4 Problems. 4 Solutions. 40 Seconds

Right before we began this morning at the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation meeting at St. Petersburg College’s Clearwater Campus, the chair announced that every microphone would cut off at exactly one minute and thirty seconds.

No grace period. No second chances.

As someone who speaks for a living, it was both a challenge and a thrill.

How do you capture the heart of an issue, the urgency of a solution, and the human story behind it in less time than it takes to microwave lunch?

I leaned into it, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to share. But I also know that some ideas deserve more than ninety seconds.

So here, I want to expand on the remarks I gave this morning — four problems our community is facing, and four solutions that can make a difference.

1) Foster Care: Track Contested Adoptions

The human story. Picture this. You are on final approach to Tampa. The plane jolts. Oxygen masks drop. Even after a safe landing, the turbulence lingers. That is what contested adoptions feel like for children, families, and the community.

Why I care. I lived this with my own family. I have also heard it from case managers, foster parents, and professionals across Florida. Late petitions. Missing paperwork. Staffing gaps. Disagreements across agencies. Families hold their breath while kids wait in limbo.

The numbers. In 2023–2024, children waited an average of 13.5 months from TPR to adoption, with about 32 months in care overall. On July 1, 2023, more than 3,800 children were legally free for adoption. By June 30, just 52.7 percent had finalized. The state can tell us how long children waited, but not why. There is no system to track contested adoptions and the preventable delays behind them.

The solution. Require DCF to log every contested adoption in FSFN, pilot data collection in select circuits, publish results in the Adoption Incentive Report, and use the findings to reduce preventable delays and move kids to permanency sooner.

Take action. Get my bill to your state and local representatives. You can find it here. 👇

Share it. Email it. Hand it to your rep and ask them to sponsor it.

2) Strategic Empathy in Schools

The human story. Whenever I post about empathy, the comments are loud. Some call empathy weakness. Others lump empathy, sympathy, and compassion together. If adults cannot agree on what empathy means, imagine what students are trying to navigate in classrooms and online.

Why I care. As a father, trainer, and Vice Chair of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, I have seen how practical empathy skills de-escalate conflict, reduce bullying, and strengthen peer relationships when adults model them consistently.

The numbers. Research shows that social-emotional skills are linked to improved academic performance and reduced behavioral issues. Yet accountability systems rarely reward schools for investing in them.

The solution. Teach empathy as a practical skill. Clarify terms. Sympathy is feeling with. Empathy is understanding another person’s perspective, even when you disagree. Compassion is choosing to act with care. Equip adults to model it under pressure and integrate listening, perspective taking, and response skills into daily practice.

Take action. I am hosting a free session on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM. Staying Human: Rediscovering Our Empathy, Sympathy, and Compassion. 

You can register here: https://streamyard.com/watch/rVXt2hpZagCH.

If it serves your campus, I will provide this training pro bono to every public school in Pinellas.

3) Public School Enrollment and the Power of Story

The human story. My mother, a lifelong Pinellas teacher, recently shared a story about a former student who came back to visit her ten years later, just to thank her for the encouragement and belief that had shaped her journey.

That same week, headlines focused on closures and enrollment declines. When families only hear about shrinking numbers and budget gaps, they miss the daily wins happening inside classrooms.

Why I care. I grew up in Clearwater. I have seen how strong public schools create opportunity. I have also watched families drift to other options because they stopped hearing our success stories.

The numbers. Local reporting estimates Pinellas enrollment fell by 3,650 to 4,000 students this year. Consolidations may be on the horizon. Meanwhile, students are excelling in arts, CTE, robotics, dual enrollment, and internships. These wins rarely make it into the narrative.

The solution. Launch a Student-Produced Success Campaign. Partner with Pinellas Technical College and SPC media labs. Train student ambassador teams to produce short reels and quote graphics.

Curate weekly stories under a unifying hashtag such as #PinellasProud or #OurSchoolsOurVoices. Rotate student takeovers on official channels and ask PTAs and community partners to cross-promote.

Take action. Check out my plan here. 👇

FYI.... You can steal it. I do not need the credit. Use it in your school, your district, or your state, and let me know how it works.

4) Rewarding Achievement With Tax Relief

The human story. I have met parents who celebrate GPAs the way others celebrate touchdowns. They track assignments, juggle work schedules, and coach kids through late nights. When tax time comes, that effort is invisible.

Why I care. Recognition shapes behavior. A modest incentive can encourage routines that improve student outcomes, and the verification already exists through DOE records.

The numbers. Florida offers credits for childcare, scholarships, and literacy programs. There is not a family-focused credit tied to student performance. A simple tiered credit recognizes progress, not just perfection.

The solution. Create a Student Achievement Tax Credit for households with public middle or high school students who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. Tiered at $150 for 2.5–2.9, $200 for 3.0–3.49, and $250 for 3.5–4.0, up to three students per household. Eligibility verified by DOE, administered by DOR.

Take action. Check out the sample bill here. 👇

Share it with your legislators and ask them to file it.

Closing Reflection

My mic cut off at ninety seconds. The work does not.

• Children deserve permanency without preventable delays.

• Students deserve tools to communicate across differences.

• Families deserve to hear the real story of public school success.

• Households that support student achievement deserve recognition.

Four problems. Four solutions. Stronger kids. Stronger families. Stronger schools.

If you want the bill text, the student-voice campaign outline, or the empathy training materials in one packet, tell me where to send them, and I will share immediately.

Here is the one-pager I presented to the legislators today: 👇

Disclaimer

This blog is published on behalf of Speak4MC and Curtis Campogni in his role as a trainer, author, and advocate. The views expressed here reflect Curtis’s professional and advocacy work, and are intended to share knowledge, tools, and ideas that inspire positive change in the fields of child welfare, workforce development, and education.

These views are separate and independent from the activities of the Curtis4AllPCS school board campaign. This blog should not be interpreted as campaign communication. For information specific to the Curtis4AllPCS campaign, please visit the official campaign pages.

About the Author

Curtis Campogni is the founder of Speak4MC, a trainer, author, and advocate focused on child welfare, workforce development, and juvenile justice. He is the author of C.A.P.E. Conversations: How Superheroes Communicate with the Child Welfare System and serves as Vice Chair of Florida’s Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board as well as Florida State Representative for the Southeastern Employment and Training Association.

Curtis only raises problems he is willing to actively work toward solving. His professional career demonstrates a consistent willingness to collaborate, listen to multiple perspectives, and pursue common ground and common-sense solutions to help children and families thrive.