Candidates for the Palm Beach County School Board District 6 election are John McGovern, Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld and Widline Pierre. They are running for the seat left open by 16-year board veteran Marcia Andrews who is not seeking reelection.
District 6 spans much of western Palm Beach County, including Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay, as well as Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee Groves, The Acreage, Westlake and parts of Wellington.
The school board race is non-partisan and a candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win the seat. If no candidate gets a majority in the primary, then the top two vote‑getters advance to the November general election.
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McGovern, 52, from Wellington, is a Wellington village councilman and former vice mayor, attorney and parent of a student in the Palm Beach County schools. His campaign priorities include expanding VPK, emphasizing literacy and fundamental mathematics in the early grades, increasing technology education in coding, programming and artificial intelligence, strengthening career and technical education, preserving enhanced funding for AP and AICE courses, and ensuring future magnet and vocational schools are geographically accessible throughout the county.
Rosario-Schoenfeld, 71, from Palm Beach County, is a retired school teacher and administrator who served in Buffalo Public Schools. Her campaign priorities include promoting physical and emotional safety through proactive security measures and robust mental health resources, supporting educators through competitive compensation, professional development and strong recruitment and retention efforts, and fostering collaboration among parents, educators and community stakeholders.
Pierre, of Greenacres, is a former school counselor in the Palm Beach County schools, licensed mental health therapist, community advocate and member of the district’s Diversity and Equity Committee. She also serves on a board the Greenacres Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Her campaign focuses on supporting students’ academic success and mental health, strengthening partnerships between schools and families, and promoting equity and inclusion throughout the district.
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A closer look at the candidates for School Board District 6
School Board District 6 candidate John McGovern
John McGovern, 52, from Wellington, is a Wellington village councilman and former vice mayor, attorney, and longtime community member and parent in the Palm Beach County School District. He is an attorney with McGovern Gerardi Law and holds degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
His campaign priorities center on strong academics, supporting teachers, and safer schools. He supports expanding VPK, emphasizing literacy and fundamental mathematics in the early grades, increasing technology education in coding, programming and artificial intelligence, strengthening career and technical education, preserving enhanced funding for AP and AICE courses, and ensuring future magnet and vocational schools are geographically accessible throughout the county. He also advocates recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers through competitive compensation, reducing administrative costs, improving operational efficiencies, and prioritizing classroom spending and teacher pay. On school safety, he supports maintaining and modernizing security infrastructure, enhancing campus security, addressing bullying, and strengthening coordination among law enforcement agencies.
When asked in a Palm Beach Post questionnaire why voters should choose him, he replied:
“The success of our public schools is personal to me. My daughters have attended our public schools since kindergarten and are recent graduates (’24 & ’26). My wife, Michelle, and I are graduates of the PBCSD. Any success we’ve had has been largely born out of the education we got in our schools.
“As Councilman for the largest municipality in Dist. 6, where 25% of the district’s schools are located, I know first-hand that great public schools are the bedrock to successful and safe communities.
“Simply, strong schools make stronger communities, and great schools make great futures for our kids.”
School Board District 6 candidate Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld
Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld, 71, from Palm Beach County, is a former school principal, assistant principal, program coordinator, classroom teacher and district facilitator. She holds doctorates in Educational Leadership and Administration and previously served in Buffalo Public Schools in leadership and instructional roles.
Her campaign priorities focus on safety, curriculum and teacher support. She said she would prioritize physical and emotional safety through proactive security measures and robust mental health resources; elevate academic excellence through a rigorous, evidence-based curriculum; and support educators through competitive compensation, professional development and strong recruitment and retention efforts. She said she would use her experience at the intersection of policy, instruction and administration to foster collaboration among parents, educators and community stakeholders.
When asked in a Palm Beach Post questionnaire why voters should choose her, she replied:
“My 38 years in public education, combined with two master’s degrees and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration, have uniquely prepared me to serve on the Palm Beach County School Board. Throughout my career, I have occupied almost every major facet of educational infrastructure. I have successfully managed multimillion-dollar school operational budgets, spearheaded data-driven initiatives that measurably improve student literacy, and led complex teams through sweeping state policy changes and economic shifts.
“This extensive work history gives me a rare, ground-level understanding of how board policies directly affect principals, teachers, and classroom dynamics. Equally important is my active community immersion right here in Palm Beach County. By collaborating with local PTAs, civic organizations, and law enforcement, I have listened directly to the concerns of families. I know firsthand what our community demands: uncompromised student safety.
“Voters do not need a school board member who requires an on-the-job training period; they need a battle-tested educational administrator. My deep institutional knowledge ensures that on day one, I can cut through district bureaucracy, optimize resources, and put our students and teachers first.”
School Board District 6 candidate Widline Pierre
Widline Pierre, of Greenacres, is a former Palm Beach County School District school counselor, licensed mental health therapist, community advocate and member of the district’s Diversity and Equity Committee. She also serves on the City of Greenacres Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals, an appointment that reflects her involvement in local government and community service.
Her campaign focuses on supporting students’ academic success and mental health, strengthening partnerships between schools and families, and promoting equity and inclusion throughout the district.
During her career in education, she helped establish programs including Career Day, Teacher Mental Health First Aid Training and Parent University, which were designed to connect families with resources and strengthen engagement between schools and their communities.
She says her background in education and mental health gives her the experience needed to address the challenges facing students, teachers and families.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: School board primary for District 6 includes three candidates
Reporting by Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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By Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
