Seminole County School Board candidates

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article stated that Kelly Critz’ three children attend Seminole County Public Schools. The OCN team learned after publication that two of her children are too young to attend school and the third will not be enrolled in kindergarten at SCPS in the fall.

School Board candidates Stephanie Arguello and Kelly Critz are running against incumbent Abby Sanchez for the District 3 seat. Carl Tipton and Robin Dehlinger are running for District 4, which is currently occupied by Amy Pennock. All of the candidates will be in the Primary ballot.

OCN created a profile for each candidate and we sent each candidate a list of questions that we collected from our readers and residents of Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs, or formulated based on the priorities our readers shared with the OCN team. Each candidate within a specific race got the same list of questions and the questions were sent to each candidate at the same time. They all had a 50-word limit for each question and their answers were only edited for grammar and clarity. The Q&A is at the end of this article.

Unfortunately, some candidates did not respond to the Q&A request, which was sent multiple times to each candidate. Because the guide has been published with the candidates’ responses it cannot be edited to include any additional candidate responses out of fairness and to protect the authenticity of the guide. 

What do Seminole County School Board members do?

The Seminole County School Board is made up of five board members, each serving four-year terms. The school board members are elected at-large, which means their area of residence does not play a role in the seat they occupy.

School board members oversee: 

• The operation of all public schools in Seminole County
• The annual public school budget, including what is allotted to teacher salaries
• Student achievement and advancement

School board members ensure students in the district are proficient using the state’s standards. They also vote on the curricula used in schools, including textbooks and standardized teaching materials. School board members earn a salary of $44,000 per year.

Candidates (listed in alphabetical order to ensure fairness)

District 3

Stephanie Arguello

Stephanie Arguello, a 38-year-old Longwood resident, is running for the District 3 Seat of the Seminole County School Board. She is the founder of Project Doula, a nonprofit consulting agency that provides help to mothers. She was also the director of community health at AdventHealth for 11 years. 

Her platform emphasizes a student-centric approach, the integration of technology in education and a reduced administrative burden. She has been endorsed by 3.14 Action, an organization dedicated to helping elect scientists, and Mental Health Now. View a full list of endorsements. 

She has received $8,368 in contributions and spent $6,628.13. Learn more.

Kelly Critz

Kelly Critz, a 39-year-old Longwood resident, is running for the District 3 Seat of the Seminole County School Board. A former college gymnast at Auburn University and current gymnastics coach, Critz has no prior political experience.

Critz’s platform emphasizes taking smartphones out of schools, implementing stronger financial literacy education and allowing “faith-based advisors” in schools. She has not promoted any significant endorsements. Critz has received $13,175 in campaign contributions and spent $8,868.11. Learn more. 

Abby Sanchez

Abby Sanchez is a candidate running for re-election to the District 3 Seat of the Seminole County School Board, and a Longwood resident. She is the current chair of the school board, which is a position voted on by the board. She has occupied this seat since 2016, in which she advocated for mental health awareness and “initiated the JUUL lawsuit in Seminole County.”

Before her election to the District 3 Seat, Sanchez was a teacher for 26 years and PTA president for seven years. She said that all of her children attended County Public Schools during all of the years they were in school.

She has been endorsed by the Seminole County Public Education PAC, Seminole Casselberry Vice Mayor Anthony Aramendia, Seminole County Tax Collector J.R. Kroll, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Seminole County Property Appraiser David Johnson and Altamonte Springs Mayor Pat Bates, as well as teachers and parents. View a full list of testimonials.

Sanchez has received $95,259.90 in campaign contributions and spent $8,111.28. Learn more.

District 4

Robin Dehlinger

Robin Dehlinger is a 69-year-old candidate running for the Seminole County School Board District 4 seat.

She lives in Longwood and is a retired assistant superintendent for Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS). She told Oviedo Community News that she has experience at multiple levels of the K-12 education system. She taught at Lake Mary High School, was the principal at South Seminole Middle School and Lawton Chiles Middle School, and then supervised all Seminole County middle schools and 20 elementary schools.

