Jerry Register, Whitney Nieves compete for District 1 seat on Bay District School Board

PANAMA CITY − Two local candidates are nearing the end of a battle for the District 1 seat on the Bay District School Board.

The seat is one of several local offices up for election in the 2024 primary elections. Those running are incumbent Jerry Register, who has held the position for 16 years, and Whitney Nieves.

Here's what we know about each candidate:

Jerry Register

Register says it's important for Bay District School Board members to not only be in tune with the community, but have extensive teaching experience.

At 77, Register has worked as a local educator or administrator for about three decades. This includes five years teaching at Everitt Middle School, eight years teaching at Springfield Elementary School, more than two years teaching at Lynn Haven Elementary School, more than two years as assistant principal of Northside Elementary School and more than 11 years as principal of Southport Elementary School.

"I've been in the classroom all those years, and my motto through the years is 'kids first,'" Register said. "In this day and time, with so many negatives in our lives, it's so important that our kids get a good education."

Register was first elected to the school board in 2008 − nine years after he retired as Southport principal. When laws changed about five years ago that limited school board members to two consecutive terms, he was grandfathered in and allowed two more terms from that point. He currently is finishing his first term under the new law.

Looking back on his time in office, Register said there are many decisions and accomplishments he is proud to have been a part of while serving on the school board.

They include leading a drive to keep Callaway Elementary School open after Hurricane Michael in 2018, as well as working with other board members to help the district bounce back from about $600 million in damages caused by the Category 5 storm.

"I grew up here, I love Bay County and I love what I do with the school board," Register said. "I'm a Christian. I'm a hard worker ... and I want the best for our district."

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Whitney Nieves

Nieves, 32, said she is running for the school board to be an advocate for local parents who are unhappy with the way the district is being run.

With almost a decade of teaching experience, Nieves has taught elementary school, middle school and high school-aged students across multiple U.S. states, including Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona and Florida. She also taught in Japan, where she oversaw military students from a variety of backgrounds.

"(After) seeing how behind the times are here, in terms of education and economy, I decided to get involved and be an advocate for other parents," said Nieves, who currently teaches middle school English for Arizona Virtual Academy. "I'm in a position where I can do that, whereas they're working multiple jobs and can't get to school board meetings."

She and her husband, Ruben, moved to the area about two years ago, when he was transferred to Tyndall Air Force Base. He then retired as a technical sergeant after a career spanning more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, and the two decided to make Bay County their "forever home."

For Nieves, there are many areas where she thinks Bay District Schools should improve, including how the district caters curriculum for both its underperforming and most advanced students.

Nieves also said that if elected, she would work to improve school safety, as well as encourage board members to become more personally involved with the educational needs of local students.

"I want to see the school board members become education activists in the community," she said. "I don't think it's enough to just say 'I went to the school once a quarter,' or 'I went to this award ceremony or this after-school program.' Sure, those kids are going to need you too, but the ones who are really at risk, the ones who really need you, are there during school hours."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Jerry Register, Whitney Nieves compete for District 1 seat on Bay District School Board