New leaders are at the helm of the Marion County School Board after peer elections earlier this month.
Eric Cummings and Nancy Thrower are the two newest members of the board and will lead the five-person panel as the chair and vice-chair, respectively. Cummings and Thrower joined the board one year ago in November 2018 and were unanimously elected by their peers.
Cummings is a local pastor and corrections officer, while Thrower is a former teacher of students with special needs. As chair, Cummings leads twice-monthly school board meetings and year-round work sessions. He also serves on various leadership boards throughout the community and now heads the board’s national search for a new superintendent.
Cummings previously served as vice-chair during his first year on the board. He represents district three, including schools in Ocala and Southwest Marion County, Dunnellon, and the Marion Oaks area.
Thrower also serves various board appointments and will serve as needed in Cummings’ absence. She represents district four and schools primarily in and around Ocala.
Other members of the Marion County School Board include Nancy Stacy (district one), Beth McCall (district two) and Kelly King (district five).
By unanimous vote, board members also approved the same meeting schedule as in years past – holding board meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays monthly at 5:30 p.m. at 512 SE Third Street in Ocala.