“I almost didn’t graduate high school — not because I wasn’t capable, but because the system didn’t hold me accountable,” said Pina. “What turned my life around wasn’t a guidance counselor or a handout — it was discipline I found training at Centre City Gym and later serving in a U.S. Army Ranger Battalion. I fought for my second chance, and now I’m exploring a run for School Committee to make sure Brockton kids get theirs.”

A father of four with children currently enrolled in Brockton Public Schools, Pina says he’s not campaigning from the outside. “I live it every day as a parent,” he said. “I’ve seen the breakdown, the academic decline, and the lack of leadership. If we don’t fix this now, we lose a generation. I’m ready to bring back structure, standards, and pride to our schools.”