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.

As Escambia County voters prepare to elect their next District 3 school board representative, they will choose between an incumbent campaigning on his record and a challenger promising a more visible presence in the community.

David Williams, 67, announced his re-election campaign April 8, saying in a Facebook post that he remains committed to supporting students, empowering educators and building stronger schools and communities. 

Born and raised in Pensacola, David Williams has served on the Escambia County School Board representing District 3 since 2022. His campaign highlights initiatives that include the YReads Afterschool Program, Community Schools Initiative, HBCU scholarships, teacher recruitment efforts and expanded school safety measures.

Isaac Williams, 66, attended Florida public schools during desegregation before serving 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. After retiring, he worked as a chaplain supervisor with the Florida Department of Corrections and has served as pastor of Greater True Vine Baptist Church since 2004. He said those experiences taught him the value of listening before leading.

“I believe that decisions from a board member should be based on local, data-driven information,” he said. “By listening to the principals, listening to the support individuals, touring the community and hearing the parents, then you can come to a local, data-driven conclusion.”

Incumbent David Williams’ social media campaign highlights initiatives implemented during his term, from literacy programs to school safety improvements and teacher recruitment efforts, that have helped improve student outcomes. Challenger Isaac Williams argues District 3 needs a representative who is more accessible to parents, teachers and school leaders and said his decisions would begin with listening to the community before making policy.

Student Achievement

With a rising graduation rate in Escambia County over the years, student performance remains a top priority for both candidates’ campaigns. While literacy rates and attendance remain an area of concern across Florida, both candidates emphasize the issue of student achievement throughout their individual campaigns. 

David Williams said the district’s graduation rate has increased to 90% during his time in office, shown in a July 9 campaign video released on Facebook.

“Our students are college and career ready when they leave high school,” he said, crediting initiatives implemented while serving on the board. On this basis, he called for his re-election and emphasized his continued commitment to closing the achievement gap. 

During his term, David Williams also launched an education initiative focused on mentoring, parental involvement, absenteeism, conflict resolution and career education, as stated on his campaign website. 

His campaign also highlights his support and involvement in the Escambia Children’s Trust initiative, where he directed 18 out-of-school programs to serve students in District 3 across five community revitalization areas. 

Isaac Williams acknowledged the district’s recent “A” school grade but said he believes voters should look beyond the overall rating. He pointed to the performance of several district high schools, arguing that improving readiness after graduation requires continued attention.

“From a distance, there’s something to celebrate,” he said. “But a deeper dive into those ratings, you will discover that five out of the seven high schools received a C.”

He said he intends to prioritize improving the seven high schools’ ranks and better preparing students for careers and college, and he plans to do so by starting at the root: early education. 

Isaac Williams believes that if more money is spent getting elementary students ready for school, they will be more likely to succeed through graduation once they begin their education.

“There’s a paper that says that if students fail the third grade, that is an indicator that they would drop out and be on their way to the prison pipeline,” he said. “So, we must find a way to include funding to help early education.”

Teachers

Both candidates say supporting teachers is essential. As Florida ranks 50th in the United States for teacher pay, according to a 2026 National Education Association study, it remains a critical issue in this election. 

Isaac Williams said teachers deserve greater financial and emotional support. He said teachers and school employees deserve a larger voice in district decision-making because they experience the day-to-day realities of education firsthand.

“I want to talk to the teachers,” he said. “‘What’s your greatest joy? What’s your greatest challenge? Then what can we do to help teachers?’”

Supporting educators has become one of the central themes of his campaign. Isaac Williams argues teachers should not have to spend their own money on classroom supplies and believes the district should examine how resources are allocated.

“I believe that we all need to fight to help get teachers more funding so that they don’t have to pay money out of their pockets to teach our children,” he said.

Rather than framing district spending as competing priorities, Isaac Williams believes adjustments can be made without sacrificing student services.

“It doesn’t have to be a false dichotomy,” he said. “We can reallocate. We can shift things around so that everybody can be accommodated.”

