News and Information

Pons begins his run for schools chief
By Marci Elliott, Tallahassee Democrat

June 16, 2006 – Jackie Pons wants to bring new vision to Leon County Schools - and he wants to use technology innovation to do it.

Pons, the principal of Deerlake Middle School, said that's one of the things he'll do if he's elected superintendent in the Nov. 7 election.

On Thursday, Pons formally announced his candidacy for the position, which is being vacated by Bill Montford. The election will be held to fill the remaining two years of Montford's third four-year term. Montford is resigning in his 10th year as superintendent to become the chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.

"We must continue our commitment to school safety by using advances in technology such as the Raptor (brand) system, which provides a sexual-predator check for all campus visitors," Pons said in a news conference in the gazebo at E. Peck Green Park.

"We brought the Raptor program to Deerlake, and it's worked really well," said Pons, 50. "We were the first public school in Leon County to use it. We have to continue to use technology to be effective in filling the gap to keep our children safe."

Pons recognized Montford for his "friendship, outstanding leadership and continuous commitment to education."

"This election for superintendent is about the future of our children," Pons said. "We must offer an engaging curriculum (that) includes fine arts, career education and technology. We must cut the red tape and allow teachers to make curriculum decisions in the classroom based on the individual needs of students."

Pons is the third educator to announced his candidacy for the two-year superintendent's term. Randy Pridgeon, the principal of Godby High School, and Iris Wilson, the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, announced their candidacies May 30 and June 1, respectively.

Pons has 25 years' experience as a teacher, coach, athletic director, dean, assistant principal and principal. He holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Florida State University and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Florida A&M University.