JENNIFER WHITNEY

On election night at her watch party at The Club House next to the Vineyards in Naples, Collier County School Board seat winner Julie Sprague makes her acceptance speech before a crowd of excited supporters. Jennifer Whitney/ staff

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NAPLES — Tuesday night was bittersweet for Julie Sprague.

After months of hard work, the Gulf Coast High School teacher became the newest member of the Collier County School Board.

But, as a School Board member, she will have to leave behind her teaching career, which has spanned 30 years, 20 of them in Collier County.

Sprague said she used the word “bittersweet” twice Tuesday night, but said she hasn’t fully processed what it will mean.

“I feel so good,” she said. “I have felt from the very beginning that this was right.”

Sprague won the Collier County District 4 School Board race. District 4 includes the city of Naples. Although School Board members represent the districts they live in, they are elected by the entire county.

Sprague received 65,964 votes, or 58.74 percent, defeating Joe Paterno, the executive director of the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, who received 46,335 votes, or 41.26 percent.

Though both candidates gained more votes than they did in the primary, Sprague proved to be a tough competitor, besting Paterno by almost 20,000 votes. In the Aug. 26 primary, her edge over Paterno was smaller — she received 14,080 to his 10,835.

Paterno said he was saddened that his message didn’t resonate with voters.

“I think the community has spoken,” he said. “She ran a great campaign.”

Paterno called Sprague Tuesday evening to congratulate her on her win.

Sprague said she thought her experience as a classroom teacher helped put her over the top. She often touted that difference on the campaign trail, saying she would bring the classroom experience needed on a “board of education.”

“I am sincere and I understand what goes on inside the classroom,” she said. “And I have such an incredible team. They were a tremendous support, getting my message out there.”

Sprague said she was anxious to get to work as a School Board member.

“I have a whole different role and job now. I have a list of things I want to see accomplished,” she said. “I hope (the School Board) can mutually agree on where we go.”

Sprague said she hopes to bring something else besides classroom experience to the School Board.

“I want to bring a balance that I think has been missing,” she said.