Cathy Moon is one of two candidates running for the Flagler School Board’s District 1 seat. Her opponent is Jill Woolbright. The seat is currently vacant; Sally Hunt was elected in 2022 before resigning in 2024. Her appointed replacement, Derek Barrs, resigned in 2025 to accept an appointment to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The 2026 primary election is on Tuesday, August 18. Flagler County voters will be able to vote for the District 1, District 2, and District 4 seats. School Board races are nonpartisan and open to all county voters. Woolbright and Moon’s race will be decided in the primary, as a runoff would require three or more filed candidates.
Other Candidate Interviews
Flagler County Commission:
Flagler School Board:
- Cathy Moon (District 1)
- Jill Woolbright (District 1)
- Rob Wood (District 2)
- Christy Chong (District 4)
- Ron Long (District 4)
- Trevor Tucker (District 4)
Palm Coast City Council:
- Tony Amaral Jr. (District 2)
- Jeani Duarte (District 2)
- Dylana ‘Dee’ Galery (District 4)
- John Kvederis (District 4)
- Ramon Marrero (District 4)
- Darlene Shelley (District 4)
Interview Criteria
- The object of the interview is not to grill the candidate, nor to give them softballs. Ideally, in their answers the candidates provide to voters a useful insight into their ideology, their priorities, and their knowledgeability and preparedness for office.
- These questions are sent to each declared candidate in Flagler County’s local elections. All candidates running for the same office received the same exact questions.
- The only edits made are for spelling, formatting and basic grammar (i.e., ‘their’ when it should be ‘there’). Censorship of profanity may also be applied if it were applicable. Otherwise, answers are presented in their full form as the candidate provides them.
- Answers are subject to fact-checking if they contain information that’s blatantly misleading or untrue (misrepresenting factually verifiable information, misquoting a statistic, etc). Clarifications will be added underneath the candidate’s answer if applicable. The answers will still be presented as given even if a fact-check or clarification is needed.
Candidate Interview
Date of Birth: June 6, 1958
Hometown: Palm Coast
Career/Educational Resume:
“Cathy Moon is a dedicated and enthusiastic public servant, parent, and advocate for
Flagler County Schools and students, bringing excitement to every initiative she
undertakes. She holds a BA in Health and Safety education, a graduate certificate in
Human Resources, and an MBA, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in
program/project management at multiple federal agencies, and increasing levels of
responsibility which culminated in an executive leadership role in Washington, DC.”
- Professional Expertise: Trained as an educator (BA) and business leader (MBA),
Cathy Moon has a 30-year background as a public servant at the county, state
and federal level with multiple agencies. She promoted to roles of increasing
responsibility at the district, area, and HQ level where she ultimately served as an
executive. She has a proven record in customer relations, project management,
program management, fiscal management, Lean Six Sigma and Continuous
Improvement, approaching each role with enthusiasm and genuine excitement
for positive change. - Leadership Roles: Previously served as an executive directly managing a budget
of $280M, solving complex issues on a national level, and developing national
policy. Cathy Moon successfully led a small, high performing unit which utilized
cross-functional project teams to drive $475 million in expenses from the
organization without any layoffs while maintaining service standards.
1) Order these three groups according to how strongly you feel a School Board member is tasked with serving them: students, teachers, and parents.
“School Board members must prioritize serving Flagler students foremost. Throughout my career I found that the best solutions come from teams and partnerships. Schools must serve as informed partners, providing engaged parents clear, timely guidance so parents can make confident choices about their child’s academic and career path.
“During conversations with families, many parents shared they were not clear on the options available to their students. Some did not know about dual enrollment, career and technical education programs, or how to access industry certifications in fields like healthcare, firefighting, or HVAC. Others were unaware of gifted services, ESE support, or how to request academic interventions.
“This lack of awareness limits student potential. No family should miss opportunities simply because they did not know they existed.
“As school board member, I will work to ensure every family is fully informed and empowered. When parents understand the options, they can help their children choose the path that fits, whether it’s college, technical training, military service, or a career right after graduation. Education is a partnership.”
2) Describe any career experience you have in which you directly worked in or with the public education system. If none applies, explain how any other experience you have would directly apply to the education aspects of School Board duties.
“I hold a BA in Education and completed a student teaching semester, giving me foundational classroom experience. While my career has been in public service, I’ve trained thousands of adult learners – sharpening my skills in curriculum, communication, and effective instruction. I also volunteer in Flagler classrooms and consult a trusted advisory group of retired Flagler County teachers. I actively seek input from current educators, administrators, and staff because I believe leadership means listening first.
