Adam Putnam touts vocational education in visit to Sarasota

Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam visited Booker High School in Sarasota Tuesday to meet Florida state principal of the year Rachel Shelley and “see what the secret sauce looks like for running such an extraordinary comprehensive high school.”

Putnam, 43, Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, and a former U.S. Representative from Bartow, came to congratulate Shelley, and was talking only about education Tuesday.

“Two of the most important players in a child’s education are teachers and the principals. A great principal will make all teachers better, and a below average principal will drive them away,” Putnam said.

Asked about his priorities if he is elected governor, Putnam kept the spotlight on the classroom.

“It’s really about putting career and technical education back into the schools. It’s a passion of mine. I am a product of vocational education - FFA. When you look at the needs of the 21st Century economy, we have to do more to put career and technical education back into middle school and high school to prepare our kids to compete in a world economy and win,” Putnam said.

Three of the greatest workforce needs are in nursing, trucking, and retail, he said.

“We have an opportunity to produce students ready to enter the workforce with maybe some topping off at the state colleges,” Putnam said. “Many high-skill, high-wage jobs are available for our graduates without requiring that they take out a student loan for a degree they don’t want or perhaps won’t use.”

Among those joining Putnam and Shelley at Booker High School were Superintendent Todd Bowen, School Board member Eric Robinson, and Steve Cantees, executive director of high schools.

Booker is the smallest of Sarasota’s public high schools with an enrollment of about 1,250 students, Cantees said.

Shelley showed Putnam around the foyer of the Booker administration building, stood for photos with school district staff and then went behind closed doors to allow Putnam to quiz staff members about their success.

The best known Democrats who are seeking to replace the term-limited Gov. Rick Scott are Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and former Rep. Gwen Graham.

The Florida Department of Education announced Shelley’s selection as principal of the year in June.

“With more than 28 years of experience in K-12 education, Dr. Rachel Shelley has been praised by her colleagues for her dedication to helping every student succeed and for relationship-based leadership. She motivates students with her mantra, ‘Every student is college and/or career bound.’ Dr. Shelley is a hands-on instructional leader who understands the value of data, and she tracks her school and students’ performance measures to help her make informed decisions,” the June announcement said.

This story was originally published August 8, 2017 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Adam Putnam touts vocational education in visit to Sarasota."