Favorite Scripture/Life Verse Philipians 1:6  “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.…”

Lives in Orange Park Florida. Career of military service along with his years of Clay County School Board service elevated him above his competition as a distinctly qualified candidate to recently run for Collier County School Board Superintendant.

After graduating from the University of Florida, Van Zant began his career in the military. He graduated from Georgia’s Ft. Benning officer school as a Second Lieutenant, and became a military combat pilot.

He has served overseas flying Black Hawk and Apache attack helicopters. A decorated veteran, Major Van Zant was awarded air medals as a combat pilot in Iraq, and a Bronze Star for his meritorious service in command of special forces air operations in Afghanistan.

As a Senior Officer, Major Van Zant managed budgets and provided human resources oversight for 10,000 personnel. Van Zant has also worked as a classroom teacher in Clay County schools, and was elected to the school board in 2008.

He has the rare combination of competence, character and compassion. As he has throughout his life, and after14 years of outstanding school board leadership, Charlie stands ready once again, to the call of community service to improve efficiency and effectiveness, engage parents and community leaders in the process and create public/private partnerships, empower principals, teachers and students by allowing ideas and improvements to come from every level.

Charlie met his wife Stephanie in college after a Gator football game homecoming weekend. They have two sons, Luke and Wyatt, who attend elementary school in Clay County.

Charlie and his family are active members at Trinity Baptist Church.