Autumn Garick

Age: Editor’s note: If Oviedo Community News could not confirm the age for each candidate in a race, we omit the ages for all candidate in the race out of fairness.

Where they live: Sanford

Where they work: Vice chair of the Seminole County School Board

Prior work experience: Co-owned Tales Two Tell, an educational theater company

Prior political experience: An incumbent first elected in 2022 for Vice chair of the Seminole Country School Board

Platform: Garick said she hopes to help students read at or above grade level by third grade. She also hopes to achieve a 100% graduation rate for SCPS high schools, ensuring every student possesses the skills to succeed in life.

Why they are running, in three sentences or less: Garick said she is running for the County School Board District 5 because she believes education is the most important factor in determining a child’s and family’s future success.

Most recent campaign finance report: $31,483.59 in monetary contributions and $5,411.96 in in-kind contributions, according to the county.

Endorsements: None to report.

Candidate website

Fun fact about the candidate: Garick had a nine-year career in film and TV before becoming a mother to three girls. She appeared in commercials for PlaySkool, Kool-Aid, Hyundai, Disney and Universal. Garick’s first appearance on TV was in an Easter special with Betty White.

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

Maintaining academic excellence despite funding challenges. As state funding becomes more unpredictable, we must continue prioritizing classroom instruction, early literacy, career pathways and student support services while finding efficiencies outside the classroom to preserve Seminole County’s tradition of excellence. This is serious business, but we have to remember kids learn best when they’re actively engaged in programs and classes that spark curiosity and joy. I will continue to be hands-on with district leadership and the community to showcase and market the SCPS award-winning arts, athletics, academic and real world learning opportunities that cannot be duplicated with other choice options. This year’s Big Wheels, Bright Future Kindergarten Expo, Student Ambassador led Middle & High School Magnet Showcases and Career Fair & Internship Expo are great examples. I will continue to lobby our state legislators for full funding individually and with the stakeholders with whom I’ve built trusted relationships — parents, teachers, businesses and community leaders. We will continue to lean on our pro-public education community and appreciate their willingness to help fill the gaps as volunteers and donors. There are more gaps now than ever.
Teacher recruitment and retention. Great schools depend on great educators. It’s shameful that Florida ranks 50th in teacher pay and that paraprofessionals, many of whom work with our most fragile students, earn the same as fast food workers. My voice will continue to be heard by Tallahassee leaders, calling for competitive salaries, professional development, and the resources teachers need to succeed so Seminole County remains a destination district for outstanding educators. Locally, I remain committed to listening and responding to the needs and priorities of employees. A year ago there was a request for more robust mental health support. Hearing the request, our board tasked the insurance committee to find options. Today our employees and anyone in their household is eligible for free tele-health sessions to address mental health concerns.
Preparing students for the future. Every student should graduate ready for college, a career or service. The work and career landscape is evolving at a fast pace. I will continue to work with district leadership and the community to make sure SCPS remains on the cutting edge. During my tenure as school board member, SCPS has expanded our career and technical offerings to include 52 programs embedded into our high schools with exploratory programs in our middle schools. I met with industry leaders, heads of county and city economic development departments and Chambers of Commerce to learn the needs of the community today and into the future. Our HVAC, Cyber-Security, Welding, Construction, Health Services, Aviation, Space Academy, Hospitality Services are a few of the programs designed because the district learned of a local need for trained employees in these fields. I will always look for ways to say yes [to] future career opportunities and be willing to sunset programs should they become outdated.

How should the district handle teacher shortages?

Great teachers are the heart of every successful school. As a school board member, I’ve worked to support our educators because when teachers feel valued and have the resources they need, students thrive. We need to continue advocating for better pay, investing in professional development, reducing unnecessary burdens, and creating a culture where great teachers want to build their careers here in Seminole County.

Since I’ve been in office, we’ve been proactive in growing our next generation of educators. The Early Childhood Education program for high schoolers and our SCPS Paraprofessional Pipeline to full ESE teacher certification opportunities with direct connection to Seminole State College are proven solutions. I look forward to growing these programs, continuing our strong relationships with UCF and Rollins College and sharing the stories of the vast majority of our teachers who, despite the terrible pay, find joy and purpose in shaping the lives of future generations through public education.

Florida ranked last in the nation for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that?
Before serving on the school board, I spent nearly two decades helping children discover a love of reading and language through educational theater and, as a board member, I’ve continued making early literacy a priority. To get a first-person look at the challenges in our schools, I volunteered as a RAP (Reading Acceleration Program) mentor and worked directly with two struggling readers. I saw signs of success with my mentees and became a champion for the program. Working with our PTA’s, community groups and the District Volunteer manager, I have seen the program grow from 18 schools to 30 in just a year and a half! My goal is to have the program in all 37 of our elementary schools. I supported the Early Learning Community School in Midway to support an intense focus on early literacy. We need to keep investing in evidence-based reading instruction, support teachers with proven tools like University of Florida Literacy Institute resources, and intervene early when students need extra help. Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader because strong reading skills open the door to success in every subject and every stage of life.

