Dawn Peters
Peters, 51, was elected to the Pinellas County School Board in November 2022 and serves as vice chair. Before taking office she worked in property management and as a self-employed personal trainer, and she has been a certified substitute preschool teacher, a school mentor and a PTA officer. She is seeking the District 3 at-large seat on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-10-07. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Mixed / neutral· stated position
Peters's campaign site emphasizes responsible governance, making sure families have a voice and that tax dollars are used wisely. She has not called for cutting taxes or named services she would reduce.
"tax dollars are used wisely"
Education & school choice Mixed / neutral· stated position
Peters agreed that school choice creates healthy competition and said tax dollars should follow a family's choice. She also said current voucher funding for private education is excessive and should not be prioritized over public schools.
"I do not support the large amount of taxpayer funding being prioritized for vouchers over public schools."
Gender identity laws Leans agree· stated position
Peters strongly agreed that gender dysphoria should be treated, not affirmed, and strongly disagreed that gender-affirming providers should be a school resource. She said health decisions for minors belong to parents, as state law requires.
"All health care decisions need to be referred back to the parents in regards to minors under the care of the school district as is required by state law."
Library and classroom materials Mixed / neutral· stated position
Peters strongly disagreed that library books with literary value should be exempt from obscenity laws. She said books should be judged against the laws on minors, not removed on a parent's objection alone.
"Regarding the public school system and it's libraries, books should be evaluated in conjunction with laws as they pertain to minors."
Teacher and staff pay Leans agree· stated position
Peters declined an interview but wrote in a candidate survey that she supports academic growth, maintaining stability and increasing teacher and staff pay. She did not name budget tradeoffs.
"academic growth, maintain stability and increase teacher and staff pay"
School safety approach Leans agree· stated position
Peters strongly agreed that consequences for bad behavior make schools safe and orderly. She said parents should take more responsibility for discipline, called for reform of federal special-education discipline rules, and said trained officers and school guardians are qualified to carry firearms on campus.
"Parents and guardians of children should take more responsibility for the actions and discipline of minors."
No public position found on 1 issue
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Property taxes. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Post-graduation pathways — Peters says public education should prepare students for college, career and technical education, skilled trades, military service or direct entry into the workforce, and should instill civic responsibility and critical thinking.
- Post-graduation pathways — Peters says public education should prepare students for college, career and technical education, skilled trades, military service or direct entry into the workforce, and should instill civic responsibility and critical thinking.
- School closures — Says consolidation of under-enrolled campuses is unavoidable to use money efficiently and can free money for employee pay; says Moms for Liberty is not endorsing her this year and she did not seek it.
- Fundraising — About $1,600 on hand as of Oct. 2 after raising about $3,500 since the primary.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Oct. 13, 2026: as vice chair, supported the board's approval of six school closures (Tarpon Springs Fundamental, Kings Highway, Blanton, Azalea and Bear Creek elementaries and Lealman Innovation); a motion to delay two weeks died without a second.
Endorsements (as reported)
- School Board Member Eileen Long
- Former School Board Member Carol Cook
- State Rep. Kim Berfield
- State Rep. Linda Chaney
- State Rep. Berny Jacques