Orange County School Board
School board elections are nonpartisan. Eligible voters may vote in the school board races appearing on their ballot, regardless of the voter’s party affiliation.
This guide includes all candidates in contested races. All were invited to participate; candidates who did not submit responses by the deadline are marked “Did not respond.” Incumbents are marked with an (i), and candidates are listed alphabetically by last name within each race.
Find the full school board candidate questionnaire here.
Inclusion in this guide does not constitute an endorsement.
Click the plus sign (+) to show the candidate’s responses.
Board Chair
Alicia Farrant
Did Not Respond
Angie Gallo
-
“Two-term District 1 Board member with 20 years of experience, including parent and committee roles.”
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1. Voucher Expansion: Do you support or oppose the continued expansion of public funding for private school vouchers and education savings accounts in Florida?
Answer: Oppose
“Vouchers divert public dollars with no accountability. Students must be safe, must be learning, and taxpayer dollars must be spent transparently. Expansion without oversight hurts our public schools.”
2. Chaplain Program: Do you support or oppose a volunteer school chaplain program in your school district?
Answer: Oppose
“I oppose this program. Students in crisis need licensed, trained mental health professionals, not volunteers. We must prioritize investing in qualified, professional school counselors.”
3. Library Materials Accessibility: Do you support or oppose a local school board policy that prioritizes keeping challenged library books accessible to students while a formal review is conducted, unless the material must be removed under state law?
Answer: Support
“Books should remain accessible during review. Removing materials before due process is censorship. Our review process exists to ensure fairness, not to clear shelves based on one complaint.”
4. Religious Displays in Public Schools: Do you support or oppose allowing school-sponsored religious displays, such as the Ten Commandments, Bible verses, crosses, or other devotional materials, in classrooms or school buildings beyond what state law requires or what is used in a neutral curriculum context?
Answer: Oppose
“I oppose school-sponsored religious displays beyond state law. Public schools serve students of all faiths and none. The Constitution is clear, and I will not allow our schools to cross that line.”
5. Comprehensive Reproductive Health Curriculum: Do you support or oppose comprehensive reproductive health curriculum that includes medically accurate information on disease prevention and contraception alongside required abstinence instruction?
Answer: Support
“I support comprehensive, medically accurate reproductive health education. Students deserve honest information on disease prevention and contraception alongside required abstinence instruction.”
6. Expanding Release Time for Religious Instruction: Do you support or oppose local school board policies that expand or facilitate “release time” programs for off-campus religious instruction during the regular school day beyond what is required by state law?
Answer: Neutral
“I support complying with state law on release time but oppose expanding beyond what is required. Instructional time is precious and should be protected. Religious instruction does not belong in school”
7. Restricting Staff-led Prayer and Religious Expression: Do you support or oppose local school board policies that restrict staff-led prayer or staff participation in prayer with students during regular school hours and school-sanctioned activities?
Answer: Support
“I support policies restricting staff-led prayer during school hours. School employees cannot lead or participate in prayer with students during instructional time. Federal law is clear on this.”
8. Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
“I have spent eight years fighting for every OCPS student regardless of background, faith, or zip code. As Chair, I will protect public schools, support educators, and keep our focus where it belongs: student safety, mental health, and academic excellence.”
District 1
Melissa Lopez Marantes
Did Not Respond
David Shepard
Did Not Respond
District 2
Marisol Lugo
Did Not Respond
Gloria Reina O'Neal
Did Not Respond
District 3
Ilia Adorno
Did Not Respond
Diana Moore
-
“35 years as a teacher, elected and re-elected Union President, went to Winegard, Walker, Oak Ridge.”
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1. Voucher Expansion: Do you support or oppose the continued expansion of public funding for private school vouchers and education savings accounts in Florida?
Answer: Oppose
“Parents should have choices within the public schools. The accountability for use of the tax dollars needs to be the same under all entities.”
2. Chaplain Program: Do you support or oppose a volunteer school chaplain program in your school district?
Answer: Oppose
“I need more details. Are they taking the place of the SRO, teaching religious education? What is their training and is there a background check? All visitors go through a strict screening for safety.”
3. Library Materials Accessibility: Do you support or oppose a local school board policy that prioritizes keeping challenged library books accessible to students while a formal review is conducted, unless the material must be removed under state law?
Answer: Did not answer
“I believe in the committee process that I have seen work but believe parents can make these decisions for their own children and not all children.”
4. Religious Displays in Public Schools: Do you support or oppose allowing school-sponsored religious displays, such as the Ten Commandments, Bible verses, crosses, or other devotional materials, in classrooms or school buildings beyond what state law requires or what is used in a neutral curriculum context?
Answer: Oppose
“I believe parents are responsible for the religious education of their own children and not the schools, unless they are specifically designated religious schools.”
5. Comprehensive Reproductive Health Curriculum: Do you support or oppose comprehensive reproductive health curriculum that includes medically accurate information on disease prevention and contraception alongside required abstinence instruction?
Answer: Support
“This is state law and parents choose if their children participate by signing a form.”
6. Expanding Release Time for Religious Instruction: Do you support or oppose local school board policies that expand or facilitate “release time” programs for off-campus religious instruction during the regular school day beyond what is required by state law?
Answer: Neutral
“Schools have 180 days to teach the required standards. I believe students should be excused for a religious holiday but religious education can be done at home as each family chooses.”
7. Restricting Staff-led Prayer and Religious Expression: Do you support or oppose local school board policies that restrict staff-led prayer or staff participation in prayer with students during regular school hours and school-sanctioned activities?
Answer: Neutral
“As long as everyone is given a moment of silence or the opportunity to opt out when they choose to pray in their religious tradition.”
8. Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
“I believe we need more solutions and less excuses. Let’s look inward and do exit interviews for students and teachers who are leaving and review the reasons to determine solutions. We can always do better.”
Susanne Peña
Did Not Respond