SCPS is perennially recognized as the No. 1 STEM district in Florida and a trailblazer in science and math instruction. The same focus we applied to science and math we need to apply to reading. When a child reads on grade level by grade three, that child is set up not just for academic success but for life-long success. We are No. 5 in third grade reading in the state. I am aiming for No. 1 in my second term.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies?

As both a school board member and the parent of three Seminole County graduates, nothing is more important to me than keeping our students safe. We must continue strengthening campus security while also supporting students’ mental health, building strong partnerships with law enforcement, and ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and connected. School safety isn’t a one-time effort; it’s something we should always be working to improve.

I will work to foster clear channels of communication in partnership with our schools and parents to proactively address safety concerns.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled?

Recognized with a state Ambassador of Storytelling award for my decades of work helping children develop a love of language and learning, I know the importance of providing students with high-quality literature. I also believe parents deserve transparency and confidence in the materials available in our schools. That’s why I’ve supported a consistent, transparent review process that follows Florida law, respects parents, values educators’ expertise and keeps the focus on educational value rather than politics. I will continue to listen to parent concerns and encourage open communication.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign?

I am proud to have earned support from educators, community leaders, and organizations that value strong public schools, including the Seminole Education Association and other local community supporters like the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association (ORRA).

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year?

As a board we continually review policies to make sure they reflect the mission and vision of the district.

My focus has been and always will be on the things that have the greatest impact on students. I want to build on the progress we’ve made by expanding evidence-based literacy initiatives, strengthening career and technical education, and making sure families can easily access the resources they need to help their children succeed. Every decision I make starts with one question: How does this help students?

Public school enrollment has been declining in Seminole County for the last several years. How will you handle the declining funding for public education in Seminole County while retaining quality education for students?

Seminole County Public Schools have earned the reputation as one of Florida’s highest-performing school districts because we’ve stayed focused on students. As enrollment and funding becomes more challenging, we must continue to be thoughtful stewards of taxpayer dollars while protecting what matters most: safety, great teachers, strong academics and programs that help every child succeed. As an elected school board member I have worked and will continue to work to keep our students and the classroom at the center of every budget decision so we preserve the excellence families deserve from our public schools.

Most school funding is controlled by state lawmakers, but local school boards can tack on additional property taxes with voter approval. Do you support additional optional property taxes for schools? Explain your answer.

As a school board member, I know every dollar matters because every budget decision affects students, teachers, and classrooms. Before asking taxpayers to invest more, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources we already have and ensure those dollars are spent wisely. If additional local funding is ever considered, it should be based on a clearly demonstrated need, complete transparency and the support of the community.

What role should AI play for students in the classroom? What role should it play for educators?

Throughout my career, I’ve seen how new tools can enhance learning, but nothing replaces the impact of a great teacher. AI should help students explore ideas, solve problems and prepare for the future while continuing to build the critical thinking, communication and creativity they’ll need throughout life.

We also need to provide teachers with ongoing and quality professional development to deepen their knowledge and expertise of AI. We want to make sure teachers are confident in the skills they need to design the best learning opportunities for students.

There have been multiple calls for Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Serita Beamon to resign. Do you support Beamon as superintendent?

Under Superintendent Beamon’s leadership student achievement has improved year after year. We are No. 1 in Central Florida, No. 1 in large districts, we have all A and B middle and high schools, and only 3 C elementary schools. Additionally, we have robust arts, athletics and expansive career-technical programs embedded throughout our schools.

My responsibility is to do what’s best for the nearly 60,000 students and thousands of employees who depend on our district every day. I believe leadership should be evaluated based on performance, accountability, and our ability to move the district forward, not political pressure or headlines. I will continue working professionally with Superintendent Beamon and district leadership while holding everyone, including myself, accountable for delivering results for students.

More than $100 million in public money has gone to private scholarships in Seminole County alone. Philosophically, do you think public money should go to private schools for education? Explain your answer.

My family moved to Seminole County because of its outstanding public schools, and those schools gave my three daughters an incredible foundation for their futures. I believe strong public schools are one of the greatest investments we can make in our community and should be fully funded so every child has access to a high-quality education. Florida’s expanding voucher program has made it more difficult for districts like ours to plan, budget, and sustain the academic excellence families expect. This coming year it is estimated that in Seminole County alone $114 million will be diverted away from public schools through tax payer funded vouchers. Imagine if we invested that money into our teachers and support staff. That would equate to a $19,000 dollar raise for each employee.

Parents will always be the biggest influence in a child’s life and deserve to guide their children’s education path. However, choices should be fairly funded and come with accountability so families can select their options based on facts and performance. As your school board member, I will always stand up for Seminole County Public Schools and advocate for the funding our students and educators deserve.

How do you think conflicts between parents and educators should be settled?

I’ve always believed that listening comes first. During my time on the school board, I’ve worked to be a bridge between parents, educators, and district leadership because most concerns can be resolved through honest communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to doing what’s best for students. When families and schools work together, our children are the ones who benefit.