Tia Collin
Non-Partisan | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Tia Collin
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
The School District of Lee County School Board, District 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Equality Florida Action PAC
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (3/1/2022 - 3/31/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (4/1/2022 - 4/30/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (5/1/2022 - 5/31/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/1/2022 - 6/17/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/18/2022 - 7/1/2022)
- $150.00 contribution from Progressive Club of the Islands
- Please note: The following information was received by iVoterGuide after Panel Evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only:
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/2/2022 - 7/15/2022)
- $200.00 contribution to Friends of Kathy Fanny
- $200.00 contribution to Friends of Kathy Fanny
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/16/2022 - 7/22/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/23/2022 - 7/29/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/30/2022 - 8/5/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/2/2022 - 7/15/2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Lee County School Board Candidate Forum (June 15, 2022)
Please note: this information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
Voter Record from the Florida Department of State indicates candidate's Political Affiliation is Democratic (as of 6/23/2022).
Election Voting History for Tia Collin during time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- Voted in 0 Primary elections
- Voted in 0 Presidential Primary elections
- Voted in 3 General elections (2008 - 2016)
**Voter history is not considered during panel evaluations.**
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Choose not to answer
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Strongly Disagree
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I believe in investing in our future through investing in education. An educated populous- which absolutely includes all trades as well as traditional college- is the key to a vibrant, informed, prosperous democracy, something I believe every American wants. I believe that every person has a purpose. By empowering our youth through education, each person can discover their purpose and their talents. This is one of the greatest gifts one generation can give the next. My great grandmother, Martha Swanson, had an 8th grade education. In her time, this was enough. She successfully opened and operated her own business and bought her own home. I was fortunate to have her in my life until I was 12 and she remains the woman I admire most. A person with an 8th grade education would be hard pressed to do the same today though. Our world has changed and we must change with it. Education, and our funding of it, must keep pace so that the success of prior generations can be experienced by future generations. I do believe that the world has changed significantly enough since my great grandmother's day that we, as many of our European allies do, should begin to make provisions for either 2 years of technical/trade school or 2 years of college. I don't believe that these opportunities should just be handed out without any discernment. I believe that we, in Florida, have a good example already in our Bright Futures Scholarship Program. I am thrilled with the recent decision to allow work hours to be substituted for volunteer hours. My sons needed to work while they were in high school and the volunteer hours prevented them from receiving the Bright Futures Scholarship. I am happy to know that other students will not meet the same barrier. I am proud that our state, through the Bright Futures Program, already surpasses the 2 years I hope will one day be afforded to all U.S. students. As for Pre-K, again, the world is advancing and we must advance with it. I support Pre-K programs for multiple reasons, not least among them the opportunities to address learning differences early and to prepare children to enter kindergarten and be ready to learn. In addition, teachers report difficulties with discipline in classrooms, children who do not know how to appropriately socialize with peers and adults or how to conduct themselves in a learning environment. Pre-K allows us the opportunity to address these skills in an age appropriate manner. I know that many say that these skills should be taught at home and while I agree that home is the best place to learn these skills, I also know from our teachers that it isn't always happening. Instead of bemoaning the fact that it isn't happening, we need to uncover solutions and one of those is publicly funded Pre-K.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Neutral
I'm not actually neutral but this is a loaded and complex question. Discriminate in hiring an individual because of their sincerely held religious beliefs? No. Freedom of Religion is guaranteed to individuals in our Constitution. Organizations and businesses, however, are inanimate and as such do not hold any beliefs. Orgs and businesses can be used to promote beliefs. If the purpose of their involvement is to promote a religious belief, I would not invite that, regardless of the belief promoted
Students should not be allowed to pray in school.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
The purpose of the local school board is to represent the interests of the community they serve, set policies for public schools, listen to the community, respond to the needs of the community regarding education, and make appropriate budget decisions. School boards exist to serve their community, not to be served.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
The Florida Department of Education has a review process for curriculum. Approved material lists are provided to districts. According to state law, school boards must decide what specific curriculum they will use, provide a 20 day notice of a public hearing regarding the curriculum, and listen to those they serve about what concerns they have. This transparency allows for community involvement in curriculum choices at the district level.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should be welcome to speak during the public comment period at every school board meeting. In addition, they should have access to their local representatives, to meet in person, to speak on the phone, and to communicate via email/postal service.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Language Arts, Mathematics, American History, Science, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, Art and Music, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning, Physical Education
American civics education should emphasize our nation's founding principles of liberty and equality.
