Abigail Levrini
Submitted by the candidate
Dr. Abigail Levrini is a licensed psychologist, Ponte Vedra business owner, bestselling author and mom to two St. Johns County public school students. She earned her doctorate in counseling and school psychology from the Florida State University College of Education in 2008.
In 2010, she authored her first book with the American Psychological Association, a bestselling self-help book for adults with ADHD. Two years later she produced a second book, which helps other professionals around the world to conduct behavioral interventions for clients with Attention Deficit. She has published numerous scientific articles in the field of school psychology and presents on school interventions in professional settings throughout the country. She can be found throughout the media on WebMD, The Washington Post, NAMI, APA, Psych Central and many other popular means of press.
In 2014, she opened a Florida branch of her educational and psychological practice, Psych Ed Connections. Through Psych Ed, Levrini and her staff help families to improve academic and work functioning, relationships and life skills. She specializes in helping students to develop executive function skills such as organization, time management decision-making, positive self-talk and social skills. She is also an avid runner and philanthropist, and for this reason Levrini started the Psych Ed Connections 5K/10K Turkey Trot, Fun Run & Golf Cart Parade each Thanksgiving since 2016 in the Nocatee community, from which proceeds are distributed to local charities.
Levrini hopes to bring her vast experience in the field of educational psychology to the St. Johns County School Board, emphasizing the importance of children's social and emotional health in addition to their academic prowess. She plans to take St. Johns from a top tier Florida county to a top performing county within the United States, improve state safety rankings and advocate for the families of St. Johns County.
For more information on Levrini, visit https://www.votelevrini2018.com/.
Denver Cook
Submitted by the candidate
As a parent of two daughters in middle school, Denver Cook personally understands the challenges facing St. Johns County Schools. He believes parents are the single most important partner for success in education and that unilateral decision-making by the current board often ignores desired parental outcomes and insufficiently prepares students for life.
Cook believes his years of service in military intelligence, large-scale commercial and government construction, law enforcement and as a leader supporting many St. Johns County youth initiatives have uniquely prepared him to successfully address current and future challenges. With solutions to address these challenges, as a board member, he believes he will set policy prioritizing initiatives that help students reach their full potential.
For students to succeed, Cook says the community must challenge the most talented students with a more rigorous curriculum, provide supportive environments for special needs children and develop better vocational programs for those not on a college track so they can find real-world success.
Cook says many people don’t know that local school boards have the state constitutional responsibility for and authority over all curriculum. He believes the community needs board members who will provide a curriculum that teaches past the FSA minimum, administrators who truly support teachers and teachers empowered to inspire children.
According to Cook, overcrowding and school safety are real issues for the community, but he says these can be addressed through fiscally responsible budget policy. He says he is a leader who understands how to evaluate complex programs, identify challenges, develop effective strategies and target resources for systemic improvement.
For more information about Cook, visit www.denvercook.com.
Kelly Barrera
Submitted by the candidate
Kelly Barrera brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in education and business management to the St. Johns County School Board.
As the board’s vice chair, she plays a strategic role in guiding the top-rated school district in Florida, overseeing nearly 40,000 students and a $315 million budget. During her tenure, Barrera has addressed concerns about school overcrowding, overseeing the opening of four new K-8 schools and one new elementary school, along with the expansion of Crookshank, Mill Creek and Nease. If re-elected, she has pledged to lead the fight for a new high school to further ease overcrowding.
Barrera also advocated for a testing task force to reduce testing, increased Exceptional Student Education and guidance programs, expanded student social and emotional learning and support and played a leading role in plans to strengthen school security. She has increased opportunities for parental and community involvement including: Superintendent Selection committee, Citizen’s Sales Tax Advisory committee, Strategic Plan committee, Testing Task Force and dozens of town hall/community meetings held across the district.
Barrera is committed to providing all students with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to enter higher education or directly move into the workforce.
As a lifelong learner, she is pursuing her master’s degree in education, has earned the Florida School Board Association’s Certified Board Member designation and Master Board Certification and serves on the Schultz Center for Teaching and Learning, along with years of experience serving in advisory boards for area schools and in post-secondary education.
A Ponte Vedra Beach resident, Barrera is a graduate of Jacksonville University, where she was the first female graduate of the aviation program. She and her husband, Gil Barrera, are the parents of two children and two Rotary Youth Exchange students. For more information on Barrera, visit www.kellybarrera.com.
