Meyer won’t seek reelection to Pinellas school board, backs Bostock
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | January 5, 2026
Three other incumbents are seeking new terms on the board
Citing her desire to spend more time with her family and career, Pinellas County School Board member Stephanie Meyer said Monday she won’t seek a second term in the seat representing Pinellas Park, Seminole and several beach communities.
“Serving our community and our schools has been an incredible honor,” Meyer said in a statement, in which she touted successes such as the district’s A grade and the leadership of Superintendent Kevin Hendrick.
“At this stage in my life, it is important for me to dedicate more of my time and energy to my family and my three children,” she continued. “Being present for them during these formative years is a priority that requires my full focus.”
Meyer also changed jobs recently, moving into IT sales after time spent teaching at Keswick Christian School and Hillsborough College. She was named vice chairperson of the county Republican Party in December.
Her efforts to become part of a conservative board majority never materialized, as candidates she endorsed for the board in 2024 all lost.
She cast her support behind former board member and county Commissioner Nancy Bostock, who last held office in 2012.
“She is a proven leader who we can trust to continue building on our recent successes and tackling the challenges ahead,” Meyer said of Bostock. “She has a master’s degree in education, previously served on the School Board and on the County Commission, and knows how to get excellent results for our children.”
Former county commissioner and school board member Nancy Bostock, shown at a 2011 commission meeting, plans to seek a return to the school board.
Bostock, 57, has not formally filed any paperwork with the county elections office. She said she began thinking about a return to public service after Hurricane Helene, when her family lost their home and found themselves on the receiving end of government and community support.
“It was just uncomfortable,” she said. “I help people. I don’t need help. … School board is a way I like to think I can contribute to the community.”
Bostock currently runs the chemical manufacturing laboratory her stepfather developed.
During her decade on the board, Bostock was known for advancing conservative social values. She was a strong backer of education vouchers and took some controversial stances, such as defending students’ rights to wear clothing depicting the Confederate flag.
As a commissioner, Bostock often proved the lone voice of dissent. She lost her 2012 reelection bid after pushing to remove fluoride from the water supply.
She didn’t back away from her views, but also said politics would not be her focus.
“Really, I want to stay focused on the students,” Bostock said, stressing the importance of teaching children what they need to know to understand the past and succeed in the future.
Three other board seats also are on the ballot in 2026. Incumbents Caprice Edmond, Lisa Cane and Dawn Peters have begun reelection campaigns. Peters has drawn two opponents, Curtis Campogni and Dawn Douglas.
