Education Advocate Nicole Morst Seeks Broward School Board Seat

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Nicole Morst {courtesy}

Coral Springs resident Nicole Morst’s campaign for Broward County School Board Seat 4 began not in a political office, but at the entrance to her daughter’s middle school.

Morst — who Coral Springs Talk first interviewed back in March when she initially declared herself a candidate for the District 4 seat — has publicly shared that her involvement with Broward County Public Schools began after she noticed that her daughter’s middle school lacked a single controlled point of entry.

“As a parent, my heart sank,” Morst told Coral Springs Talk.

Morst said she began contacting district officials and learned that the security improvement was supposed to have been completed through the district’s SMART Bond program, but was years behind schedule.

Following the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Morst began attending meetings, researching delayed projects, and pressing administrators to make things happen.

Smaller security improvements were completed before the district eventually approved the single point of entry.

“That experience proved to me that a determined mother could make a huge difference,” Morst said.

The District 4 race pits Morst against Dr. Sharry Kimmel — an educator whose campaign highlights decades of professional experience, including being named Broward County Teacher of the Year in 1996 for her work with gifted students at Pembroke Lakes Elementary School.

The August 18 nonpartisan primary election presents voters with candidates offering different types of experience: Kimmel’s career in teaching and teacher preparation, and Morst’s years of parent advocacy and service on district committees.

Morst, a high school graduate, believes her regular presence inside Broward schools and her relationships with families and educators have prepared her to serve on the board.

“As the only candidate with a child currently attending Broward County Public Schools, I understand what’s happening in our schools today because I’ve lived it,” she said.

Prior to declaring her candidacy, Morst tells Coral Springs Talk she decided to stay home following the birth of her youngest child, a decision that allowed her to devote thousands of hours to volunteering and serving in leadership roles at the school and district levels.

“I’ve never viewed this as politics,” she said. “I’ve always viewed it as service.”

If elected, Morst says she would regularly meet with teachers, parents, students, and principals rather than relying solely on information presented during School Board meetings.

“The School Board often does not get an accurate picture of what is happening at the school level,” Morst said, adding, “A School Board member shouldn’t just rely on what’s presented during a meeting.”

Morst explained that declining enrollment and deteriorating school buildings are two of the district’s most pressing challenges. She also expressed concern about disparities in the condition of school campuses across the district.

“It is extremely disheartening to visit schools across the district and see such significant disparities,” Morst said. “With strong oversight, transparency, and follow-through, we can make sure every school receives the attention it deserves.”

Teacher recruitment and retention would also be central to her agenda.

“Every year, we lose great teachers because they simply can’t afford to stay,” Morst said. “That’s not sustainable.”

Morst said the district should examine administrative spending and eliminate unnecessary or duplicative programs. She also proposed renting out the School Board’s administrative building and relocating some employees and meetings to campuses with unused space.

“We have way too much money being spent at the district level when we could be paying the people who are in our schools more to teach our kids,” she said.

Morst said students should receive the same opportunities regardless of the neighborhood in which they attend school.

“A child’s ZIP code should never determine the opportunities available to them,” she said. “Our public schools shouldn’t have winners and losers based on geography.”

Her priorities also include mental health services, bullying prevention, substance-abuse education, and programs that teach conflict resolution and emotional regulation.

“Mental health is non-negotiable for me,” Morst said. “Children simply cannot thrive academically when they are not emotionally well.”

If elected, she said she would measure success by whether families feel heard, teachers feel valued, and schools become safer, cleaner, and more welcoming.

“My goal is to leave things better than you found them,” Morst said. “I’ll be accessible, accountable, and present in our schools and communities — not just at board meetings.”

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiple outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.