Meet Kelly Wentworth

I’ve lived in Brevard County for nearly 20 years, since marrying my husband, Dave, and making Rockledge our home. We’re raising our children in Brevard Public Schools, and like so many families, our lives revolve around school events, sports, activities, and the everyday realities parents face trying to build a better future for their kids.

I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother, a financial professional, and someone who believes deeply in the value of strong public schools.

Over the years, I’ve volunteered in classrooms, attended school events, worked with teachers and administrators, and listened closely to the concerns parents bring home from our schools every day. I decided to run for School Board because I believe our district needs leadership that is focused on students, grounded in transparency, and willing to ask difficult questions about how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

A Background Built on Hard Work and Accountability

I’m a native Floridian who grew up in nearby St. Cloud, raised by a single mother who emphasized the importance of education, personal responsibility, and hard work. I became the first person in my family to earn a master’s degree, but my path there wasn’t traditional.

In high school, I wanted to become a teacher and even served as President of Future Teachers of America. But when I left my small hometown for a large university, I struggled academically and eventually left under academic suspension.

That experience shaped me in ways success never could.

I returned to school while working full time, attending community college at night before eventually returning to the University of Central Florida on academic probation. I learned what persistence looks like when no one is handing you shortcuts. Semester by semester, I rebuilt my GPA and ultimately graduated while making the Dean’s List.

That journey taught me something important: students do not all learn the same way, and our education system works best when it supports students as individuals instead of forcing every child into the same mold.

As a parent, I’ve seen that firsthand with my own child. I understand how much the right teacher, the right support, and the right environment can change the trajectory of a student’s life.

Financial Experience That Matters

Professionally, I built my career in finance, earning both my bachelor’s degree in Accounting and my MBA before spending more than 15 years working in financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning for large organizations.

I understand how to evaluate budgets, identify inefficiencies, ask tough questions, and make decisions based on data instead of politics.

That experience matters because Brevard Public Schools manages a budget of more than $1.6 billion. Taxpayers deserve leadership that understands not only where money is being spent, but whether it is being spent effectively and aligned with student outcomes.

Fiscal accountability is not about cutting for the sake of cutting. It’s about making sure classrooms come first, ensuring resources reach students and teachers, and restoring public trust through transparency and responsible decision-making.

Every dollar spent by the district should reflect the priorities of our community and support the core mission of public education.

Supporting Teachers and Strengthening Schools

I have tremendous respect for teachers and school staff. I see the dedication they bring into classrooms every day, often while being asked to do more with less.

Teachers need leadership that trusts them, supports them, and creates stability inside our schools. Retaining great educators requires more than competitive pay. It also means reducing unnecessary burdens, establishing clear discipline policies, improving working conditions, and ensuring teachers feel backed by district leadership.

Strong schools are built through consistency, transparency, and a clear focus on student success, not political distractions.

I also believe deeply in protecting and strengthening public education itself. Public schools are one of the few institutions designed to serve every child, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance. They are essential not only for students and families, but for the future of our entire community.

Why I’m Running

I’m running because I believe our district needs leaders who are willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and stay focused on what matters most: students.

Parents are frustrated. Teachers are exhausted. Trust in leadership has eroded. Too often, conversations have centered around politics, public relations, and division instead of academic outcomes, financial stewardship, and long-term planning.

I believe we can do better.

As your School Board member, I will bring a balanced, common-sense approach grounded in transparency, accountability, and respect for the community we serve. I will show up prepared, ask hard questions, listen to stakeholders, and make decisions based on what is best for students and taxpayers.

Leadership is not about headlines or ideology. It’s about responsibility.

I’m not running to build a political career. I’m running because I care deeply about the future of our public schools and the community my children are growing up in.

I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote.