Candidate reply for Aug. 30 primary

Editor's note: Candidates not recommended by the Tampa Bay Times editorial board are given an opportunity to reply.

Lynn Gray | Hillsborough County School Board, District 7

We need an educational expert who can set relevant policies based on the intellectual, social and physical needs of our schools. I have been an educator for more than 26 years with experience in public and private schools as well as a homeschool organization. Those experiences have given me firsthand knowledge of the specific needs and policies which will bring success to teachers and students.

Based on my teaching experiences, I have a vision for bringing about both educational effectiveness and quality to our public schools. The educational experience can be improved through hiring and maintaining effective teachers, hiring reading specialists, building important relationships through mentoring programs, adding physical activity to curriculum, recognizing the diversity of our students, and increasing vocational and technical education to provide real-world avenues to success.