ASHA-Certified SLP Pursues Public Service Through Florida Senate Campaign

November 13, 2025

Jennifer Jenkins, an SLP and former Brevard Public School Board Member, is running for a Florida Senate seat in 2026. Her career as an educator and speech-language pathologist has influenced her priorities around supporting families, children, and students with special needs.

Jenkins' journey into public service began when she was elected to the Brevard Public School Board in 2020, unseating a well-known incumbent whose views on public education she opposed. "Our school district is the 50th largest in the country and the 10th largest in Florida, so it's a big seat to run for," Jenkins said.

Initially, Jenkins planned to serve one four-year term before returning to work in the schools. But her time on the board revealed just how critical it is for professionals like SLPs and educators to bring their expertise to policymaking. She became known for her strong advocacy for students with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ students-work that began to attract statewide and national attention.

In 2024, she founded Educated We Stand, a national organization dedicated to supporting public education and promoting local voices in school leadership. Then Jenkins felt compelled to run in the 2026 Senate race-not only to continue her advocacy for children and families, but also to inspire others to take action. "[As an SLP] you teach people how to use their voice," she said. "I love inspiring people to step up and step out of their box and say how they feel."

Focus on Affordability and Access

Jenkins said affordability-including affordable health care and childcare-is a major policy focus for her. "We've been facing an affordability crisis [in Florida] long before everyone else in the country," she said. "I'm an educator married to a teacher... and we still live paycheck to paycheck. So I think it's really important that we finally have a statewide candidate and someone running for higher office who knows what that feels like."

For audiologists, SLPs, and the individuals they serve, Jenkins emphasizes priorities such as access to health care, adequate funding for education, and support for special education services. "The lack of resources for special education students is really concerning," she said. "Ensuring that funding-whether through Medicaid, Medicare, or other sources-translates into direct support for students and families should be a bipartisan goal."

Step Up Into Advocacy

Jenkins said she feels a personal responsibility to stay engaged in advocacy and public service-and she encourages other professionals to do the same. "So often, we say the experts aren't in the room," she said. "Well, now it's our responsibility to make sure they are."

Marian Lowther, a member of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists who interviewed Jenkins for this article, agreed and said getting involved in advocacy is a slippery slope. "Once you start, you just can't stop."

"For me, nothing's been easy," Jenkins said. "I've peeked behind the curtain to the Wizard of Oz, and I'm like, 'well, now I know the truth.' So, I've got to keep going."

Jenkins' record demonstrates a deep commitment to children, families, and public service through her work in Brevard County. The ASHA-PAC Board has contributed to Jenkins' congressional campaign in recognition of her leadership and dedication to issues that matter to the communication sciences and disorders community. To learn more about ASHA-PAC and how it's governed, visit the ASHA-PAC website or contact ASHA-PAC at [email protected].