David Williams has highlighted district efforts to recruit and retain educators and has identified workforce shortages as one of his campaign priorities.

On his campaign website, the first initiative listed pertains to the YReads afterschool program, a student literacy-centered program through the YMCA. The description of the program lists that David Williams “provided the district with resources to retain and recruit qualified teachers and personnel and launched the YReads afterschool program to increase student literacy.”

David Williams also served as a teacher himself for 35 years, a central component of his campaign and a perspective he would continue to bring to the school board.

Community involvement

Both candidates emphasize community engagement as an important part of serving on the school board. While David Williams highlighted his record of community partnerships and service organizations, Isaac Williams said he would prioritize being visible, accessible and responsive to parents and residents throughout the district.

Isaac Williams said one of the most common concerns he hears from voters is that they feel disconnected from their current representation. He said, if elected, he plans to remain visible in the community and ensure parents are included in the decision-making process.

“I want to always keep parents involved,” he said. “I am running because I want them to know that once I’m elected, I remain visible and accessible in the community.”

He also said school board decisions should be based on locally gathered information from residents, educators and community members. Isaac Williams said listening to parents and touring neighborhoods would help him make data-driven decisions that reflect the needs of District 3.

Isaac Williams also received an endorsement from the Escambia County Democratic Black Caucus, which announced its support in a June 19 Facebook post. The endorsement highlighted his commitment to community engagement and local representation, themes that remain central to his campaign. 

David Williams points to his involvement with local organizations as evidence of his commitment to the community. His campaign highlights his service on the boards of the YMCA and the Escambia Children’s Trust.

During his time in public service, David Williams also directed funding through the Community Action Program to support low-income families with childhood and adult education, housing assistance, safety services and school readiness initiatives. His campaign says these partnerships help connect schools with community resources that support students beyond the classroom.

In a May 23 Facebook campaign post after attending a nonpartisan political forum, David Williams emphasized the importance of civic engagement regardless of political affiliation.

“One thing I strongly believe, regardless of party, informed voters build stronger communities,” he wrote.

Libraries and Books

Libraries have become another point of emphasis during the campaign. Florida is the leading book-banning state in the United States with nearly 9,000 books banned in public schools since 2021, according to free speech advocacy group PEN America. 

David Williams has promoted libraries as centers for literacy and early learning. On July 20, he went live on Facebook from the Alice S. Williams Center, a 73-year-old library in Pensacola, for the grand opening of the Head Start childcare program. He championed his support for the program and emphasized the importance of community partnerships for the success of District 3 Public Schools.

“As someone who has dedicated my career to serving this community, I know that strong partnerships are essential to student success,” he wrote in his July 21 Facebook caption. “Programs like Head Start help give children a strong start and make a lasting difference for students throughout District 3 and beyond.”

When asked about libraries, Isaac Williams addressed the debate over book bans in school libraries directly.

“I am 150% against book banning. Period,” he said.

He said all books determined to be age-appropriate by education professionals should remain available in schools, emphasizing that the decision should not be touched by politicians with hidden agendas.

Isaac Williams said banning a book on the basis of disagreeing with an author or book is a violation of freedom of speech and would not be tolerated under his leadership. 

“I believe it’s so important to leave freedom of reading between a child and a parent,” he said. “Granted, they have to be age-appropriate materials, and that’s why we have a special department that reviews those books.”

As the Aug. 18 primary approaches, voters will decide between the two candidates. David Williams is asking voters to continue initiatives he said have strengthened schools during his term. Isaac Williams is offering what he described as a more community-centered approach, arguing that school board decisions should begin by listening to the parents, educators and students they affect.

Incumbent David Williams responded to a request for an interview, but an interview was not scheduled before publication despite follow-up. Information about Williams’ campaign is based on public statements, campaign materials and his official Escambia County Public Schools biography. Isaac Williams was interviewed for this story.

Whichever candidate voters choose, the next District 3 representative will shape decisions affecting school safety, student achievement, teacher support and educational opportunities across Escambia County.