“When you live in a great community, you owe an obligation to help protect it. If not me, then who?” – Jillian Tozer
Jillian Tozer never planned on running for political office. Like many families in District 4, she and her husband moved to St. Johns County in 2020 for one specific reason: the unparalleled quality of the public schools. But as she watched the district grapple with explosive growth, chaotic rezoning, and the loss of dozens of highly qualified teachers, she looked around and asked, “If not me, then who?”
Jillian is not a politician; she is a problem solver with the exact resume District 4 needs right now. She holds a degree in Community and Regional Planning from Temple University. In a district struggling to build schools fast enough and draw attendance lines that make sense, Jillian brings professional expertise in smart, data-driven community growth.
Before launching her successful travel business here in St. Johns County, Jillian earned degrees from the Culinary Institute of America, then Temple and spent years working for a major non-profit focused on combating food insecurity in Philadelphia. Today, as a local business owner accustomed to managing million-dollar annual budgets, she understands the vital importance of fiscal responsibility. She knows that before a school board asks taxpayers for another dime, it must ensure current funds are being spent efficiently and effectively.
Above all, Jillian is a deeply involved parent. For years, she has been a fixture at Valley Ridge Academy, serving as a homeroom mom, a School Advisory Committee (SAC) member, and a leader in the PTO, where she successfully ran the Business Partner Program. She knows what is happening in our schools because she is actually in them, talking to the teachers, the principals, and the parents every single week.
Jillian is running to protect St. Johns County’s legacy of excellence. She believes in trusting our highly trained educators, expanding advanced academic programs to keep our students nationally competitive, and demanding strict public accountability for any institution receiving taxpayer voucher dollars.
She is in this race for the right reasons—to support our teachers and ensure every student receives a world-class education. That is why Jillian has pledged to donate half of her school board salary directly back to the PTOs within District 4.
Endorsement
“I’m supporting Jillian Tozer for School Board because I want my children to receive the exact same quality of education I experienced right here in St. Johns County. I attended our local public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade—walking the halls of PV-PV, Rawlings, Landrum, and Nease—and I benefited firsthand from outstanding teachers who made a lasting impact on my life.
There was a time when our district was known for effortlessly attracting and retaining the very best educators in the state. Unfortunately, as the cost of living skyrockets, that is no longer the case. We are losing talented teachers to neighboring counties, and we need to do everything possible to keep them in our classrooms. That effort starts with our School Board. We need leadership like Jillian’s that recognizes our teachers as our most valuable resource and prioritizes supporting them through fair compensation, respect, and the actual tools they need to succeed.
The School Board also plays an important role in setting curriculum standards, and it’s critical that those decisions are guided by a fundamental trust in our educators. These are trained, qualified professionals we hired for their expertise. They understand what is developmentally appropriate for each grade level. While the Board sets the framework, teachers should have the respect and flexibility to do what they do best: educate our children. Supporting our educators means trusting their judgment, not undermining it. Part of that is ensuring that every single student feels welcome, safe, and supported in our schools.
Furthermore, we must fiercely protect and expand our Advanced Placement (AP), IB, and dual-enrollment programs. St. Johns County has a legacy of producing highly competitive college applicants, but as our district grows and budgets tighten, we cannot allow rigorous academic programs to become an afterthought. Families move to this district specifically for elite, college-prep public education. Protecting our top-tier advanced classes is the only way to ensure our students can compete on a national level.
At the end of the day, strong schools depend on strong teachers and rigorous academics, and that directly impacts student success. That is why I am standing with Jillian.”
Katie Garro, lifelong local, Nease High School alumna, Campaign Treasurer