About
Orange County CORE
We are a group of parents, grandparents and community leaders
who are concerned with the style of leadership that the Orange
County School Board portrays. We believe that the people, the
taxpayers, who pay the salaries of both the board members and
the staff have rights as guaranteed by the constitution of the
United States in as much that WE have elected
them to SPEAK FOR US IN OUR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.
We are also parents, who are responsible and concerned about
the future of our community and the advantages our children
have in comparison with the National Standards for success in
their chosen careers. (Currently Florida has been rated number
48 out of the 50 states in comparison with ACT scores.)
Our Board of Directors
Mary
Jo Markel, President
• Wife of 16 years and parent of four children from elementary
through high school
• Has a degree in journalism and Nursing-specializing
in trauma & intensive care
• Current PTA member, an ADDitions Volunteer and a Proud
Band Booster
• Regularly volunteers and is a Trained Leader in Boy
Scouts/Cub Scouts
• Formerly Managed a Successful Direct Sales Team
• Formerly worked with Leadership Development with MOPS
International
• Co-Founder of the SaveCommunitySchools Team
Click
HERE to email Mary Jo
Jeff
Armentrout, Vice President
• Married for 20 years with 3 children in OCPS school
system
• life long resident of Orange County graduated from Evans
High School
• Associates of Science in Computer Programming Analysis
• Previous military experience in the Air Force for 4
years specializing in Communications Security
• President of SAC/ PTO Member/ ADDitions volunteer
• Volunteer athletic assistant for football season
Click
HERE to email Jeff
Dr.
Otto Gomez
• Parent of 2 wonderful children and 3 grandchildren
• Bachelors of Arts with Music and Doctorate of Music
in Composition and Arrangements
• Has performed with Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Roberta
Flack, Melba Moore, Sunnie Paxton
• Has composed arrangements for Almay and Revlon International
Campaigns.
• Member of jazzorlando.com and performs regularly in
the area
• Currently instructing children and adults throughout
the Orange County area
• Served in the US Navy for 2 years specializing in underwater
demolition.
Click
HERE to email Dr. Gomez
Kathleen
Skambis, Legal Advisor
• Commercial trial lawyer since 1989 (licensed in Florida
and Texas)
• Graduated from Melbourne High School 1975
•
Received BS in Broadcasting from University of Florida
1978
• Received law and MBA degrees from Southern Methodist
University 1987
•
Parent/Step-parent of four children who attended Orange
County Public Schools from kindergarten through high school
graduation, all of whom are now attending, or have been accepted
to attend, college
•
Active in PTA, SAC, ADDitions, and OCPS-community relations
since 1993
•
Completed Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s
“World Class Schools” Academy, 1998
•
Member, OCPS Superintendent Dennis Smith’s Strategic
Design Team, 1998
•
Member, Edgewater High School Community Reconstruction
Task Force, 2004-2009
Click
HERE to email Kathleen
Jennifer
Marshall, Treasurer
•
Finance graduate of the University of Central Florida
• Worked as a Finance professional in Central Florida
for the past 20 years
• Treasurer of Pershing Elementary's PTA
• Active Additions Volunteer.