According to her website, she wants to promote parental engagement, encourage transparency between schools and families, and ensure SCPS keeps a high status of academic success.

She has endorsements from Seminole Public Education PAC, a political action committee, Uniserv members, Bill Vogel, a former SCPS superintendent, Larry Furlong, former SCPS commissioner and school board member, the Seminole County School Bus Driver Association, and more. She has $31,941 in campaign contributions from January to June. Learn more.

Carl Tipton

Carl Tipton is a 56-year-old candidate for the Seminole County School Board District 4 seat. He lives in Lakewood Shores in Lake Mary and is the owner and founder of Red Suitcase Ministry. He is a school resource deputy at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, according to his LinkedIn profile, and a former teacher at Seminole High School and Lake Mary High School. His father was also one of the first professors hired at Seminole State College in 1967 and has a memorial scholarship named in his honor, according to an interview with the Suburban Republican Women’s Club Federated Tipton posted in June.

Tipton said he hopes to encourage transparency between the school board and other members of Seminole County, including taxpayers. He said he wants to promote obedience and discipline among students to ensure a safe and orderly environment. According to his website, he believes in a consistent and solid curriculum that contains “truth, justice and morality”. He also wants to reimplement the Seminole County School Board code of conduct.  

“My passion and desire is especially for those at the bottom of the educational system to be raised up to a place where dreams and visions are created and reestablished,” Tipton said on his website. His platform also aims to promote community involvement with schools.
He has public endorsements from Sheriff Dennis Lemma, State District 36 Representative Rachel Plakon, and more, according to his website. He has $30,712.89 in campaign contributions from January to June 2024. Learn more.

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Candidate Q&A

The candidates below are the folks who responded to OCN’s Q&A. It was explained to each candidate that the questions were based on voter questions and priorities. The order of answers started alphabetically and then revolved for fairness.

Q: What’s your position on the state’s book bans in schools, particularly after a Florida federal court in January ruled that the First Amendment bars the removal of books from school libraries based on hostility to their ideas or viewpoints? 

Robin Dehlinger: I do not support book bans. District policies must follow state statute. Parents/residents that have an objection to a book should follow the district’s policy, which begins with the individual at the school level. School board members should ensure the district’s policy is followed and not deviate from the policy.

Carl Tipton: I support the inclusion of age-appropriate content and curriculum and believe books that meet this criterion should not be banned. Our students deserve access to diverse perspectives to foster critical thinking. Censorship has no place in schools. I will advocate for students’ rights to diverse knowledge and viewpoints.

Q: What policies would you like to see adopted that would help to curb violence and bullying in schools? 

Carl Tipton: Immediate consequences for bullying. Students who bully should face out-of-school suspension and a SCPS [Seminole County Public Schools] no contact contract. Alternative learning for repeat offenders: Students who commit a second act of bullying, violence or threatening behavior should be considered for assignment to an alternative learning environment.

Robin Dehlinger: Policies are in place, as required by law. Policies must be clearly and continually communicated to students and parents, and adequate support provided to school staff to enforce them. Mentoring programs, such as Take Stock in Children and others, combined with community resources, help in reducing these serious concerns.

Q: With the increasing costs of higher education, high school students are beginning to rethink going to college vs. vocational schools or other career paths. What will you do as a school board member to increase students’ options after graduation?

Robin Dehlinger: There are 50+ career/technical education programs in our high schools. I will investigate relevant and innovative opportunities for students and continue the collaboration with industry leaders and Seminole State College. I support improved communication to better inform parents about these opportunities for their students.

Carl Tipton: I will introduce an 18 credit hour trade diploma (Florida Department of Education Career Preparatory Program) coupled with an apprenticeship program in every high school. Skilled labor and trades are in high demand. Students would spend [half] their senior year school day as an apprentice at a partnering local business working on industry [certification].

Q: What will you do to strengthen the district’s at-risk youth programs, and what do you see as their biggest challenges? 

