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.

Lafayette District Schools has maintained a high rating, ranking at an “A”. One core issue the county faces is finding ways to engage students who struggle most with reading and math, opening the door to accommodations and ensuring students are not left behind. With the chance to vote on Aug. 18, it’s imperative to know who you would want as school board representative for District 3. 

Mary Anne McCray, 68, is a retired educator with 36 years of experience. After her retirement in 2016, she became her mother’s primary caregiver. She previously ran for the District 3 seat against her sister-in-law, Marion McCray, in 2022, and lost. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Florida. Over the course of her time as an English teacher and adjunct English Professor at North Florida College, she worked toward implementing Title I Part C Migrant, Title III Part A English Language Acquisition, and Title X Homeless Children and Youth.

According to her VoterVocus profile, McCray “will bring a diverse background to the Lafayette County School Board,” given her varied experiences. “The ‘other duties as assigned’ clause in my contract often meant coordinating supplemental educational services and orchestrating curriculum.

Her primary responsibility was to “coordinate academic support, and access any medical, social, and community resources necessary to foster an environment where students can be successful. This entailed a great deal of data interpretation and comprehensive program assessment.” McCray was also in charge of “coordinating services to language-enriched students and tracking their placement and progression towards English proficiency.”

Competitor Mark Beach, 55, has been the head football coach at Lafayette High School for the past 11 years. He previously served as the athletic director for 4 years at two high schools in Jackson County. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business management and a Master’s in educational leadership from the American College of Education. He also received the 2019 Region 4 Coach of the Year award issued by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. 

Beach did not provide a statement on his VoterFocus profile and does not have an active campaign site.

Both candidates were contacted several times regarding an interview with the Florida Trib.