Our Focus

Whether they go to Key West High School, Adams Middle School in Tampa, or Destin Elementary School in the Panhandle, Families for Strong Public Schools knows that all kids across Florida deserve a safe, welcoming, and enriching school where they are valued for who they are and receive a top-quality education. But certain politicians are focused on politicizing our schools by banning books, erasing history, and attacking students and staff for who they are. These politicians want to distract us from their failure to fully fund our schools depriving our students and teachers of the resources they need to thrive. We see what lawmakers are trying to do. We will not allow ourselves to be distracted or divided. By showing up for all Florida students, we will create the schools our kids need. When we come together and advocate for the schools and education we know our students deserve, every kid in Florida can learn and grow and achieve their wildest dreams.

Family is Everything

Parents know what’s best for our children and their voices must be heard. Many parents have real, legitimate concerns about the direction education in Florida is heading, and healthy dialogues allow schools and teachers to grow. The role that parents and families play within education at all levels is imperative. When all players make children the sole focus, our children benefit.

Education is Above Politics

Our children are not pawns, and certain politicians have no right to use them to score political points. This is not about D or R, it’s about E – education. Certain politicians are trying to frame issues in education as being the fault of parents on one side or another, but that could not be further from the truth. These politicians are trying to drive a wedge between schools and families, to the detriment of students. We must take political rhetoric out of the debate and recenter on what is truly best for children, not what makes headlines for certain politicians trying to win a game that has nothing to do with our kids.

Schools Teach Kids What They Need

Schools teach independent thinking so that our children can navigate the world successfully, and every child deserves access to high quality and age-appropriate education. Our schools have a responsibility to help prepare children for the next stage of their life, and eventually the real world, and part of that requires understanding sensitive subjects. We must recognize that sensitive topics will require teachers to learn new skills, and teachers need encouragement and resources to properly support our children’s learning.

Schools Help Build Strong Citizens

American exceptionalism is real but fragile. Our children need to learn about our responsibility to protect it. Americans need to understand our complete and true story as we move forward; that is what sets our country apart. That understanding begins in our schools, and any attempt to limit learning as un-American is a direct attack on our freedoms and the values that makes our country so unique. Education builds awareness and is a vehicle for teaching good citizenship.

Our Team

Executive Director

damaris@strongflschools.com

Damaris Allen is a product of Hillsborough County Public Schools and the proud mother of a HCPS graduate and a HCPS student. She began her advocacy journey when she registered her oldest child for kindergarten and discovered her neighbors were opting out of sending their children to their neighborhood public school. Instead of pulling her child from her the school she decided to focus her efforts on working with parents, teachers, and the administrators to improve the school. Today, this local elementary school is one of the most sought after schools in the district. Damaris went on to serve in numerous roles, including but not limited to, President of Hillsborough County PTA/PTSA, Chair of the Hillsborough County School Board Citizens Advisory Committee, and a member of the Florida PTA Legislation Committee.

Prior to becoming a full time education advocate she studied Christian Education and Theatre at Florida Southern College and worked with children, youth, and their families in the United Methodist Church. Her advocacy work has taught her to never underestimate the power of the collective voice to transform education.

In her free time she is an avid reader of nonfiction, loves to bake for friends and family, and takes ballet classes whenever possible. Damaris is driven by the desire to help parents discover the power of their voice and empowering them to use them to create high quality public schools for all children.

Organizer-St. John’s County

nancy@strongflschools.com

Nancy Tray is mom to three terrific children in Saint Johns County public schools. Nancy majored in social work and sociology at James
Madison University, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She went on to earn her MSW in macro social work from Virginia
Commonwealth University. She is also a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from George Mason University. She has
worked as an affordable housing researcher and advocate in DC, a domestic violence counselor, and a hospital RN. She loves tackling
issues that are close to her heart and is currently helping to build and grow SJC Voters for Strong Public Schools – a local nonpartisan
coalition of parents, families, educators, and community members working together to support and strengthen public education for all
students.

Organizer-Northwest Region
Duval, St. John’s, Nassau, Flagler, Clay

katie@strongflschools.com

Families for Strong Public Schools

Dedicated to centering our students in education policy by unifying, educating, and empowering parents to support a strong public education agenda at all levels of government.