Press Release
July 7, 2016 8:19 a.m.
Educator, Equipped for Every Student
Dr. Tyrone A. Blue, a lifelong resident of Nassau County and a lifelong educator for 28 years has declared his candidacy for School Board – Dist. 5. Dr. Blue met qualifying requirements on Thursday afternoon, June 23, 2016.
Dr. Blue said, “I am seeking office to help the Nassau County Schools a great school district, become even greater…via my skill set which includes: experience as a teacher, administrator, adjunct professor, coach, parent, and community resident.”
“I am pleased and honored to announce my candidacy for School Board – Dist. 5.”
He is the fourth son of Thomas A. Blue Jr. and Christine Blue both former lifelong educators of the Nassau County schools system for 38 and 41 years respectively at Fernandina Beach Junior High and Emma Love Hardee Elementary School. He matriculated through the school system of Nassau County attending the following: Callahan Elementary, Callahan Intermediate, Callahan Junior High, and West Nassau High School graduating in 1984. As a student-athlete at West Nassau High school he earned all-state honors in football and baseball and was named Nassau County Most Valuable Player in football and Baseball.
Upon receiving a football scholarship to Florida A&M University he majored and completed his B.S. degree in Political Science/Public Administration in 1989. Upon completion of his degree he began teaching at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1990, he was offered and accepted a position teaching Civics at Yulee Middle School which spanned one decade. While at Yulee Middle School, he taught Civics and served as Athletic Director, Head football Coach, Head Boys and Girls Basketball Coach, and Head Boys and Girls Track. This afforded him the opportunity to impact and mold many of the students who matriculated through the Hornet Nation. Additionally, he had coaching stints at West Nassau High School serving as Head JV football Coach, Varsity football Secondary Coach, Head JV Baseball Coach, and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach…he also served as Head JV Baseball Coach at Fernandina Beach High School for one year, and taught Driver’s Education at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School during the summers for two years.
In 1994, Dr. Blue expanded his education by earning a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, in 2000 he was offered and accepted an Assistant Principals position at William M. Raines Senior High School in Jacksonville, Florida. At Raines High School, his primary duty was to oversee the English/Reading Departments which had some of the district’s lower performing scores. Consistently, every year through instructional coaching, blended learning, data chats, progress monitoring, and accountability those scores improved at Raines High School under Dr. Blue’s leadership.
In 2001, he was named the President of the Assistant Principals Association for Duval County Public Schools, responsible for reporting to the Region Superintendent. He served as an Assistant Principal for five years pending being promoted to Vice-Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Arlington Middle School in Jacksonville, Florida.
In 2006, he earned a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and one year later in 2007 was appointed Principal of Grand Park Education Center. He served as Principal there for four years, before transitioning to Highlands Middle School as Principal of an inner-city middle school of 1,100 students. Dr. Blue served at Highlands Middle School two years and returned back to Grand Park Education Center as Principal in 2012 where he currently serves. During the 2015-16 school year, Grand Park Education Center had the second highest success rate in terms of seniors passing the ACT in Duval County Public Schools.
In addition to serving in the Nassau County Schools system, Duval County Public Schools, he has been an adjunct Professor in the College of Education at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Phoenix the last 11 years. At the University of Phoenix, he was named Professor-of-the-Year for the College of Education 2008 and overall at the University of Phoenix in 2010 when he was named the Professor-of-the-Year for the University of Phoenix North Florida Campus. In 2013, he was awarded the Distinguished Principals Award from the Schultz Center Leadership Institute; also he has served on the Florida Department of Education Florida Educational Leadership Exam Committee on two occasions. Additionally, he is the President of the Patricia V. Williams Chapter of The Concerned Citizens of Nassau County. He is married to the lovely Cynthia J. Blue and they have one son Tyler C. Blue.
Dr. Blue’s goals if elected as School Board Member – District 5 are as follows:
1) First and foremost do what’s best for all students! Ensure that students get the best education possible!
2) When making decisions consider the community’s view.
3) Be accessible and accountable for the performance of our schools.
4) Assist with setting the vision and goals for the district.
5) Aid in adopting policies that give the district direction to set priorities and achieve its goals
6) Work closely with the superintendent and work closely with other board members to provide the superintendent a fair evaluation
7) Help adopt and oversee the annual budget
8) Be respectful, professional, humble, and a team player at all times!
“I look forward to a positive campaign, meeting citizens, and tackling challenges.”
For more information on Dr. Tyrone A. Blue, you may please visit website scheduled to launch soon. Contact: Saundra Stewart at (305)331-7121 for further information.
Dr. Blue has been a teacher, administrator, coach, mentor and friend to thousands of students in our community and their families for decades. He has the experience, leadership skills, education & credentials that we need making decisions for our children and their future. He’s running for the seat that Dr. Burns had to vacate to run for School Superintendent. Let’s get the word out to elect Dr. Tyrone Blue for School Board & Dr. Kathy Knight Burns for Superintendent in August!
I have known Dr. Blue the past fifteen (15) years professionally and worked with various programs he has overseen and find him to be upright, honest and loyal. In my opinion he would be a tremendous asset to the Nassau county area as a school board member adding a great deal of knowledge.