clear vision

My vision for a school system that is the best choice to provide all students a pathway to success includes the following elements:
  • Parents choose to enroll their students, and children choose to attend
  • Students acquire college and workforce-ready skills, while achieving to the best of their abilities
  • Employees are empowered and proud to work for the system
  • Local employers and prospective businesses will have a career-ready pool of applicants prepared to enter the workforce
  • Taxpayers see accountability and positive returns on their investment

proven leadership

David Gunter is currently serving Santa Rosa County District Schools as the Director of Labor Relations and Compliance. His career ranges from business owner to public employee. David began his career in 1995 as the co-owner and manager of a private real estate rental company in Auburn, Alabama which he sold in 1999. During that same time, he also worked as a contract instructor for Auburn University teaching physical education and diving classes where he developed his love for teaching and hands on learning. David is a former Innovative Technology Principal of the Year, Middle School Principal of the Year, and Rookie of the Year as a teacher at Woodlawn Beach Middle School for Santa Rosa County and has a combined 23 years of experience teaching students from Kindergarten to college. Through both his professional and personal life David looks for ways to serve his peers and community. In the past David served locally as the President and Vice President of the Santa Rosa County Association of School Administrators. He also served on the Board of Directors as the Northwest Regional Director for the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals working with educational leaders from across the state to communicate the needs of public education to state representatives and senators during annual legislative sessions. David has also been very involved in the Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee where in the past he has served in different capacities for the Republican Party. Through his varied work experience, David has developed an exceptional skill set in people, project and financial leadership along with a professional style based on excellent communication, vision and goal setting.     

employees are empowered and
​proud to work for the system

"Young minds need great leaders, so it is our responsibility to retain and hire the best educational talent available."
The foundation of any quality organization is the employees within that organization. Santa Rosa County has been recognized as a high performing school district by the Florida Department of Education thanks to the hard work and dedication of the teachers, educational support staff and administrators. The state of public education is under attack because of issues in other parts of the state that we do not experience in Santa Rosa County. The legislature has stripped away tenure for teachers, diluted the retirement system, and implemented a bonus system that is by no means the “best and brightest” way to reward teachers. If elected I will work to restore a fair and equitable compensation system for teachers and employees. I will begin by recommending a return to step-based salary schedules for all employees with the advancement on the salary schedule tied to an employee’s evaluation. This system allows employees to plan for their futures while allowing the school district to budget for the future. Employees receiving an effective or highly effective evaluation rating will be eligible to advance on the salary schedule in the following year. ​
"Principals need the flexibility to serve their students in the best manner possible, and turn each school into the hub of the community."
There have been a lot of changes in public education since I made the decision to return to Santa Rosa County and give back to my community through a career in education. I remember the course work and classes I put in place for middle schoolers just ten years ago while working as the Principal at King Middle School and then reflect on the curriculum that was offered county wide during my tenure as Director of Middle Schools. I compare those examples to the material my nine year old son experienced this past year in third grade along with the course work my twelve year old daughter experienced in the middle school setting. Some of the changes have been good but many of them have not. The forced implementation of common core in the past by the state limited the school district and a principal’s ability to make decisions locally for what is best for our students in Santa Rosa County. If elected I will work both locally and in Tallahassee to return local control to the school district and give principals the flexibility they need to best serve your students in your community while at the same time making each respective school the hub of the community. I stand with you side-by-side as a parent with students in Santa Rosa County Schools. My ultimate measure has been and always will be, “if I would not put my child in a situation then I am not going to put your child in that situation either.”

local employers and prospective businesses will have a career-ready
pool of applicants prepared to
​enter the workforce

“There is no reason high school students in Santa Rosa County should not be graduating with locally relevant trade certifications that are needed to go get a job the day after graduating instead of moving out of our community to acquire a student loan debt.”
Every student attending school in Santa Rosa County now will not be heading to college and we need to accept that fact. I believe in offering a balanced curriculum that continues to produce college ready students while at the same time promoting the benefits of career and technical training leading to recognized industry certifications. I believe we should give our students the opportunity to enter the workforce immediately with a job that will provide a sustainable income for a family. If elected I will immediately begin the process of implementing locally relevant industry-based certifications that will allow students to start exploring their career options as early as elementary school. This process will continue as our students advance through the middle school years with the opportunity to engage in career pathways that peak their interest. The process will culminate with high school students heading towards graduation with opportunities to gain real-life experience in the career pathway of their choice while at the same time acquiring the associated industry certification that will lead to immediate employment or provide post-secondary opportunities upon graduation.
“Together we will build successful futures for all our students.”