Christy Chong is one of three candidates running for the District 4 seat on the Flagler School Board. As the incumbent, she faces challengers Ron Long and former School Board member Trevor Tucker.
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.
The District 4 race will appear on the primary ballot. If one of the three candidates receives at least one vote over 50.0%, they will win the election then and there. If none do, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election on November 3.
Other Candidate Interviews
Flagler County Commission:
Flagler School Board:
Palm Coast City Council:
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 10, 1983
Hometown: “New Smyrna Beach and raised in Port Orange. I have lived in Flagler County for 25 years and have three children with my husband Kirk. We have had children in our local public school system for the last ten years.“
Career/Educational Resume: “I have a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana State University. I received my Associates of Science at Daytona State where I became an RN, and I received my Bachelors of Science at the University of Phoenix. I have been an APRN for over ten years now and currently work for Advent Health here in Palm Coast. I also worked for Island Doctors here in Palm Coast for seven years in primary care. My work experience includes family practice/urgent care, and I have served Volusia and St. John’s County as well.
“Currently I am the Chair of the Flagler County School Board serving for four years. I hope to serve my second and final term for our local school board.“
1) Order these three groups according to how strongly you feel a School Board member is tasked with serving them: students, teachers, and parents.
“I believe my responsibility as a School Board member is to serve students, teachers, and parents equally because each plays a vital role in a successful public education system.
“Students are at the center of every decision we make. Teachers are essential to delivering a high-quality education and deserve the support and resources they need to succeed. Parents are their children’s first and most important advocates, and partnering with families is critical to student success.
“When one of these groups is not supported, the others are affected as well. Strong schools are built when students, teachers, and parents work together, and my role is to ensure that each is respected, heard, and supported.”
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 currently serve as the Chair of the Flagler County School Board and represent District 4. I have gained firsthand experience in public education by helping establish district priorities, hiring and evaluating a superintendent, approving budgets, and developing policies.
“Beyond my role on the School Board, over the years I have enjoyed volunteering for my youngest son’s class by assisting with lunch duties and spending time with students and staff. These experiences have given me valuable perspective on the day-to-day operations of our schools.
“As a board-certified nurse practitioner, I have partnered with several universities, including Chamberlain University, South University, and Carson-Newman University, serving as a clinical preceptor for graduate nurse practitioner students. In this role, I have mentored future healthcare providers, taught clinical skills, evaluated performance, and helped students successfully complete their educational requirements.
“Throughout my healthcare career, I have built a strong foundation in problem-solving, collaboration, listening, and making thoughtful, evidence-based decisions. Those same skills have served me well on the School Board as we have worked to improve student achievement, maintain safe schools, exercise fiscal responsibility, and help Flagler Schools earn an A district rating. I remain committed to ensuring every decision is made in the best interest of students while supporting our teachers, staff, families, and taxpayers.”
3) How would you assess the School Board’s productivity and decorum over the past two years?
“I believe that right now our current board is in a positive place and that board members show respect for one another. During my term, we hired a new superintendent and our district has returned to an ‘A’ rating.
“The biggest issue is that for the past year we have only had four current school board members. While we have continued to move important initiatives forward, there are certain decisions and long-term priorities that are more effectively addressed with a full, five-member board.
“I know there have been claims that the board lacks decorum, but I believe those claims do not reflect what actually takes place in our meetings. I encourage community members to either watch or come to our meetings for a better perspective, and not to simply rely on opinions or reporting. While board members do not always agree—and healthy debate is part of good governance—we have remained focused on serving our students and making thoughtful decisions. At the end of the day, I believe every current board member wants what is best for our students and our district, despite any differences.”
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?
“When it comes to serving on the School Board, decisions cannot be based on what is easiest or most popular. They must be based on what is best for students and the long-term success of our schools.
“An effective School Board member must be willing to stand by thoughtful, well-informed decisions, even when they attract political attention or criticism. You have to be willing to remain strong in your decisions and make the best choice for students, whether it is popular or not, whether people may like you for it or not. While it is important to listen respectfully to all perspectives, our responsibility is to evaluate the facts, follow the law, and focus on what will best serve students, families, teachers, and our community.
“At the end of the day, every decision should come back to one question: ‘Is this in the best interest of our students?’ If we remain focused on that principle, politics become secondary to the mission of providing every child with the opportunity to receive an excellent education.”
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 that Flagler Schools is an excellent choice for families; offering career and technical training, industry certifications, and college credit through dual enrollment. We offer multiple opportunities for children in our county to help prepare them for the future.
“I also support a parents’ rights to choose the best educational path for their children. The reality is that every child is different and has different needs at different times in their life. I believe parents should have the ability to select the educational environment that best meets their child’s needs. Parents are taxpayers, and education funding exists to educate student. For that reason, I believe funding should follow the student.
“At the same time, I remain committed to ensuring our public schools are a top choice for every family. We want to be a parents first choice. In Flagler Schools, we have worked hard to maintain high standards, improve student outcomes, and earn our A-rated district status. Families should have choices, and public schools should continue to be a choice that parents are proud to make.”
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?
“I believe we’ve made meaningful progress in making Flagler Schools a great place to work. We have worked to steadily improve employee health insurance and benefits, and I believe our superintendent has fostered a positive culture throughout the district. When I speak with teachers and staff I hear and see the pride they have in their schools and the relationships they have with one another.
“That said, there is always more work to be done. I will continue to advocate for competitive salaries and benefits as our budget allows, and a work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and supported. Retaining great teachers and staff starts with listening to them, removing unnecessary barriers when possible, and ensuring they have the resources they need to be successful. When we invest in our employees, our students are the ones who benefit the most.”
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.
“One area worth evaluating is the sale of School Board-owned properties that are no longer needed or are underutilized. This is something our current board has asked for, that we begin looking at appraisals and interest to sell certain properties. This year we had an offer on the Corp One property, however it was only to purchase a portion of it, so the board opted not to sell and instead pursue selling the whole property. While the proceeds from those sales would be placed into the appropriate capital fund and could not be used for general operating expenses, they could help fund facility needs and reduce future capital costs.
“In addition, we should continue pursuing grants, and advocating for legislative changes that provide more equitable funding for growing districts like Flagler. Ultimately, however, the most significant long-term solution is ensuring that the State of Florida provides adequate funding to meet the needs of our students and the growth of our community.”
8) How would you define a successful working relationship between the School Board and the superintendent?
“The Superintendent’s job is to oversee the operations of our schools. A school board members job is governance, adopting policies, and approving the budget. As a board member it is important to schedule time with the Superintendent and discuss various matters and concerns about the district. I’ve learned that not everything has to draw drama and attention. A good relationship means communication with the Superintendent and district staff. Some have noticed that I am quiet in meetings, but that’s usually because I bring my concerns or questions to the Superintendent or staff before our meetings. When we come to our meetings, we should be prepared to go through agenda items in a timely manner.”
