without teachers, there’s no schools. If a teacher’s not happy, learning is not happening. We have increasingly large class sizes, which is so hard to navigate, because every student is at a different level of learning, even when the classes are split up into intensive or advanced. It’s unrealistic. They’re dealing with new issues from our students who need help, and they need to be provided with the tools and knowledge to better navigate these situations. We also need better incentives to be able to keep the people who truly love these jobs in our schools.”

Douglas knows she has a lot to learn in her new role, but she plans to become like a sponge to absorb as much knowledge and information as possible.

‘WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER’
Gould will help facilitate the School Board transition with Douglas. Although she does not know her well, Gould said she has met with Douglas a couple of times to have coffee, and she plans to get to know her better in the upcoming months.

“She has an incredibly strong education background, so she’ll bring that perspective,” Gould said. “She has had some community involvement through her work with committees and her church, but she’ll learn the rest. As a teacher, you have to learn new things all the time, so I believe she’s very capable and will do a great job in that. I just plan to be there to offer support if it’s ever anything that she needs or wants.”

Douglas said Gould is an essential adviser and already has offered enormous support. 

Gould believes Douglas and newly reelected District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson will work well together to oversee the area.

“That partnership with the county commissioner is vitally important in a community that is so intertwined,” Gould said. 

Wilson said she’s excited to welcome Douglas in her new role.

“Anne and I have known each other for years, and I have always valued her commitment to serving our community,” she said. “She has both the head and the heart for this position. She is an experienced teacher with the depth of compassion and grit necessary to tackle the challenges facing our district.  

“Board member Pam Gould has been a steadfast public servant for our children and families,” Wilson said. “I am grateful for our great working relationship and a friendship over these last few years. I know we will continue to work together on issues we both care about here in our community.”

Douglas plans on blending her vision with Wilson’s for the betterment of the community. 

She said her short-term goal is to learn and to listen from her fellow board members, as well as to better get to know her community and schools and to continue to nurture the trust the residents have in her. As far as long-term goals, Douglas hopes she leaves a lasting, positive impact in the community for the students.

When not working, Douglas enjoys traveling, reading and relaxing with her family, who she said play an essential part in her life. Faith also plays a large role in her life.

“We are all connected, no matter what we’re talking about,” she said. “I never see the color of people’s skin; I only see their character and their hearts. I was raised by white folks in France, and they never made me feel any different. They accepted and loved me the way I was, and that’s the same lesson I try to convey to my own children, as well as the children in the classroom.”

To reach Anne Douglas, call (407) 317-3236 or email [email protected].