VERO BEACH — Incumbent Jacqueline Rosario faces challenger Tom Lange in the nonpartisan race for the Indian River County School Board District 2 seat on the Aug. 18 primary ballot.
The winner will serve a four-year term. School Board races in Indian River County are decided in the primary when only two candidates qualify. Voters countywide may cast ballots in the race, though candidates must live in the district they seek to represent. District 2 includes the southern half of Sebastian south to Vero Beach and the northern tip of the barrier island.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Rosario
Incumbent | Seeking third term | District 2
Rosario, 56, of Vero Beach, has served on the board since 2018. A lifelong educator, she has worked as an ESL teacher, assistant principal and academic dean. She holds multiple degrees, including a doctorate in educational law from Liberty University, and has homeschooled her son.
Rosario highlights the district’s academic gains during her tenure, including consecutive “A” ratings from the state and an improvement in overall ranking from 38th to as high as fifth in Florida. She points to expanded school choice options, the launch of a classical education magnet school at Pelican Island, stronger parental rights policies, curriculum transparency efforts and support for career and technical pathways.
Her priorities include ensuring every graduate has a post-secondary plan, careful integration of artificial intelligence as a teacher support tool, continued academic improvement and protecting parental rights.
Rosario has been endorsed by the Indian River County Republican Party, Hispanic Conservatives of Indian River, state Sen. Erin Grall, U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos and the 1776 Project PAC.
Tom Lange
Challenger | Former teacher & CTE specialist | District 2
Lange, 43, of Sebastian, is a political newcomer and parent of two children in district schools. He taught English and history at Sebastian River High School from 2006 to 2018, serving as department head for several years, and worked as the district’s career and technical education specialist from 2018 to 2023. He currently works as a teacher success manager helping school districts implement technology curriculum and certifications.
Lange founded Sebastian River Rowing in 2005 and has coached the program to numerous Florida state championships while helping student-athletes earn college scholarships.
He emphasizes practical classroom and administrative experience, data-driven decision-making, teacher recruitment and retention, expanding career pathways and workforce partnerships, fiscal responsibility and community collaboration.
Four members of the Indian River County School Board have endorsed Lange.
School Board member Teri Barenborg said: “Tom Lange is a very professional family man with kids in our schools. He is a career and technical education expert and understands the latest and greatest in those areas, which would be a huge benefit to the board.”
David Dyer said: “As a high-performing ‘A’ rated school district for the last four years, Dr. Moore, his leadership team, and the teachers of Indian River County deserve a School Board that steadfastly supports their strategic plan and focuses on the kids and their academic success rather than the political issue du jour. I enthusiastically support Tom Lange for IRC School Board District 2.”
Ryan Matthews said: “Tom Lange is the clear choice for this school board seat. His decades of experience as an educator here in Indian River, and his perspective as a parent of children in our public schools give him a vested interest in the continued success of our district. Tom will focus on strengthening our schools, not dragging them into divisive culture-war politics.”
Peggy Jones said: “We are fighting every day to keep our public schools in a top academic standing within this state, and it is in our bylaws that the education of these students is the responsibility of the school board. I take that seriously and so will Mr. Tom Lange every day. He has two daughters in the system and his wife is a teacher. He believes in this system and will have a great impact and keep a sharp focus on the whole child.”
Election Information
Early voting is underway. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18. For more information, including polling locations and sample ballots, visit the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections website at voteindianriver.gov.
Campaign Websites:
- Jackie Rosario: reelectjackie.com
- Tom Lange: votetomlange.com