Kelly Smith

{"skills":"I bring strong leadership, fiscal accountability, and community collaboration skills to the School Board. My experience as a Senior Tax Examiner and long-time school volunteer has strengthened my ability to make informed, transparent, and student-focused decisions.","achievements":"Over the past decade, I’ve worked to strengthen collaboration between families, teachers, and administrators in Augusta’s schools. Through parent groups and community initiatives, I’ve helped organize fundraisers, provide student resources, and promote accountability and transparency within our district.","responsibility":"For more than ten years, I’ve been deeply involved in Augusta’s schools — from parent groups and fundraisers to community partnerships that support local families. These experiences have shown me the importance of open communication, consistent policies, and putting students first."}

Protecting First Amendment rights is essential to maintaining trust and fairness in our schools and city. I will always stand for the right of every person to speak, question, and participate without fear of retaliation or exclusion.

Rita Pello is an at-large member of the Augusta School Board. Her background is in policy and administration rather than local classroom experience, and her focus on equity and state-driven initiatives often reflects a top-down approach to decision-making. On the school board, she’s aligned closely with the administration and typically supports existing policies rather than challenging them or pushing for significant change.