School Board

Upcoming Board Meeting Dates 2024 :

April 9, 2024 @5:55 pm

April 23, 2024

All meetings are held at the Columbia County School Board Administrative Complex Auditorium 372 West Duval Street at 6:00 PM

*unless otherwise stated above

Current School Board Members

2 days ago

Dana Brady-Giddens-Chairman

District 2  

P.O. Box 760, Fort White, FL 32038

(386) 249-2761

Elected 2012 - Term Expires 2024

Email:  bradyd@columbiak12.com

 Dana Brady-Giddens (District 2) was elected to the Columbia County School Board in 2012.  She resides in Fort White with her husband, Andy Giddens, and their five children: Bryson, Grace, Avery, Garrett and Ashton.  Dana graduated from Columbia High School and Lake City Community College before pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Florida State University.  She also received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, College of Law.  Dana is currently the Chief Assistant State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.   She is active in many organizations which support youth activities in Columbia County as well as youth programs in her church.


Hunter Peeler

District 5 

372 W Duval Street, Lake City, FL 32055

386-623-4913

Elected 2022 - Term Expires 2026

Email peelerh@columbiak12.com

Hunter Peeler (District 5) was elected to the Columbia County School Board in November of 2022. Hunter feels honored and thankful to be able to serve the students, parents, and employees of the school district. Hunter is a lifelong resident of Columbia County, where he attended the school system going to Summers Elementary, Lake City Middle School, and graduating as Class President from Columbia High School in 2017. Hunter has been involved in many different organizations for years. Also supporting many youth activities in Columbia County. Hunter is now currently working on receiving his bachelors in Political Science. Hunter is also the part owner in two businesses: Serenity Enterprises, and Serenity Transportation. Hunter has a vested interest to be an involved School Board member and work for every student, parent, and employee! 


Narragansett Smith

District 1 

396 NW Oosterhoudt Lane

Lake City, Florida  32055

386-867-3456

Elected 2018 -   Term Expires 2026

Email:   smithn@columbiak12.com

Narrie Smith was elected November 2018. She has been happily married to J. R. for 43 years. They have two daughters Pam (Lennardo) and Nikki (Andrew). They are extremely fond of their 6 grandchildren. Narrie is a product of the Columbia County School District. She graduated from Columbia High School in 1974. She attended and graduated from the following Colleges: Lake City Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree; University of North Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Nova University with a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership retired from the Columbia County School District in May 2016 after 38 years of dedicated service. She had the honor of working as a Middle School Teacher for 23 years, Principal at Niblack Elementary School for 7 years and Assistant Superintendent of Schools for 8 years.She received the Ida Baker Minority Teacher Award in 1996. She was recognized for her leadership in bringing Niblack Elementary from a failing school to an “A” and earning the Federal Recognition of “Meeting Adequate Yearly Progress”. Narrie is the First Minority Female to serve in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Columbia County.  Narrie is an active volunteer for the Columbia County School District. Her desire is to remain informed with current trends and activities within our school settings. She serves on the School Advisory Committee at Niblack also. On Sundays you will find Narrie serving as a Minister of the Gospel and Christian Education Director at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.  Narrie’s Motto: “I love God and His people. It is my calling to serve others to the best of my ability.”Slogan:Experience Educator striving Toward Excellence…


Keith Hudson

District 4

372 W Duval Street

Lake City, FL 32055

(386) 758-0057 - FAX (386) 758-0066

Elected 1976 - Term Expires 2024

 

KEITH HUDSON (District 4) was elected to the Columbia County School Board in 1976 and is currently the longest serving school board member in the state of Florida.  Mr. Hudson feels very fortunate to hold this designation and is thankful that the citizens of Columbia County have so much confidence in his leadership.  Mr. Hudson is a lifelong resident of Columbia County and received his education in the Columbia County School System.  He attended Melrose Park Elementary School and graduated from Columbia High School in 1968.  Both of his sons also attended and graduated from Columbia High School.  Mr. Hudson received an AA degree from Lake City Community College.   He owns and operates two businesses in Columbia County: Keith Hudson Fiberglass and Hudson Discount Marine.  Mr. Hudson supports many youth activities in Columbia County.

 

Mr. Hudson’s motto:

 BELIEVES THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD ALWAYS MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, WHETHER IT IS ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL OR SPECIAL.



Cherie Hill-Vice Chairman

District 3

372 W Duval Street
Lake City, FL 32055
386-365-3747

Elected- 2022- Term Expires- 2026

Cherie Hill was appointed to fill the School Board District 3 vacancy on July 29, 2022 by Governor DeSantis after running unopposed for the open position.

She has over 35 years of experience in the education profession, having served as a classroom teacher (19 years), assistant principal (1 year), principal (12 years), and assistant superintendent (3+ years).  After her retirement from CCS in December 2019, she has served as an adjunct instructor with Saint Leo University, helping to train students to be teachers.

Mrs. Hill has teaching and administrative experience at both the secondary and elementary levels.  She has teaching experience at the post-secondary level.

She has a B.A. degree in History from Harding University (summa cum laude), an M. Ed. In Elementary Education from FAMU, and certification in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida.

She has  previously been recognized as Columbia County’s Teacher of the Year, Columbia County’s Principal of the Year, Columbia County’s Social Studies Teacher of the Year, Niblack Middle School’s Teacher of the Year, and Walmart’s Teacher of the Year.

As principal, her schools earned eleven straight “A” school ratings from the Florida Department of Education.  Her aim throughout a career of teaching and administration has been to provide a quality education for all students.

She has been married for 43 years, has 3 children, and 7 grandchildren.  She is an active member of the Lake City Church of Christ.  In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family, read, travel, and hike.  







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