My name is Carl Gaines, Jr. and I am running for re-election to the St. Bernard Parish School Board, District 10 seat.
I believe in our public school system. As your current District 10 School Board Member for almost two years, I have attended countless meetings advocating for our kids. As a Kiwanian, I have presented Terrific Kids awards to very deserving students and parents in our district. As your School Board member, I have supported our many programs within the school system from The Academy for Performing Arts to our awesome Special Olympians.
St. Bernard Parish Public Schools provides amazing educational resources for our kids. In many ways, we are able to offer subjects and extracurricular resources that other public or private schools either don’t offer or have had to cut (i.e., music, art, sports, and languages). We are truly lucky to have such excellent schools in our parish. However, there is always room for improvement. Ongoing evaluations are needed to determine if our goals have been successfully met. As YOUR school board member, I will continue to promote the highest caliber of teaching and learning possible that will maximize each child’s potential, while remaining fiscally responsible.
As a teacher, prior to retirement with St. Bernard Public Schools, I taught Computer Literacy and Science at St. Bernard High from 1988 to 1996. My wife, Susette, taught at J.F. Gauthier and P.G.T. Beauregard. By 1996, I became Coordinator of Technology for the school system and helped bring classroom computers and the Internet to all of our schools. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was one of the first teachers to return for our November 2005 opening as SBUS, living in a trailer next to our school board offices. Susette joined me in January 2006 to teach at SBUS as well. Afterward, I continued teaching at Chalmette High until my retirement in 2013. When a special election was called in 2016, you, the families of District 10 elected me to complete the unexpired term of Ronnie Nicosia due to his death. After my swearing-in by the District Attorney, I began to work tirelessly for the children and families of District 10.
As a New Orleans native who has lived in St. Bernard Parish since 1969. I am currently residing on South Creek Lane in Violet with my wife of 38 years, Susette Dixon Gaines. I am the proud father of twin daughters, Spring and Sian, who attended St. Bernard Public Schools (J.F. Gauthier, Arabi Park/Chalmette Middle and Chalmette High) and graduated with honors from Chalmette High in 2003. Also, I am PopPop to two awesome grandsons, Jasper and Sawyer. As a Chalmette High Graduate (Class of 1971) I earned a BA in History (1976)and MA in History Teaching(1993) from the University of New Orleans.
I am always accessible to you the voters and families of District 10. You can always follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GainesDistrict10/), on Twitter (@gainesdist10), email me at gainesdistrict10@gmail.com, or call me at (504) 270-1152.
Communication is key for our school district to be successful and provide the best possible educational experience for our families.
To continue the great works in progress for our school district, I ask for your vote on November 6th to reelect Carl Gaines, Jr., Member of St. Bernard Parish School Board District 10.
