Volusia County, Florida

Volusia County School Board District 3

What this office does

School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Jessie Thompson, is on the ballot.

Florida › Volusia County › Volusia County School Board District 3

Decided at the 2026 primary: Grace Kellermeier won the seat

DECIDED August 18: Grace Kellermeier won the seat with 53 percent (12,998 votes), defeating incumbent board chair Jessie Thompson, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Grace Kellermeier

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Transparency, including returning to two board meetings a month
Budget accountability with attention to non-classroom spending
Improving teacher morale, respect and compensation

Per the News 6 questionnaire.

Biography

Grace Kellermeier taught 18 years at New Smyrna Beach High School, was Volusia's 2015 Teacher of the Year, and spent nine years in the district curriculum office, per her News 6 questionnaire.

Campaign finance

$3,990 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Also ran in the primary

Jessie Thompson

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Expand early literacy and full-time VPK funding
Maintain leadership on school safety
Right-size the district and reduce duplicate testing

Per the News 6 questionnaire.

Biography

Jessie Thompson holds the District 3 seat on the Volusia County School Board, where she has served since 2022 and is the board's chair, per the district's official board roster; she is the only member with children in district schools, per her News 6 questionnaire.

Campaign finance

$13,975 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Next on your ballotWest Volusia Hospital Authority Group B, Seat 2

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Volusia County School Board District 3 in 2026?

The Volusia County School Board District 3 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Grace Kellermeier won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Grace Kellermeier and Jessie Thompson. Candidate information follows official Volusia County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Volusia County School Board District 3 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Volusia County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Volusia County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Volusia County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Volusia County ballot

29 tracked races in Volusia County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Daytona Beach Commissioner Zone 1 Daytona Beach Commissioner Zone 3 DeBary Mayor See all 29 Volusia County races

Candidate profiles

Grace Kellermeier, full profile Jessie Thompson, full profile Official Florida election office