Name: Gloria Branch
Campaign website: votegloriabranch.com
Date and place of birth: May 17, 1968, Williston, Florida
After five years, the school district’s state rating fell from A to B in 2023. What specific steps are needed to restore an A rating?
⦁ Culture: Shed the remnants of equity and woke ideology and move to excellence, equality and merit.
⦁ Basics – Teach and expect students to read, write, count and behave
⦁ Curriculum – Emphasis career development and college preparation
⦁ Safety and security – Always ongoing and enforce policy
⦁ Financial Solvency – Refocus resources to the classroom & teacher pay
What do you think of plans to install metal detectors in Palm Beach high schools? What else should be done to ensure school safety?
⦁ Yes – these were used 30 years ago
⦁ Drug dogs – previously used
⦁ Undercover police – previously used
⦁ Enforce the rules.
The Legislature in 2024 passed, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed, a law allowing voluntary chaplains in public schools (HB 931), subject to district approval. Do you support or oppose this law and why?
⦁ Yes, notwithstanding the ‘separation of church and state’ legal principle, America was built on a Judo-Christian ethic. Today’s anti-Christian political movement is not only untenable, but it is counter-productive to the morality, self-responsibility and self-reliance which are necessary for a productive and just society.
In June, the district revealed three plans to comply with a new state law mandating later school start times. Do you favor any of these plans, and if so, which? If not, what is your plan to comply with state law?
⦁ Comply with the statutory requirement.
⦁ Include the parents in the process.
⦁ Considering SDPBC’s large geographic size and the limited resources to purchase more buses and drivers, asking the legislature for a SDPBC exemption would be appropriate, but not likely successful.
How would you assess the performance of Superintendent Michael Burke?
⦁ Mr. Burke is doing a good job with the budget.
⦁ Mr. Burke has a cooperative style of leadership and is very inclusive.
⦁ Mr. Burke as a financial expert is necessarily reliant on staff for the academic responsibilities.
⦁ Whether SDPBC returns to state and national dominance will depend on staff selection and leadership.
List in reverse chronological order each college or university attended with years of attendance.
⦁ 1991 – Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, BBA, Finance
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
⦁ 2023- current – Substitute Teacher – Palm Beach County School District
⦁ 2012 – current – The Gloria Group –Boca Raton, Florida
⦁ Consultant
After my career in banking, I started my consulting business, helping clients with their needs for operations, project management, business development and everything in between.
⦁ Specific projects:
⦁ Implemented and managed HR Department included: on boarding, policy and procedures including strategies and selection techniques for all job levels & roles.
⦁ Managed website and social media
⦁ Managed day to day operations, vendor relationships, executive’s calendars/schedules and business needs, with confidentiality
⦁ Managed and implemented policies and procedures, manage all aspects of growing companies
⦁ Managed facilities and property management HQ (office & warehouse)
(a/c, plumbing, electrical, warehouse racking, furniture/fixtures, doors, & security)
⦁ Maintained fire extinguishers and emergency lights & exit signs – kept up to date
⦁ Managed building improvements: carpet, flooring, new offices, office furniture
⦁ Installed/implemented/managed new phone system
⦁ Negotiated contracts and bidding process for company needs
⦁ Facilitated & managed rules, regulations, license requirements of City, County & State
⦁ Implemented IT/Cyber security department (computer system)
⦁ Planned & managed company events & all aspects of conference planning, attendees & set up
⦁ Facilitated & managed political campaigns and events
⦁ Managed large commercial building/landscape projects, worked with General Contractors & Developers
⦁ Completed process of approval for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with the State of Florida and the process of approval as an FDOT contractor
⦁ Saved one client $800,000. in building maintenance cost (in 1 year)
⦁ Managed & maintained building requirements for Business Tax Receipt, Certificate of Occupancy and Fire Marshall & handled all requirements with the City & Broward County
⦁ Assisted CFO and CPA with billing, banking & merchant processing
⦁ August 1986 – August 2012 Banking career
Started as a teller in 1986 and through promotions, became Senior Vice President. I worked in the following areas: teller, management trainee, managed $100 million-dollar main office (staff of 15), private banker, business development, sales, loans, budgeting, merchant processing, accounting, cash/treasury management, audit, training, marketing and always provided high-level client service. While working at BankAtlantic (now Truist Bank), I managed and installed a large ATM project throughout Florida, for Walmart and Sam’s clubs (300 ATM’s),
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
⦁ No
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
⦁ No
Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
⦁ A school board member requires the broadest set of experiences to understand, analyze and operationalize solutions through policy. My experiences in K-12 education, higher education, governance, business, industry, finance, HR, and corporate politics is perfect skill set for the myriad of issues faced in the role of school board member, particularly Palm Beach School District with 200,000 students, a workforce of ~25,000, and a $5.5 billion plus budget.
⦁ Some people have 30 years of experience, while other have 1 year of experience 30 times. By contrast, my experiences have given me a broad knowledge base and 30+ years of relationship building in Palm Beach to tackle all of the issues confronting SDPBC.
What in your life experience best qualifies you to serve as a school board member?
⦁ I am a mother, single parent, successful business woman, entrepreneur and the daughter of the former SDPBC Superintendent – Dr. Art Johnson. “Dr J” is teacher at heart and I have listened to his table talk all my life regarding the educational knowledge which he has shared with me and our family. He is the greatest mentor one could have.
