Kimberly D. Coward, an attorney and former Pasco County school guidance counselor, is seeking the District 1 seat on the Pasco County School Board in the Nov. 3 general election.

Coward faces Gino Collura in the nonpartisan race, according to BallotReady election data. The Wesley Chapel Record has also profiled Collura in this race.

A Pasco County native, Coward describes herself as "Pasco Born. Pasco Raised. Pasco Ready," according to her campaign website. Coward supports "data-driven, fiscally responsible" solutions to teacher pay and declining enrollment, WUSF reported.

Candidate information

Office sought: Pasco County School Board, District 1

Party: Nonpartisan race (registered Democrat, according to her campaign website)

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, University of Florida, 1996; master's degree in education, University of Florida, 1998; juris doctor, University of Florida, 2002; education specialist degree, University of Florida, according to her campaign website; doctorate in education, University of Florida, according to WUSF

Civic involvement: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Florida Bar and the American Bar Association, according to her campaign website

Experience and public service

Coward said on her campaign website that she worked as a guidance counselor at Wesley Chapel High School, Land O' Lakes High School and a school in Dade City. She also said she served as a childcare licensing attorney at the Department of Children & Families and as a policy attorney at Broward County Schools.

She practices law at Coward & Coward, P.A., alongside her sister, Alfreda D. Coward, focusing on criminal, family and governmental law, according to her campaign site. BallotReady lists her at the firm since 2004.

Coward served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Judge Advocate General officer from 2009 to 2018, according to BallotReady. WUSF reported she also served as a judge at MacDill Air Force Base. She was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States on June 19, according to her campaign's X account.

She said on her campaign website that she co-founded One Voice Children's Law Center, where she serves as secretary-treasurer.

On the issues

Student mental health and counseling: Coward said on her campaign website that it is "imperative that we address the student-to-guidance counselor ratio and provide counselors with greater opportunities to do what they were trained to do: support the mental and emotional well-being of our students."

School safety: Coward said school safety requires a collaborative approach bringing together staff, teachers, administrators, students, parents and community stakeholders, according to her BallotReady responses.

Academic achievement and enrollment: Coward said she is committed to improving academic achievement, sustaining enrollment and ensuring equitable access to schools, programs, transportation and opportunities, according to her BallotReady responses.

Family engagement: Coward said families "deserve access to clear, reliable information, along with genuine opportunities to engage in the decisions that impact their children's education," according to her BallotReady responses.