Incumbent Jessica Tyndall seeks re-election to Cape school board

Incumbent Jessica Tyndall has filed to run in the Cape Henlopen school board election, set for Tuesday, May 9.

Tyndall represents Area A, which comprises the greater Milton area. She first served from 2016-18, completing two years left in the term for the seat held by Noble Prettyman before he died in 2015. Jackie Briscoe, who had been appointed by the board to replace Prettyman after his death, chose not to run for election. 

In 2018, Tyndall ran unopposed for her first full term. Board seats are now held for four years since the passage of House Bill 92 in October 2021, which reduced the term of office from five to four years for school board members elected after Dec. 31, 2021.

Serving on the school board is a big commitment, but it’s important to volunteer in the community and give back, she said.

“I feel like there are so many things to finish that we’re in the middle of that got delayed by COVID,” she said.

Frederick Thomas Middle School will open in 2024, she said, and she wants to be involved with the redistricting that will enroll students in the new school. With the district growing as it is, the board is also looking into purchasing land to expand schools at some point, she said.

“We need to make sure we are preparing future generations for success so kids get what they need,” she said.

Tyndall said she is proud of the district’s concentration on diversity, inclusion and equity.

“It’s important for us to focus on all kids, and I love the direction in which we’re going,” she said.

Tyndall is the board liaison to the district communications committee and the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, and also serves as president of the Mariner Middle School PTO.

An Indian River High School graduate, Tyndall earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Delaware.

She worked previously as a nutritionist for the Delaware WIC program and is now vice president of accounts for Inclind Inc., a web development agency owned by Tyndall and her husband Shaun.

She and Shaun have three children: Austin, an eighth-grader at Mariner Middle; Liam, a fifth-grader at Milton Elementary; and Ella, a second-grader at Milton Elementary.

Liam is in the first cohort of Spanish Immersion students, Tyndall said, and Ella is following in his footsteps. All children are very active with sports and extracurricular activities.

Tyndall said a school administrator once told her she is a breath of fresh air on the school board.

“That makes me very proud,” she said. “I take great pride in being approachable, and I love it when people come to our meetings to learn what we are doing.”

About the election

Candidates must be 18 years old at the time of the election and U.S. citizens who live in the Area A district. People convicted of embezzlement and those who are paid district employees are ineligible to run.

Candidates must undergo a criminal background check and Child Protection Registry check. The filing deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 3. 

The school board election is set for 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at district schools to be announced closer to the date. Absentee voting is available. While candidates in this election must reside in Area A, all eligible voters in the Cape Henlopen School District can cast votes.

Eligible voters must be at least 18 on the day of the election, and be Delaware citizens residing in the Cape Henlopen School District. Voters must provide proof of identity and address.

For all candidate and voter information, go to elections.delaware.gov.