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.

Jackie Gary Clarke, a longtime Indiantown Village community and political leader, is running against incumbent Jen Russell for the District 3 seat on the Martin County School Board.

The elected candidate will face critical challenges, as Martin County schools work to improve student reading performance and maintain the teachers and staff that make everything possible.

Clarke is a lifelong resident of Martin County and currently serves as a service representative for the Florida Department of Health. She previously worked as a paraprofessional for the district. 

“I’ve been serving my community for decades, bringing people together, bringing resources together,” Clarke said, “whether it’s health, you know, initiatives, a partnership with different organizations to bring resources to this community.” 

Russell, the incumbent, has raised roughly four times more than her opponent. She stepped into her first term on the school board in 2022, and described Martin County as “peaceful in between chaos.” Before serving on the school board, she worked as an administrator at a private Christian academy where she helped expand the learning centers. 

“This is something that I really care about,” Russell said. “I care about setting the kids up for success long term, no matter what walk of life you come from; I want to help to give you all the tools that you need to be successful.”

Improving reading proficiency 

Improving reading proficiency is a major focus for both candidates.  Russell shared that reading scores have improved overall since 2022, by upgrading the district’s “D” county school and 7 “C” level schools.

She lauded Martin County for its use of a data-focused approach to identify where students may be struggling in real time. That approach includes more assessment periods throughout the year to better understand where each student stands in relation to their peers.

“Now we’re not waiting until the end of the year to find out if Sally did well or if she’s deficient,” Russell said.

Russell volunteers in some county classrooms to see these changes firsthand. She saw “tremendous gains” within the last year and plans to continue filling those gaps if voters re-elect her for another term. 

“I’m really strong in advocating for reading proficiencies because I believe that, you know, this can help to break generational cycles of poverty,” Russell said.

Clarke believes that dialect and language barriers are an important factor to consider in ensuring student success in reading.  

“You know, out here in Indiantown, we have different dialects, we have different languages,” Clarke said, “Now, just because you look like me doesn’t mean that you could fit my mold.”

By hiring and retaining qualified teachers who can relate to student experience and collaborate, students will have more room for success. 

“Give the teachers the resources so they can be equipped to be able to help bridge this gap,” Clarke said, “so these children can achieve at the ultimate level.” 

Teacher and student retention

If elected, Clarke said that teacher retention and improving district-to-school communication would be her top priority. She has spent her campaign interviewing parents and teachers. 

She described teachers as the “backbone” of the schools, and said it’s important to make them feel valued.

“These teachers are under pressure, and they cannot teach in the capacity to feel free without being micromanaged,” Clarke said.

Russell shared that last year they were able to secure a raise for the teachers, and that the board is currently negotiating with the teachers’ union. But she says teacher retention is “not necessarily just monetary.” 

Teacher benefit packages include a $6,500 health insurance offer and financial coverage for bachelor’s degrees. “We’re trying to help to make this well-rounded, make sure that they do feel valued,” Russell said. 

Both candidates agree that communication and partnership are a huge part of the solution to teacher retention. However, this “open conversation” mindset expands beyond teachers and administration. 

Clarke believes that board members must listen to families and students when making choices for schools within the district.

“Everything boils back down to relationships,” she said. 

Clarke described the prevalence of book bans across the state as one conversation that parents and students should be part of.

Russell, by contrast, said the simple answer was to follow state law.

“Everything we do, any guidance that we get, all comes from DOE and state statute,” Russell said.