Clay County is home.

A Keystone Heights family.

Michael and Rebecca Rathjen have been married for over twenty years and have made Clay County their home for nearly all of it. Together they’ve raised three daughters here. Their two oldest have graduated, the most recent from Middleburg High School, and their youngest currently attends Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High, where she serves as an officer in her FFA chapter and was recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Outside of work, Michael’s life is built around the things D4 families know well: time with family and friends, the outdoors, the family’s small goat farm, the smoker, sportsmanship, the side-by-side, and a little traveling when there’s room for it.

“Clay County isn’t expecting growth, it’s here. We need leadership who has the necessary skills to proactively advocate for our schools through these new financial realities. Our community deserves a school board member who is equipped to navigate these new challenges and respects the heritage of the families who’ve built this county for generations.”

Michael Rathjen

A choice more Clay families have come to understand.

Michael supported Rebecca as the two of them homeschooled all three of their daughters at various stages of their education: recognizing that parents were meant to be the primary influence in their child’s life, but also that it’s incredible difficult to do on their own. It was transformative seeing that not everyone has the option or desire to homeschool their children.

That experience made him an advocate of school choice, and an even more resolute supporter of public schools and the families, educators, and communities they serve. Parents and students deserve access and options. And public school districts deserve our active support.