Gary Brown at a glance
- Retired Navy chief.
- Former school resource officer.
- Has worked in education and school administration.
- Serves as director of operations at Heartland Academy.
- Candidate for the District 5 seat on the Highlands County School Board.
Gary Brown is seeking the District 5 seat on the Highlands County School Board after a career that has included military service, law enforcement and work in schools. Brown’s campaign focuses on school safety, student discipline, employee support and preparing students for different paths after graduation. He has also raised concerns about declining enrollment and the effect changing education choices may have on district staffing, facilities and programs.
Brown said student achievement should not be measured by test scores alone. He identified attendance, discipline and employee morale as additional indicators of how schools are functioning. He also said the district should consider whether students are leaving school prepared for college, employment, military service or a skilled trade. His position on employee performance begins with determining why a teacher is struggling. Brown said teachers should receive assistance, training or mentoring before dismissal is considered. He also said reassignment may be appropriate when an employee’s skills are better suited to another subject or role.
Brown placed employee compensation ahead of creating a new program when limited general-fund dollars require a choice. He said programs depend on qualified teachers and staff and that the district must be able to recruit and retain employees to carry them out. When budget reductions are necessary, Brown said cuts should begin with administrative expenses before positions that work directly with students. He supports protecting classroom instruction and programs that prepare students for different futures.
Brown identified career and technical education, traditional academic courses and opportunities connected to college, trades and military service as parts of a school system that must serve students with different goals. He also supports maintaining basic academic skills as technology becomes more common in education. Brown said students should know how to read, write, calculate and think independently without relying entirely on electronic devices or artificial intelligence.
His position on student cellphones is more restrictive. Brown said phones can interfere with instruction and contribute to discipline problems and should be kept out of use during the school day. School safety is another part of his campaign. Brown’s background includes military service, law enforcement and firearms instruction, but he said he does not support arming classroom teachers. He said teachers should focus on instruction while trained law-enforcement or security personnel respond to threats.
Brown has also discussed the effect of declining enrollment on the district. He noted that families now choose among traditional public schools, private schools, charter programs, homeschooling and hybrid education models. As enrollment changes, Brown said the district may need to review how buildings are used, how employees are assigned and whether every existing campus can continue operating in the same way. He said school consolidation may eventually be necessary under some financial or enrollment conditions, but described it as a difficult decision that would depend on the circumstances. Brown also supports making School Board meetings, budget information and explanations of district responsibilities easier for the public to access.
His campaign centers on safety, discipline, basic academic skills, employee support and preparing the school district to respond to changes in enrollment and education.
