This story is part of a statewide partnership of 27 nonpartisan newsrooms and universities working to help Florida voters make informed decisions in the 2026 school board elections. Learn more about the Florida Elections Reporting Partnership.
Martin County School Board District 4 Member Amy B. Pritchett is defending her District 4 seat against former board member Anthony “Tony” Anderson in a rematch that highlights a debate over the future of public education in the county.
Pritchett, elected in 2022, says her first term has brought academic improvements, higher teacher pay and increased the percentage of B-rated schools in the district to A-rating.
Anderson previously served on the Martin County School Board from 2018 to 2022. He told Treasure Coast Newspapers that his 2022 loss to Pritchett was tied to his vote requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonpartisan primary election is set to take place Aug. 18, 2026.
The race also includes Milagros “Milly” Blanco, a district media specialist and longtime educator, who did not respond to multiple interview requests from The Florida Trib.
Campaign finance reports show Blanco has largely self funded her campaign and enters the final weeks of the race with fewer financial resources than Pritchett or Anderson.
Candidates’ visions for District 4
Pritchett, 70, is a retired Rocky Point resident who previously worked as a teaching assistant in New York. She said her campaign is focused on continuing what she described as the district’s academic gains, including improved school grades, higher teacher salaries and maintaining the district’s “A” rating.
“I haven’t changed my message,” said Pritchett. “We’ve made vast improvements, but we must keep that momentum and continue doing what we’ve done because it’s working.”
Anderson, who previously served on the school board and spent three decades working in education, said his campaign is focused on strengthening relationships between educators, families and district leadership.
He argues that teachers need more support and that decisions made at the state level are creating new challenges for local schools.
“The real problem is that they don’t really have the support that they need from administration, the respect for their dedication,” Anderson said. “The turnover, the teachers are leaving… we got to stop the bleeding.”
The campaign finance reports show Blanco has raised $3,740, with $2,935 coming from loans to her own campaign. Aside from a $5 contribution from another donor, nearly all her campaign funding has come from personal funds.
She later reported less than $84 cash on hand as of June 26 after paying the $1,765.60 state qualifying fee, $584.20 for yard signs, and $516.63 for campaign postcards.
Anderson leads fundraising with $7,825 in contributions, while Pritchett has raised $6,430. Anderson has spent $4,265 compared with Pritchett’s $3,132.
Pritchett qualified for the ballot through a petition process after collecting 1,167 voter signatures.
Academic progress and teacher support
While the candidates differ on how to move the district forward, issues in the District 4 race reflect broader challenges facing school districts across Florida.
Alissa Hingson, program administrator for the Institute for Small and Rural Districts, a Florida based initiative that provides training and technical assistance to small and rural school districts.
Hingson said districts across the state are grappling with teacher shortages, rising costs, increasing compliance remnants and growing student mental health needs.
“Small districts often demonstrate tremendous innovation and adaptability, but limited economies of scale can make it more difficult to absorb new responsibilities or implement initiatives without additional support,” Hingson said.
Hingson said successful districts are those that remain connected to their communities while adapting to the changing expectations.
“The educators and leaders serving in these districts are deeply committed to ensuring students have access to high-quality educational opportunities regardless of where they live,” she said.
Increasing student achievement remains one of the biggest issues facing the next board member, according to Pritchett.
She points to the district’s return to an “A” rating as evidence of progress. She said when she joined the board, Martin County had 12 schools rated “C” or lower.
Under her leadership, she said, the district has increased reading proficiency from about 53% to roughly 65%.
“Sixty-four or sixty-five percent just is not good enough,” said Pritchett. “I’d love to see us in the nineties.”
Teacher compensation, she said, has also been a major part of her platform. Pritchett said starting teacher salaries have increased to $51,300 and additional local funding has been directed toward early-career educators.
“When I came in, a zero-to-five-year teacher got $800. Now they’re going to get $3,000 after a year of service,” she said.
Anderson said improving student outcomes begins with supporting the educators responsible for instruction.
“What we have to do is keep all teachers, get the best teachers, pay them well, and let educational professionals concentrate on direct instructional service for the students,” Anderson said.
The debate over school choice
Expansion of school choice is one of several statewide trends affecting school districts across Florida, according to Hingson. She said districts are also seeing continued emphasis on early literacy, workforce education and growing student mental health needs.
The candidates have different views on Florida’s expanding school voucher program and what it means for public schools.
Anderson said the growth of vouchers and private school options creates financial pressure for traditional public schools.
“Funding is a problem now. We’re losing funding,” he said. “It’s almost like it’s designed to hurt public schools.”
Anderson said schools are now forced to compete for students in a way they were not previously required to. Pritchett disagreed, arguing that school choice does not necessarily weaken public education.
“I think that’s the misconception, that somehow parental choice has dismantled public education,” she said. “No, it’s enhanced because we’re going to do a better job.”
Pritchett said families should have options while still maintaining strong public schools.
“Just because we support a parent’s choice where they’d like to go, it in no way means we want public education to go away,” she said.
Library books and parental concerns
Across the country, schools have faced a rise in challenges to library books and classroom materials, sparking debates over parental rights, student access and the role of school boards in reviewing content. Florida has been among the states where these disputes have drawn significant attention.
The candidates also differ on how schools should handle challenges involving library materials.
Anderson said book challenges have become increasingly political and believes decisions should involve a broader group of community members.
“I think there needs to be a committee that’s well balanced,” he said.
Pritchett said the district must follow state requirements regarding what materials are appropriate for students.
“The legislature in Florida has made it a priority to let us know what is appropriate and what is inappropriate,” she said.
She added that families who want access to other materials have options outside of schools.
“They can go to the public library. They can go to Amazon. They can go wherever they like,” said Pritchett.
