WHO IS DENISE NYSTROM?

Someone who …

Believes that a good education, which ensures that every student graduates and is prepared for the next step in their lives, is the right of every child

Is a loving mom and grandma

Was a dedicated special education teacher for 14 years and special education administrator for 3 years

Served as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools for 8 years managing multi-million-dollar school budgets

Is an advocate for strengthening education by involving parents in their children’s education

Supports engaging and including the community is curriculum-building decisions

DENISE'S EXPERIENCE

AS A TEACHER and ADMINISTRATOR

Denise has THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS with

THE RIGHT SKILLSET to hit the ground running and affect

THE RIGHT CHANGE

Denise knows how school districts run because she managed a school district’s multi-million-dollar operating budget with fiscal transparency and accountability

Denise’s experience includes serving as a school district’s Assistant Superintendent, a Special Education Administrator, and a Special Education Teacher

As a Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Denise was responsible for hiring, firing, medical insurance, worker’s compensation, unemployment, transportation, federal grants, state and federal accountability reporting, curriculum development, professional development, building utilization and more

As a Special Education Administrator, Denise protected the rights of disabled students by providing them with the programs and services they needed to learn

As a Special Education Teacher, Denise knows how hard teachers, counselors, and support staff work to give students the education and skills that will support their lifegoals

Denise’s professional background sets a high bar for a school district’s curriculum -- Curriculum should consist of general learning goals, objectives and courses with textbooks and learning materials aligned with community values and appropriate for a student’s age-group

AS A CHILD and PARENT ADVOCATE

Denise walks the walk, not just talks the talk

Denise attends every Lee County School Board meeting and workshop which means 9 – 12 hours per day, multiple times per week

Denise tracks legislation and supports the Parents’ Rights Bill, Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, and the Civics Bill

Denise engages and informs parents through her weekly newsletter and has organized many letter writing campaigns to the Board of Education and to state and federal legislators

Denise created and distributed an opt-out form for parents that followed Florida state regulations forbidding the Lee County School District from teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). The opt-out form also prevents the school district from asking children if they have been vaccinated

Denise organized 40 community members to study and evaluate Lee County School’s English textbooks for SEL and CRT. She presented the findings to the Lee County Board of Education, the Superintendent of Lee County Schools, and the Curriculum Chiefs in a written report. •

Denise was instrumental in halting the new K-8 school to be built in Estero by filing a letter of complaint to the Office of Civil Rights because School District data proved the need was in the school district’s East Zone