Gwynetta Gittens on losing her Lee County School Board seat

Changes are coming to the Lee County School Board after Tuesday night’s primary election.

Gwynetta Gittens, who represents eastern Lee County’s District 5, lost to Armor Persons, who was endorsed by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gittens made history when she won a seat on the Lee County School Board, becoming the first minority in 132 years to be elected.

She lasted one term.

“I would love to see our board be much more diverse,” said Gittens.

Gittens, who is a teacher by trade, says she ran for the school board to help teachers and all kids, no matter their color or where they lived. Now, she worries about the people of Lehigh, especially the non-English-speaking families she represented.

She challenged Persons, and everyone else involved in education, to remember those parents and students.

“I hope that they do not forget what is needed. I hope that parents and community leaders understand that’s necessary. I have provided that for three and a half years. It cannot stop for the sake of our students. It cannot stop,” Gittens said.

WINK News asked Gittens about her goals for the last two months of her term.

“I’m going to keep working as hard as I have been working. I believe I’ve built and will leave a legacy, they will know that I was here.”

Gittens said she will still be active in fighting for what is best for kids and their education. She said that could mean lobbying for new legislation to help teachers or going to school board meetings.

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