St. Lucie County School Board Chairman Troy Ingersoll has secured a sixth term, defeating political newcomer Lisa Kessler in the District 5 runoff after a closely divided August primary. Ingersoll, who has served on the board since 2006, returns with priorities that include safe schools, stronger student achievement and responsible budgeting. He identifies teacher recruitment and retention, rapid population growth and leadership development as major challenges for the district’s next term.
Kessler narrowly led the August primary with 37.5% of the vote, compared with Ingersoll’s 37.2%, a difference of 167 votes. Charles Cerami received 25.2%. District 5 covers the eastern, coastal portion of the school district. School Board candidates must live in the districts they seek to represent, but all registered St. Lucie County voters were eligible to cast ballots in the nonpartisan race.
Ingersoll supports maintaining accelerated academic programs through consistent funding, targeted interventions and teacher development. He owns Pinch A Penny Pools and Spas in Vero Beach and serves as pastor of Midway Road Baptist Church. He holds a criminology degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Kessler campaigned on academic standards in reading, math, science and career readiness, along with recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. Her platform also emphasized stronger career and technical education, arts programs, better communication between schools and families, transparent budgeting and treating parents as partners in school decisions. She says public schools should make their case to families by highlighting certified teachers and programs unavailable elsewhere.
A small-business owner, bestselling author and chair of the Fort Pierce Arts and Culture Advisory Board, Kessler spent 26 years in sales and marketing management before writing full time. Her campaign also highlighted her background as the daughter of two lifelong public-school teachers and her 11 years as a Girl Scout troop leader.