Carl Tipton: I will focus on early identification, beginning in elementary school, and expanding mentoring initiatives. “Dinner-time mentoring” for mentors unable to volunteer during school hours. Collaborations with local non-profits for additional mentoring opportunities. Program where teachers mentor during their planning periods.

Robin Dehlinger: To strengthen the district’s at-risk programs, more resources and support should be provided. Training for staff and additional time with mental health counselors and social workers would benefit students. The biggest challenges are maintaining relationships with students and parents and identifying and expanding resources.

Q: What will you do to assuage parents’ and students’ fears about how rezoning may affect them? 

Robin Dehlinger: It is important to offer parents many opportunities to be involved, to suggest alternate plans and explore potential outcomes. Staff should ensure transparency and invite all stakeholders to offer their input. In my experience, open communication, transparency and engagement of the community are critical in the process.

Carl Tipton: As with many changes, communication is key. I will do my best to provide the “why” behind the “what”, while also providing a listening ear to community concerns. When people feel heard and respected enough to be given the reason for the changes, it can help to make a difficult situation better.

Q: How will you, as a school board member, address the needs of students who are experiencing homelessness?

Carl Tipton: I am the founder of Red Suitcase Ministry, a community help non-profit, as many requests to our nonprofit involve this issue. I would collaborate with organizations like The Rescue Outreach Mission and The Christian Sharing Center. Additionally, I would allocate more resources to the SCPS Families in Need (FIN) program.

Robin Dehlinger: Resources provided by Title I and Title IX support children and families in need. Additionally, I would continue to support community efforts such as those funded by The Foundation [for Seminole County Public Schools]. The school board can also seek additional funds and resources from non-profits and state and federal programs.

Q: What are your thoughts on the removal of certain subjects from school curricula, particularly history classes teaching about Black, Indigenous and other people of color? 

Robin Dehlinger: I believe it is important for students to be taught all the facts of history, including the history of Black, Indigenous and people of color. Students can learn and think critically about sensitive and controversial subjects with the support of trained teachers and their parents as their guides.

Carl Tipton: The United States has a rich, though sometimes complicated, history. Students benefit from learning about our shared heritage, even the difficult parts. In the academic setting, though, it is of utmost importance that this material be presented truthfully and as unbiased as possible.

Q: What will you do to improve services available through the schools for families with children who have disabilities?

Carl Tipton: I am committed to fostering positive and supportive teamwork among parents, IEP teams, ESE teachers, and dedicated case managers. My goal is to identify and implement appropriate accommodations that meet each child’s individual needs with care and consistency. I will advocate for restoring separated services.

Robin Dehlinger: Better communication and collaboration with families regarding available resources and processes would improve understanding, especially as the number of students experiencing challenges increases. The school board could request development of a policy outlining the requirements for education and collaboration for parents.

Q: What are your thoughts on removing history lessons from schools, namely the history of slavery and oppression of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) individuals? 

Robin Dehlinger: As a veteran high school history teacher, I believe students should be taught the complete and honest history of slavery and oppression of people of color. In my experience, students are capable of learning and understanding the lived experiences of all the people of the United States of America.

Carl Tipton: History should be presented objectively. When that is not possible, the spectrum of subjective material may be presented unbiasedly with students being encouraged to continue the conversation at home with their families. This encourages students to learn “how to think,” not just “what to think.”

Q: With the average annual cost of childcare in Florida, according to the Economic Policy Institute, reaching $7,287 for a 4 year old and $9,238 for an infant, what can the school board do to help improve the affordability of childcare for local working parents?  

Carl Tipton: Seminole County Public Schools provides great options for families through VPK and KidZone & Beyond, which offers before- and after-school childcare, after-school enrichment and even summer camp. Lake Mary High offers pre-K to the community as part of a program of emphasis for LMHS students.

Robin Dehlinger: The school board can investigate utilizing the district’s facilities to provide additional opportunities for VPK. Along with the Early Learning Coalition, board members can lobby legislators to increase per-pupil funding for VPK to finance a full day and to subsidize the costs of before- and after-school care.

Do you have questions or comments about this guide? Contact OCN staff here.