Q&A: Meet Heidi Brandt, Sarasota County School Board District 1 Candidate

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Voters in the Nov. 3 general election will decide between Heidi Brandt and Jimmy Glover in the Sarasota County School Board District 1 race.

In the Aug. 18 primary, Glover led the three-candidate race for the seat by winning 43.75 percent of the vote, while Brandt earned 31.56 and Teresa DeWitt earned 24.7 percent.

None of the candidates got enough votes to outright win the seat in the primary, so Glover and Brandt, as the top two vote-getters, moved on to a run-off in the Nov. 3 general election.

Patch sent a questionnaire to both candidates. Below are Brandt’s unedited responses.

Name: Heidi Brandt

Office Sought: Sarasota County School Board – District 1

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Age: 46 years old

City of Residence: City of Sarasota, Florida

Education: BS in Health & Exercise Physiology

Occupation: Currently – Stay at home mom

Family Background: Grew up in Minnesota. I have one brother. My dad was a high school biology teacher, then principal mom high school math teacher then worked for Edward Jones. I am married and have a daughter in Sarasota County Public School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?No

Previous public office, appointive or elective: None

• Campaign website and social media
• Facebook

Why are you seeking this office?

I’m running for Sarasota County School Board first and foremost because I have a child in public school. She was my inspiration to run, but I’m not just in this race for her. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to find their own path to success.

Public education has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was raised by two educators, so I grew up understanding the incredible impact great teachers and strong public schools can have on a child and a community. Today, I’m a public-school mom, and for the past several years I’ve had the privilege of serving our schools as a volunteer, Reading Partner, PTO leader, and advocate for students, teachers, and families.

Every child is different. My goal is to help ensure Sarasota County Public Schools provide strong opportunities and multiple pathways so every student can discover their strengths and build a future they can be proud of.

What sets you apart from the other candidate seeking this post?

I bring a perspective that comes from actually being in our schools and doing the work alongside our teachers, students, and families.

I’m a mom, a volunteer, and a PTO leader. I’ve served as PTO president, volunteered as a Reading Partner, and currently serve as president of the Southside School Foundation for the Arts. Those experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of what is happening in our classrooms, what families are experiencing, and how much our teachers do every day.

I also grew up in a family of educators and school board members, so I understand both the importance of public education and the responsibility that comes with governing it.

Most importantly, I’m a listener and a uniter. I believe we can put aside the noise, listen to one another, and make decisions based on what is best for our students.

What issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I’m incredibly proud that Sarasota County Public Schools have maintained an A rating, but we also have to ask: Are all of our students getting what they need to succeed?

Literacy and math achievement remain concerns in some elementary schools and closing those gaps must be a priority. Literacy is the foundation for everything that follows, so we need the resources, interventions, teacher support, and early identification necessary to help every child become a confident reader and strong learner.

As students move into middle and high school, we need to keep them engaged and help them discover their interests and strengths. I want to expand opportunities in STEM, the arts, athletics, magnet programs, career and technical education, workforce training, entrepreneurship, and the skilled trades.

We must also support our teachers, empower parents, keep schools safe, and be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Our focus should always be: What do our students need from us today to succeed tomorrow?

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The accomplishment I’m most proud of isn’t a title or an award. It is the years of service I’ve given to our schools and our community.

I chose to become deeply involved in my daughter’s public school because I believe that if you want something to get done, be better, or preserve what is amazing, you should be willing to roll up your sleeves and help. I’ve volunteered in classrooms, served as a Reading Partner, worked in the school garden, participated in PTO leadership, and supported countless school events and programs.

As PTO President, I’ve learned how to bring parents, teachers, administrators, and community members together around a common goal. Through the School Foundation for the Arts, I’ve also gained experience with budgets, fundraising, sponsorships, and long-term planning.

Those experiences have taught me that leadership means listening first, showing up, bringing people together, and being willing to do the work.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Just say yes.”

I’m not really a “dip your toe in the water” kind of person. When I believe in something, I tend to dive in headfirst! Looking back, some of the greatest experiences, friendships, and rewards in my life have come from simply saying yes, especially when it came to volunteering and serving others.

Over the years, I’ve said yes to classrooms, PTOs, school foundations, reading with students, school events, community organizations, and opportunities to serve. Every time, I learned something new, met wonderful people, and found another way to make a difference.

People often say that when you’re lying on your deathbed, you don’t wish you had made more money, you wish for more time. That has always stuck with me.

Say yes. Show up. Get involved. You never know where that one little yes might lead you.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that I’m not running to be a politician – I’m running to serve. I’ve spent years showing up for our schools, our teachers, our families, and our students, and I’m ready to take that experience and service to the School Board.

I believe every child is wonderfully unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all path to success. My commitment is to make sure every student has the support, opportunities, and resources they need to find their path – while supporting the teachers who make that possible, empowering parents, and being a responsible steward of our community’s trust and tax dollars.

I will listen, I will work hard, I will bring people together, and I will always come back to the same question: What is best for our students?