Strongly Agree
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Neutral
Again, not actually neutral but these 2 courses are not the same. Social Emotional Learning happens all of the time. SEL is learning empathy, learning to moderate your own emotions and responses to emotions, how to interact with others civilly, even when you disagree. When we ask a child to share, we're engaging in a form of SEL. I agree that parents should have the option to opt in for CSE and that all curriculum should be made available to parents upon request.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Neutral
It is my understanding that these materials have been banned by the Florida DOE. If/when that changes, I will need an opportunity to review the materials myself to see what the actual aim is before I make any decisions about them. As part of my personal review process, I would request an opportunity to meet with a diverse group of community members to hear their thoughts and interpretations.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Agree
I never abdicated authority over my children to the Lee County School District nor did I ever believe the district wanted it, to be honest. I did choose to partner with the Lee County School District to educate my children. There is a profound difference. Partnering with your child's educators acknowledges that you both bring important information to the table. I knew my children best. The teachers understood education methods best. We worked together.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I normally would decline to answer this question because of my firm agreement with Thomas Jefferson's POV, as expressed in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, that there is "a wall of separation between church and state" thanks to our First Amendment's Establishment Clause. Context being ever important, the association had contacted Jefferson, concerned that a Church of England vs Puritans situation might brew here in the new country. In his letter, Jefferson explained that the Establishment Clause created this wall of separation so that no one religion would be preferred above another, nor would religion be preferred above non-religion and vice versa, thus avoiding the Church of England scenario so many had fled. Since I am seeking public office and the community I seek to serve is diverse, I generally prefer to keep matters of personal faith, personal. That being said, the tone of the questionnaire leads me to believe that I'm speaking to people of faith and for whom faith is an integral part of their lives and so I will share the story from the bible that points to my beliefs and values the most and, if space permits, perhaps a few other points of interest. The passage that I ponder most frequently comes from Luke 10:25-37. It's so familiar that I fear we don't spend enough time reflecting on it. In fact when relating the story, we generally skip verses 25-29 completely which I think is a grave error. An expert in the law was questioning Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Knowing who he was, Jesus asked "What does the law say?" The man replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and love your neighbor as you love yourself." Jesus agreed with him and said that if he did that, he would live. But we all know folks like this, folks that want to find the backdoors and the side alleys, who only want to do the bare minimum, so the expert asked Jesus, "Who, exactly, is my neighbor?" (paraphrased). Heaven forbid he should love too much or too many people! Wisely, Jesus responded with a story we all know, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Context being ever important, we must remember that to his audience, Samaritans were not good people. They were "unclean," outcasts that couldn't even be touched and yet here, Jesus made one the hero of the story. If you asked a Samaritan who he was least like, who he had the least in common with, he likely would have pointed to a Jewish legal expert and so from this we learn that our neighbor, who we are to love as we love ourselves, is the person who is least like us, who we have the least in common with. Our neighbor might even be someone we don't like or agree with and this is the person we are commanded to love as much as we love ourselves, to value their lives and their rights as much as we value our own, and to show them mercy. That can be a hard task, especially in these polarizing times, which is probably why I think of it so often now. I try to remember not to put myself in a bubble with only those I agree with so I only have opportunities to love those who are easy for me to love. I look for the beauty in all people, remembering that they are all just as loved and valued as I am. And I try to walk out the command Jesus gave to this expert in the law, "Go and do likewise." Everyday, regardless of who I have the privilege to serve that day, I try to do as the Good Samaritan did. I believe in servant leadership. I agree with the Prayer of St Francis. I try to live my life worthy of the calling- the purpose. I believe in the inherent value of every person. My family is my most valuable treasure. I believe in open, honest, civil discourse. I detest bullying and one-upmanship. I believe in mercy and grace and that I have received more than my share. I believe in treating others as I want to be treated. I believe in building and being part of a community that can work together so that needs can be met.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Agree
2% of the world's population has red hair. Also, 2% of the world's population is intersexed, meaning they are born with parts of both sexes. Some of these differences are internal, some may be external. Nevertheless, they are assigned a single gender at birth that may not accurately reflect their true gender. They cannot control this aspect of their person any more than a person can control whether or not they're born with red hair. Gender and sex is more complicated than we've been told.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
