Widow of Parkland shooting victim running for school board

Debbie Hixon says she needs to be where changes are made

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The widow of a Parkland school shooting victim filed paperwork Friday to run for Broward County school board.

Debbie Hixon is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Robin Bartleman, who is running for state Senate.

"This is my 31st year in the system and there are things that work, but there are a lot of things that don't work, and if I want to be a part of the changes, then I need to be where the changes are made," Hixon told Local 10 News.

Her husband, Chris Hixon, was athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when he and 16 others were killed in the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting.

Debbie Hixon said the timing feels right to "lift teachers up." She said when employees feel valued, so will the students.

School safety is also among the priorities she hopes to bring to the school board.

Now comes the campaign work. The election is in 2020.


About the Author:

Alex Finnie joined the Local 10 News team in May 2018. South Florida is home! She was raised in Miami and attended the Cushman School and New World School of the Arts for high school.