When Patty Hightower threw her hat in the ring for the Escambia County School Board District 4 seat in 2004, she never expected to remain in the post for 20 years.
She faced an incumbent school board member along with two other candidates. Hightower – the only woman in the race – handily won the seat with 68% of the votes and never faced opposition again in four subsequent elections.
“It’s truly been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of District 4 and Escambia County,” said Hightower, a woman whose name has become synonymous with education for over two decades. “I made it my mission to serve as a school board member – responsibly and be that voice parents need.”
Hightower’s last day is Nov. 18. Either Carissa Bergosh or Rich Holzknecht will take over the District 4 seat following the general election.
Hightower and her husband, Jimmy, moved to Pensacola in 1976, when she was six months pregnant with her first child, Andy. She had taught at elementary schools in Alabama and Texas, and at colleges in Georgia.
After Andy’s birth she planned to take a three-month break and go back to teaching. However, Hightower could not find a job – so she became a stay-at-home mom. Once Andy started kindergarten at Cordova Park Elementary, she began volunteering with the school’s PTA and in the classroom.
After son Patrick came along the family moved to the Scenic Heights Elementary School zone, and Hightower began working as a secretary for Sally Lee, then president of the Escambia County Council of Parent and Teacher Associations.
“I then started looking at things from the county level and started having that ‘aha moment’ of realizing not everyone has the ability to advocate for their child the way I have been able to advocate for my child,” recalled Hightower, who eventually became Escambia County Council PTA president. She later was the Florida PTA secretary and president.
In 2004, after serving at the local and state PTA level, Hightower said she was considering her next step.
“At that time, we had a school board that was a little bit dysfunctional. There was some gnashing of teeth between the board and the superintendent, and my church read the book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” I thought, ‘OK, maybe, this is what I am supposed to do now. I will run and if I don’t win, there is another plan and I would just have to figure out what it was,’” she said.
Since winning that election, Hightower has served with four superintendents – Jim Paul, Malcolm Thomas, Tim Smith and currently, Keith Leonard. She’s also worked with numerous school board members and realizes that her 20-year-tenure will be among the longest due to the new term limit law.
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When asked how many graduations she has attended, Hightower estimated at least 140 along with numerous other functions such as awards ceremonies, band events, school expos and more.
“People would ask me how I sit there through all of that (graduation ceremonies), and I say, ‘That what it’s all about!’ You start them in kindergarten, and you build on that. Then when they graduate, it’s an accomplishment,” Hightower said.
“Sometimes, they don’t really realize it, but you see it kind of as they are walking across the stage. You see that smile or that uncertainty in their eyes and in their face. I just find that to be one of the joyful moments.”
Lara McKnight, whose four children attended District 4 schools, described Hightower as a very approachable representative.
“I’ve reached out to Patty as my school board representative on countless occasions over the last 20 years and she has always been responsive and willing to listen,” McKnight said.
“Whether I was voicing concerns, seeking answers to questions, or looking for guidance, Patty has been patient, informative and level-headed. She is a kind and caring person who has served our kids with compassion and our community with honor. I know she’s probably tired of hearing from me by now, but I’m exceedingly grateful for her years of dedicated service.”
District 5 representative Bill Slayton, who served on the school board with Hightower for four terms, is also retiring. Thomas Harrell, who was elected outright in the August primary, will replace Slayton the school board.
“Patty and I have been working together on the board for 16 years, but we have known each other much longer than that,” said Slayton, who has served the school district for 52 years as faculty, administrator and school board member.
“We communicated a lot back and forth and we always found mutual common ground. We both made decisions based on what was best for all the students.”
Over his 36-year career as a faculty member and administrator, Slayton was the band director at Tate High School for 17 years, spent approximately five years as the music and fine arts director for the school district, served as assistant principal and principal at Woodham High School for about 12 years and principal at George Stone Technical College for two years.
“I felt that after 16 years on the school board, it was time for someone else to take reins. I always tried to make my decision in cooperation with the school superintendent and if there were differing opinions, I met with him one-on-one to discussed it,” Slayton said, adding he is most proud of the school district’s academic achievements and in building and updating facilities.
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Hightower agrees with Slayton on the academic strides, adding she is most proud of school district employees and the work they have done with students.
“There are also so many of these people I want to maintain contact with because they have become amazing friends,” she noted.
Hightower’s first action following retirement is a 29-member family cruise to the Caribbean around Thanksgiving.
“I’ve not gotten that far to plan, and I’m too young to be president,” she said with a laugh, noting that home projects, visiting grandchildren and mentoring are on her list.
After Nov. 18, Slayton plans to not have a schedule at all – but of course, spend time with family.
“My wife, Judy, and I will do the things that we always wanted to do – travel and visit places,” he said, adding his wife was also an Escambia County School District teacher for 35 years – two years at Booker T. Washington High and 33 years at Tate High.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Patty Hightower Bill Slayton leaving Escambia County School Board
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