It is the parents' responsibility to ensure their child receives an appropriate education in all subject areas, period. In fulfilling this responsibility, they may choose to partner with others who specialize in educating children or they may fulfill the responsibility themselves. We do need to recognize, however, that not all parents fulfill the responsibility to educate their children therefore I cannot say that sex ed has no place in public schools. "Sexual Education" is a very broad term. Some folks believe learning the real names of body parts is sex ed. If that's the case, I believe that should begin early, before elementary school begins, because it is one of the ways to protect children and provide a way for them to communicate to us if someone tries to assault them. I believe also they should learn consent early so if we're using the term "Sexual Education" to include consent, then, again, before elementary school begins. Teaching children that they can tell someone "don't touch my body" is another way to protect them and ALL of our children are worthy of protection. In the private Christian school I attended until the 8th grade, we received "the sex talk" at school in the 5th grade. That seems appropriate because it is not uncommon for girls to experience the onset of menarche in 5th grade and we want them to be prepared. Parents should be notified prior to that specific class so that they have ample opportunity to have a discussion with their own child, if they haven't already. Beyond that, we need to consult with experts on human sexuality to determine what and when to teach in our schools, that will best serve our children and our community. We must remember that the purpose of sex education is not solely to inform; it is also to protect. Every child is worthy of protection. My brother is the executive director of GRACE- Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, a national organization whose mission is "Empowering Christian communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse." I think many would be surprised to learn how prevalent abuse is, especially in places where we think our kids are most safe. Education is a part of protecting children and, as parents and community members, it is our duty.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
Physical and emotional health outcomes, contraceptive methods, consent, abstinence, sexual orientation and gender identity, human anatomy/the reproductive system, stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Disagree
In matters of establishment, I must yield to the establishers. John Adams, in the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli, stated, "The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation." He also said, "The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." Thomas Jefferson said, "Christianity neither is nor ever was a part of the common law." I can't ignore these clear proclamations.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Agree
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Disagree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Disagree BUT we need to be sure that all people are able to get photo identification. For people who do not drive, including but not limited to the elderly and the disabled, traveling a far distance to get a photo ID is difficult at best. In addition, those on limited incomes may have difficulty affording the fee for the ID. We are not supposed to have to pay to vote and we need to make every effort, including community outreach to be sure that no eligible voter is excluded due to finances.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
A candidate's personal moral values should not be relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Disagree
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I am not a politician and have never, to my recollection, been interviewed about any political issues.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am a Life Skills Instructor serving intellectually and developmentally disabled adults in Lee County. I'm also a mom, a grandma, a friend, and a neighbor. Lee County is my home for the past 30 years and I believe it is a wonderful place to live. I know that our county has problems but I believe firmly that when we come together as a community and work together, we can solve these problems and create a better future for all of Lee County. Three of my children had special education needs. Two of those children went on to earn college degrees because I chose to partner with the incredible teachers and staff of Lee County Public Schools. My children were loved and supported during our darkest times. My late husband was a sergeant with the Lee County Sheriff's Department, (and a Cape Coral HS alum). For years he suffered from a terminal, neurodegenerative condition. The pain my children endured was horrendous but through it all, they had the support of our incredible teachers and staff and so did I, from check-in phone calls to childcare to extra high fives and listening ears, Lee County Schools were there for my kids. I owe a debt I can never repay. This doesn't mean that I don't recognize the presence of issues within our district in desperate need of solutions. It does mean that it's time for me to pay back what was so graciously given to me and work to bring solutions to Lee County Schools. Our kids, our teachers and staff, our families, and our community deserve solutions. I look forward to serving all of Lee County, no matter where on the political or religious spectrum folks fall. I look forward to serving and meeting with families in our communities and uncovering ways to help them connect deeper with their child's education. I look forward to meeting more teachers and staff and learning more ways to serve and support them as they teach and care for our community's children. Together, I believe we can make a positive impact on our community now and in the future.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Disagree
According to a study partially funded by the DOJ that specifically looked at mass shooters, a common dynamic in each case was that the shooters were "violently suicidal." The more weapons we put into our schools, the more attractive they will become to violently suicidal individuals. Other methods of protection should be used in our schools.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
Schools have required vaccinations since the 1850's (small pox, Mass.). Obviously the list has grown with scientific and medical advancements. If an illness poses a significant public health risk and there is an available vaccine, I believe that it should be required. I do also believe that there should be religious exemptions.
I support mask mandates.
Neutral
Florida has a law in place banning mask mandates in schools. How I personally feel about them doesn't matter since if elected, I will swear an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Florida. I do work with a vulnerable group of people so I obviously like the extra safety masks provided. Many of our folks would not have been able to receive services if it wasn't for masks and I definitely believe in serving and protecting the vulnerable among us.
