Sara Jones
Non-Partisan | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Sara Jones
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Polk County Public Schools, School Board, District 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, Bachelor of Science - Sociology, 2012
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, Bachelor of Science - Criminology, 2012
Florida A&M College of Law, Orlando, FL, Juris Doctor, 2015
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Lincoln Community Development Corporation, President, Founder, Green & Gold Foundation
Secretary, Lake Wales NAACP, Former Secretary
Circle of Friends Ministry, Former Board Member, Victory RIdge Academy
Board Member, Lake Wales Code Enforcement Board, Board Member
Polk County Public Schools, Volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (2)
Polk Education Association (PEA) PAC
Run for Something
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (9)
Polk Education Association PAC
Run for Something
FL Rep. Michele Raynor
Lake Wales City Commissioner Terrye Howell
Lake Wales City Commissioner Daniel Williams
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (2/1/2022 - 2/28/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (3/1/2022 - 3/31/2022)
- $56.18 expenditure to ActBlue
- $56.18 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (4/1/2022 - 4/30/2022)
- $40.73 expenditure to ActBlue
- $40.73 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (5/1/2022 - 5/31/2022)
- $23.41 expenditure to ActBlue
- $23.41 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/1/2022 - 6/17/2022)
- $12.09 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/18/2022 - 7/1/2022)
- 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)
- $6.38 expenditure to ActBlue
- $6.38 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/16/2022 - 7/22/2022)
- $20.31 expenditure to ActBlue
- $20.31 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/23/2022 - 7/29/2022)
- $24.26 expenditure to ActBlue
- $24.26 expenditure to ActBlue
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/30/2022 - 8/5/2022)
- $200.00 contribution from Rainbow Bridge Democratic Caucus
- $200.00 contribution from Rainbow Bridge Democratic Caucus
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/2/2022 - 7/15/2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Voter Record from the Florida Department of State indicates candidate's Political Affiliation is Democratic (as of 6/23/2022).
Election Voting History for Sara Jones during time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- Voted in 2 Primary elections (2018 - 2020)
- Voted in 0 Presidential Preferential Primary elections
- Voted in 1 General election (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
I think that public schools needs to train and employ professionals who can teach students the facts of biology, how to care properly for their bodies, the risks associated with sexual activity, how to speak up about physical/sexual abuse, and other life skills/information to help them understand their development.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
I believe that life begins at conception. As an attorney, the phrase "legal protection" is very vague. I believe in appropriate restrictions on abortions. I don't believe in abortion laws that prohibit early stage abortions without exceptions for life of the mother, rape, or incest.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and right to private property are basic tenants of our government, economy, and lifestyle as Americans. It allows people, regardless of their history or background, to become successful and do well in life.
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Agree
The reality is that the legislature moves through lobbying. If we don't have advocates for the school board in Tallahassee, public school issues simply will not get the proper attention from our lawmakers. As long as that's true, I think we owe it to our students and staff to invest in representation to acquire necessary resources.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I believe that Pre-K through grade 12 should be publicly funded for any child whose parents want them to attend public school or who cannot afford private education. We have used that model for a very long times, and it works. Models for government-funded college in the United States are less established. I believe that individuals should have access to affordable college education, subsidized by the government. For some people, that might be complete government funding. For others, that might be no funding. For most, it would be somewhere in between. I believe that making education accessible is key to making our country and world better. Much like private enterprise, education is a method to change one's life for the better. I believe in systematically giving people the opportunity to make that improvement.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
Students should be free to have discord about ideology and faith as long as it is respectful.
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.
Strongly Agree
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations, or small businesses for any reason.
Students should not be allowed to pray in school.
Strongly Disagree
It is never appropriate to restrict a person's access to the tenants their faith (so long as those tenants don't infringe on the rights of others).
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
The the function of the local school board is to set policy for the school district and to direct and supervise the district superintendent
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
School district staff designated and trained for that purpose should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should only be restricted from speaking at school board meetings if they violate the board's rules about the parameters of their speech. For example, I believe in enforcing time limits on speaking, removal of anyone who is harassing or threatening others, restricting comments to a particular time during the meeting, etc.
