New school board member sets district goals

EAST COUNTY — Mary Cantrell views her life as an ongoing adventure.

She lived in the Philippines with her husband, Louis, a member of the U.S. Air Force, during the Vietnam War.

She taught English and social studies to Filipino children. For fun, she would go to the local airport and take a flight to a random destination, alongside her husband.

Throughout her life, she has visited more than 50 countries, such as Ireland and Japan. Professionally, she has worked in diverse educational institutions as well, from middle and high schools to technical schools.

Her decision to campaign for Julie Aranibar’s District 5 seat on the Manatee County School Board was no exception. As she waits to be officially installed as a board member Nov. 18 — her 71st birthday — she sees her newest position as her next journey into the unknown.

When asked if she supports Superintendent Rick Mills, she says, “I support whoever is in that seat.”

Cantrell has improvements in mind she hopes to help the district implement throughout her tenure on the school board. She plans to establish a closer working relationship with county principals and teachers, while also promoting collaboration between teachers and the district to create curriculum that caters to students’ unique needs.

“Five board members can’t improve test scores,” Cantrell said. “It takes a dynamic principal and teachers getting their students to embrace deeper level thinking. Rather than just reading a passage, ask students, ‘Why did the author write this?’ and ‘What were they trying to accomplish?’”

To Cantrell, the path to all county schools becoming grade A institutions starts in the classroom. The board’s newest member is passionate about curriculum and wants to help the county embrace non-traditional classroom settings that foster learning for all types of learners.

Cantrell hopes the district and its educators can embrace types of learning that aren’t “one size fits all,” such as group activities, she said.

Her son, Michael, was a hyperactive child and couldn’t sit in his seat for a full six-hour school day. He needed interactive lessons that stimulated his mind.

“Children need to be taught the way they learn,” Cantrell said. “By having real-life, relatable material in the classroom.”

As a former teacher, she also hopes to bridge any gaps between the classroom and the district.

Cantrell wants the school board, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum Diana Green and her committee to marry the rigor of Florida State Standards with teachers’ creativity — a task Manatee Education Association President Pat Barber hasn’t seen come to fruition yet.

To accomplish such a union, Cantrell hopes to start meetings between teachers and the district to spell out what teachers want to teach their students and how they will achieve this with what the state expects students to learn.

The former Manatee Technical Institute director also hopes to finally come to a consensus on school security — an issue her predecessor was passionate about.

But, she doesn’t think armed security officers are the answer.

More locks on doors and doors that automatically lock when shut will keep students safe should an emergency happen on campus, she said.

She would also like to see more security cameras on school grounds.

How to keep students safe isn’t a one-prong solution, however, and Cantrell is open to hearing other board members’ ideas for how to best protect area elementary school students.

With less than a week until she begins her new position, which is unlike any other role she has held throughout her lifetime, Cantrell focuses on the long haul rather than the sprint to the finish line.

“Things aren’t going to change overnight,” Cantrell said. “But, I want to see steady improvement and progress. I want this school district to truly be a place of excellence.”

Mary Cantrell’s plan for the school district
Hire dynamic principals who work to improve their students’ learning experience

Utilize teachers’ strengths and collaborate with them to create curriculum that intrigues students

Abandon a one-size-fits-all method of teaching and modify lessons for different types of learners

Work as a team with school board members for the best interest of students

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].