“How can I help move Flagler Schools forward in a way that others running for this district cannot?
“The answer begins with preparation, experience, and an unrelenting commitment to Flagler County’s students.
“I bring graduate level credentials no other candidate in this race possesses. While all candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in education, I also hold a graduate certificate in Human Resources and a Master of Business Administration. Understanding what happens inside classrooms matters deeply. But governing a school district also requires sophisticated financial literacy, strategic planning, and leadership expertise. I bring all of it.
“I bring a proven record of fiscal leadership at the highest level. My career was built on solving complex problems, leading highly effective teams on a national scale, and delivering results that saved the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars without a single layoff or service cut. I wrote national policy. I managed a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars. I know how to protect resources, eliminate inefficiency, and ensure every dollar serves the people it was intended to serve. In a time of growing federal and state funding uncertainty, Flagler County needs that experience at the table.
“I bring a fresh perspective combined with local roots. I am not a career politician, and I have no ideological agenda to advance. I am a retired executive who chose to make Flagler County home because of its community, its families, and its potential. I am fully retired with no competing professional commitments, which means I will attend every board meeting, every training, and every legislative day in Tallahassee. I will build relationships with state representatives and fight relentlessly for Flagler’s fair share of funding.
“I bring the trusted voices of retired Flagler County educators. I am honored to be advised by educators who dedicated their careers to these schools, these students, and this community. Their institutional knowledge and classroom experience ensure that the voice of Flagler’s educational community will always have a seat at my table.
“I bring a specific, urgent focus on our kindergarten readiness crisis. Only 37% of Flagler children arrive kindergarten ready. Research tells us most who fall behind will never fully catch up. Parents have told me clearly that lack of transportation is the greatest barrier to accessing our free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program. I will ask the question others have not: what is the true cost of NOT solving this problem? When we calculate the additional resources invested in unprepared students across thirteen years of schooling, the case for finding a solution becomes undeniable. I will work with the school district, education foundation, and the community to find one.
“What I offer voters is simple. Graduate level expertise. Proven national leadership. Fiscal discipline. Full-time availability. Trusted local advisors. And a genuine, unrelenting commitment to making Flagler County’s public schools the best they can possibly be for every single student.”
3) How would you assess the School Board’s productivity and decorum over the past two years?
“The board deserves some credit for the district’s recent success, including Flagler Schools earning an ‘A’ rating. I give most of the credit to the superintendent, teachers, district staff, and everyone working directly with students each day, but the board has played a role. For that reason, I would not characterize it as an unsuccessful board.
“That said, the board would have benefited from having all five seats filled throughout the past two years. One meeting I attended, which lasted about nine hours largely because of the chair and vice chair selection process, was a concerning example of dysfunction.
“Most of the time, however, the members appear to work together. Some are far more engaged than others during meetings, asking specific questions and showing they have reviewed the materials in advance. I would like to see every board member fully engaged on every issue.
“As I began attending meetings and following board activity online, I also noticed that some members are more visible and involved in the schools. They attend school events, School Advisory Council meetings, and PTO meetings, where they can listen to educators and families, answer questions, and build trust with the community. That level of engagement is important, and it is the model I would follow.
“I respect the current board members who balance service with jobs or businesses. I am fully retired, so I would not have professional obligations competing for my attention. I would be present at board meetings, school events, PTO meetings, and other opportunities to hear directly from families and staff. At one elementary PTO meeting I attended, members said they had repeatedly invited their board representative but had never had one attend. That should change.
“Board members should also participate in training offered by the state school board association and travel to Tallahassee to meet with elected officials. These are opportunities to explain Flagler County’s unique needs and advocate for fair funding for our students. Not every district is the same, and our representatives need to hear directly from us. Because I have no job or business competing for my time, I will attend these events, show up for our schools, and stand up for Flagler County.”
4) In recent years the School Board has navigated multiple issues which became political lightning rods. How does an effective School Board member remain focused on students when the situation attracts mass political attention from the county and beyond?
“Enough time has passed since the most difficult period for the Flagler County School Board that I felt ready to offer my experience and skills to help make a positive difference. I am not running to add to political division. My focus is on working together to do what is best for students and improve outcomes for our schools.
