Where I Stand Eight Months In: Lessons from the Campaign Trail

By Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large)

Eight months into the 2026 Pinellas County School Board election, I had a realization:

I may be approaching this differently than most candidates.

Not because I think I know more, and not because I have some secret to campaigning.

But because I don’t approach this as “do what you have to do to win, and figure the rest out later.”

I approach this as: Be clear about who you are from the start.

That doesn’t make me better than anyone else, and I’m not criticizing candidates who take a different approach.

I know that for me, especially in a role that impacts students, including my own children, I can’t set aside what I believe for the sake of going along with the status quo.

So let me give a couple examples of what I mean.

When I fill out endorsement surveys, I don’t answer questions based on what I think people want to hear. I answer them based on my values.

When I have conversations with people who openly support other candidates, I’ll say, “Just give me a chance to change your mind.”

To be fair, no one who’s already committed has taken me up on that yet. 🙂

If they ever do, it won’t be about telling them what they want to hear, it’ll be about being honest about how I think and how I make decisions.

I try my best, though I’m never perfect, to be the following:

Nuanced – I don’t see issues as black and white, especially in public education, where decisions impact students, families, and teachers in different ways.

Empathetic – I take the time to understand where people are coming from, even when I don’t agree, because that context matters.

Intentional – I don’t make decisions for optics or pressure. I make them based on what I believe will lead to better outcomes.

It also means I don’t change what I believe depending on who I’m talking to.

Now, I’m not against “code-switching.” Heck, the way I talk to my 3-year-old isn’t how I talk to my mom, even though that would be a funny social experiment.

In the end, understanding your audience is just being human and knowing how to connect with people.

But when it comes to my values and how I make decisions, I don’t switch.

I haven’t before this campaign, and I’m not going to start now.

Even when I know something I say might not land perfectly, I stay focused on being honest about what I believe and how it impacts our kids, not just repeating what people expect to hear.

A Conversation That Stuck With Me

Recently, I was talking with a friend who’s thinking about starting a family here in Florida.

At one point, he asked me:

“How's the campaign going? Be honest… is this really nonpartisan?”

I told him, “I am.”

He laughed and said, “Good luck with that.”

And I get why he said it.

Because for a lot of people, especially those who aren’t deeply engaged in Florida public education debates, it doesn’t feel nonpartisan.

It feels like everything eventually turns political.

Here’s How I See It

I told him this:

I didn’t run for Pinellas County School Board to represent a political party.

I ran because I kept hearing the same thing from people across Pinellas County:

They want simple things:

• Safe schools

• Supported teachers

• Clear communication with families

• Students who graduate prepared for life beyond the classroom

They also want solutions that are more complex to deliver:

• Increased funding and teacher salaries that keep pace with the cost of living

• Smaller class sizes while maintaining enough qualified teachers

• Expanded mental health support within already stretched school resources

• Universal free lunch programs that are sustainable long-term

Not labels.

Not talking points.

They wont real outcomes in public education.

That’s what keeps our schools nonpartisan.

The Reality of This Race and Who’s in It

There are three candidates in this race for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large).

Dawn Peters is the current incumbent, bringing experience from serving on the school board and helping guide decisions impacting Pinellas County Schools.

Dawn Douglas brings the perspective of a classroom teacher, grounded in the day-to-day realities of Florida public education.

Both candidates in this race bring very different backgrounds and perspectives.

As for me, I’m a 41-year-old Floridian, born and raised in Pinellas County.

I bring over a decade of experience working directly with children and families, not only on the front lines with young people, but also overseeing state-funded programs serving multiple circuits across Central Florida.

I’m also raising two children in public schools right here in our community, and I will be for the next 15 years.

This isn’t theoretical for me. It’s personal, and it’s long-term.

And ultimately, voters will decide which direction they want to go for public education in Pinellas County.

Where I’m Different

In fairness, this is my blog, so I’m going to take a little extra liberty to expand on my background. ;)

My history is different.

I’ve worked across systems that connect directly to student success:

• Juvenile justice

• Child welfare

• Workforce development

• Youth and family services

I’ve seen what happens when:

• At-risk youth fall through the cracks

• Families don’t feel supported

• Systems don’t communicate

And I’ve seen what happens when they do.

Better outcomes for students. Stronger schools. Stronger communities.

On a personal note, this isn’t just professional for me.

I went through Pinellas County public schools.

I was bullied. I got suspended for fighting. And eventually, I dropped out and earned my GED. (That version of me is captured pretty well in this blog’s title image.)

But I’ve come to understand that those moments didn’t define who I was.

They forced me to decide who I wanted to become.

That decision led me toward psychology, social work, and ultimately the work I just described.

And today, my life is deeply connected to the very systems we’re talking about.

My mom is a public school teacher.

My wife is a social worker.

And my children were adopted through the foster care system.

My personal life has been shaped by helpers, and the systems that support them.

And yes… for full transparency…

I’m also a die-hard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan.

What Most People Actually Care About

For most people in Pinellas County, especially those not following school board meetings or education policy closely, the questions are simple:

• Are schools safe?

• Are teachers supported?

• Are students being prepared for real life?

That’s it.

They’re not thinking about politics.

They’re thinking about their child.

Or the child they might have someday.

And that’s why, when Florida voters were asked on November 5, 2024, whether school board races should become partisan, they said no. Amendment 1 received about 55% support, but in Florida, constitutional amendments need 60% to pass. 

Where Partisanship Shows Up

Partisanship in public education in Florida doesn’t always show up in obvious ways.

Sometimes it shows up in:

• How issues are framed

• What priorities get elevated

• How quickly we assume the worst about people we disagree with

But it can also show up in more subtle ways.

It shows up in who candidates seek out for endorsements, where the majority of their campaign support and donations come from, and how they choose to describe themselves and their priorities, sometimes directly, and sometimes more… implied.

And that’s not unique to one candidate or one side. It’s part of the broader environment we’re all in.

But over time, that kind of framing can start to shape decisions and how people interpret them.

And that’s where things can start to drift away from what actually matters.

A Value That Matters

There’s a well-known idea that when decisions aren’t grounded in clear principles, it’s easier to lose sight of what actually matters.

Whether you fully agree or not, the idea still matters.

Because when it comes to public education, this isn’t about national politics.

It’s about values.

The next 6 Months

As this race continues, there will be more noise.

More opinions.

More pressure to pick sides.

But here’s where I stand:

I’m not interested in turning school board decisions into political battles.

I’m interested in making sure:

• Students have a positive experience in school

• Teachers have the support and resources to succeed

• At-risk youth don’t get left behind

Because when those things don’t happen, the consequences don’t stay in headlines.

They show up in real lives.

Where I Stand

I’m running as an independent thinker in a nonpartisan race.

Not to avoid hard decisions.

But to make them based on:

• What works

• What’s fair

• What actually improves outcomes for students and families (including my own)

Because when public education works in Pinellas County, everything else improves with it.

If this approach resonates with you, stay engaged, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

And if you’re looking for leadership that keeps it real, I’d value your support.

Get Involved

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large), and do not represent the official position of any organization or governing body.