Jessie Thompson, a Volusia County School member who stepped down as chair, vowed all students must graduate with skills and knowledge to succeed.

This comes after she was under fire for controversial comments she made about students and other board members.

In school board politics, words matter. Volusia County board member Jessie Thompson learned that lesson when a video surfaced days after her selection as chairperson, showing her making controversial negative statements about some students and a fellow board member during a summer Moms for Liberty event.