“I believe some past challenges arose when candidates were elected to the School Board without sufficient leadership experience or preparation. Serving on a board requires a different skill set than working in a classroom. Effective board leadership requires strategic thinking, sound judgment, collaboration, communication, and an understanding of complex organizational responsibilities. I bring a different background: nearly 30 years of program and project management experience, graduate-level education, a master’s degree, and a graduate certificate in human resources. I have also completed graduate coursework in communication, negotiation, and leadership. That experience has prepared me to filter out political noise, stay focused on students, and help the district move forward.”
5) Florida passed universal school choice in 2023. As someone who hopes to be a leader within the school district, do you believe Flagler Schools is the best choice available to parents? Why or why not?
“I believe Flagler Schools are a stronger option than many residents realize. Because most Flagler County households do not have students in the district, their impressions often come from local news and social media. Local media do a good job highlighting sports and student achievements, but social media often emphasizes negative information or opinions.
“My husband and I are among the households without a student currently enrolled. From 2017 to 2025, I formed much of my impression of Flagler Schools from online information. That changed when I attended a 2025 community presentation by Superintendent LaShakia Moore. I was impressed by our students’ success in national and international competitions; the district’s music and arts offerings; the Diploma Plus, IB, and AICE programs; the trade programs available at FTC; the number of apprenticeship opportunities; and the Fire Academy, which is the only program of its kind in Florida.
“Much of the public remains unaware of these successes, and Flagler Schools should do more to raise awareness, especially on social media. Superintendent Moore’s community presentation was an important step forward: about thirty people attended, were impressed, asked questions, and sought more information.
“That does not mean our schools are perfect. There is always room to improve, and no single environment works for every student. Parents need and deserve options that meet their children’s unique needs.
“Flagler Schools have made remarkable progress, including the district’s recent ‘A’ rating and the growing number of students completing the Diploma Plus program. Graduation rates have increased to 90%, but there is still room to improve. Our goal should be for nearly every student to finish school successfully.
“My goal is for Flagler Schools to continue building on the progress of recent years and strive to become the best district in Florida.”
6) On a similar note, educators and other faculty may view Flagler Schools as one option among several other school districts. What will you advocate for to make Flagler Schools a more attractive place to work?
“Florida’s educators are stretched thin, underappreciated, and underpaid. Flagler County is not immune to this crisis. When we lose experienced, talented teachers, our most vulnerable students pay the highest price.
“Retaining great teachers requires more than words of appreciation. It requires competitive compensation, affordable health insurance, meaningful administrative support, and a school culture where educators feel respected and empowered. I am honored to be advised by a team of retired Flagler County educators who understand deeply what keeps great teachers in our classrooms and what drives them away.
“I will fight to make Flagler County schools a place where exceptional educators choose to build long, fulfilling careers. Because when we invest in our teachers, we invest directly in every student they will ever teach.”
7) Are there any new or underutilized revenue streams you can name that Flagler Schools might tap into to support its budget? If so, expand upon your proposal for implementation.
“I can only think of two new or underutilized revenue streams. The first would be grant money, but across the nation so many schools are in need of additional funds that I would assume there would be heavy competition. The best chance to be awarded a grant would be for a unique program. The second possibility would involve the sale of school-owned properties which are not suitable for building a school. The options for use of those funds would be limited.
“The next option is to find ways to reduce expenses to free up funding for other uses. Federal and state funding pressures are real and growing. Every dollar lost to inefficiency, bureaucracy, or lack of accountability is a dollar stolen directly from our classrooms.
“My entire career was built around doing more with less. I led teams that saved the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars without a single layoff or service cut. I know how to protect resources, identify inefficiencies, prioritize strategically, and ensure every available dollar serves students first. I will bring that same discipline, creativity, and transparency to Flagler County’s budget.
“Economic uncertainty is not an excuse for failure. It is a call for exactly the kind of experienced, focused leadership I am prepared to provide.”
“Flagler’s students deserve focused, experienced, and principled leadership. The challenges are real, but so are the solutions.”
8) How would you define a successful working relationship between the School Board and the superintendent?
“A successful working relationship is built on trust and respect. It also requires a shared strategic plan with clear, measurable goals that prioritize student achievement and give everyone a common direction. Regular communication between board members and the superintendent helps ensure the team understands each goal’s progress and can address potential obstacles as they arise.”
“The current Board members appear to have an excellent working relationship with Superintendent Moore, and all speak highly of her.”