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 Science American History (history generally) Personal Finances Vocational Learning Information Technology Physical Fitness (and physical health generally) Art & Music Foreign Language I omitted political activism, gender identity, and critical race theory because I don't believe any of them to be public school priorities. I omitted social emotional learning because social emotional learning is a part of every person's development. We will learn appropriate and inappropriate social behavior and emotional reactions regardless of whether we overtly teach it. I, therefore, don't believe that we should prioritize it specifically. If we are doing our jobs as educators, our examples and daily guidance teach our children what is socially appropriate.
American civics education should emphasize our nation's founding principles of liberty and equality.
Strongly Agree
Civics lessons should always emphasize the government's founding principals, ideals, and aspirations as well as it's history and progression.
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
Based on my research, CSE is an instruction method based on curriculum that aims to give students the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and values; to make appropriate and healthy choices in their sexual lives to prevent students from contracting STIs and reduce unplanned/unwanted pregnancies, and lower rates of domestic and sexual violence, thus contributing to a healthier society, both physically and mentally. I believe in an opt-in system for underclassmen and an opt-out system for upperclassmen.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
This statement is broad, but I don't generally agree with giving up local control for money. That also assumes that the system would not cease to exist without those funds.
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.
Disagree
There is no one foundation for history. History is more nuanced than that. I believe in teaching a balanced history that honestly assesses the past from different perspectives and allows students to get a holistic view the country's (and world's) history.
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.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a follower of the teachings of Christ. I believe in the healing power of love. I believe that humans are connected and should be respected as children of God.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Neutral
I don't believe in forcibly inspecting anyone's genitals without a court order. Therefore, I don't know how one would enforce any rule to the contrary.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
I think that there are appropriate level of sex education at almost any age. We start teaching children as toddlers how to clean themselves and not to let strangers touch them inappropriately. As small children, we begin to teach them that it's not okay to be naked in front of most people; and so on. Ultimately, it is up to the child's parent to determine at what age each lesson is appropriate.
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
**This list includes what I believe content should be for upperclassmen. It includes items I believe to be inappropriate for younger students.** Sexual education should include these topics: Physical and emotional health outcomes Contraceptive methods (including emergency contraception and efficacy) Consent (how to give it, how to withdraw it, how to ask for it, how to let others know they are violating boundaries, etc.) Abstinence (including how to set boundaries and say no) Human anatomy/the reproductive system Abortion alternatives, consequences, and side effects Stages of pregnancy and fetal development How sex effects the teenage and young adult brain/behavior How to report and get help for sexual harassment/abuse
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I don't understand the premise of the statement and therefore have a neutral response.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Disagree
If this rule were implemented, child who suffer abuse or neglect under the care of the parent would be at risk.
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Disagree
I don't believe in punishing educators who choose to respect their students' choices by calling them their preferred name or pronoun. Students are permitted to use nicknames and preferred names regularly. Punishing educators for allowing students to use nicknames, regardless of their standard gender roles, takes away the teacher's discretion and ability to connect with their students in a meaningful way. Being kind and respectful is not the same thing as initiating or encouraging a transition.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
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?
Lean Liberal
My views don't fall along party lines. I decide my position on political, social, economic, foreign policy, religious liberty, etc based on what I believe to be right, regardless of "which side" agrees. Most of my positions are based in the belief that people should have as much freedom as they want as long as it does not infringe on the freedom of others.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
My social media pages are public. I have a youtube page for my business (Sara Jones Law, P.A.), but I'm not sure that it would give any indication of my political leanings.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I want to get culture wars our of our classrooms, and focus on excellence in education. I want to make sure every students has a pathway to the type of success that they want. Some of our students are college-bound. Others want to become entrepreneurs or soldiers. Still, others want to get out into the world and start working on a job. Whatever their path, Polk students need to be well-equipped for it in order to compete. I want to be a Polk County School Board member to help make that happen!
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Disagree
I think we should just let teachers teach. Allowing teachers to carry guns puts more guns in schools, giving students more access to guns and increasing the likelihood of gun violence.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
If the illness against which the school is requiring vaccinations is easily spread, known to cause death or serious bodily harm, and if they vaccine prevents the acquisition of the illness, then school should be allowed to require the vaccination (with medical exceptions).
I support mask mandates.
Disagree
At this stage in the pandemic, masks mandates are not suggested by medical professionals. Mask mandates under these conditions would be unduly political.
