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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Miami-Dade County School Board District 01

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    Linda Cothiere
    (N)

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    Erhabor Ighodaro
    (N)

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    Joy L. Jackson
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    Bernard Wh Jennings
    (N)

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    Thera Johnson
    (N)

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    Wrendly Mesidor
    (N)

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    Katrina Wilson
    (N)

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    James Wright
    (N)

Biographical Information

1. Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience, and skills do you bring to this position?

2. What are the 3 most important issues facing Miami-Dade Public Schools? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

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Education Doctorate of Entrepreneurship, Master in Applied Social Science in Public Administration and Bachelor's in Public Administration
Public Service Former Aide to Commissioners Charles Dusseau former Secretary of Commerce and Author Teele and Executive Board members, North Miami Poli e Athletic League, Chairman Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, to name just a few
Campaign Phone 7864867217
Age 58
I believe all children deserve a quality education, an excellent teacher that is paid well and schools deserve to have the tool and supplies necessary for our children to succeed and excel. I'm currently Chairman of the 19 member Board of Trustees of Florida Memorial University and I serve on other boards such as: Chairman, Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce and North Miami Police Athletic League and the Foundation of Youth and Economic Development for Miami-Dade County and the Good Dad Act Committee amongst others. I'm a collaborator, consensus builder and problem solver. People seek me out when they have tried everything else then I solve the problem.
1. Teachers and paraprofessionals, custodians, security and personell desire respect and higher salaries, 2. There exist a $478 million dollar duplication of contracted services to the Miami-Dade School System, 3. The legislature is allowing private schools to infiltrate public schools and move students and staff over to occupy their facilities. To solve number 1, I intend to propose a resolution to offer for a fee children from Africa and South America the abilty to attend school asynchronous (online only) this will generate millions of dollars to our school system. The United Nations and the African Union has set aside Billions of dollars for this initiative "Global Goal Initiatives #4 Education". I introduced this program to Florida Memorial University and we have benefited just short of a million dollars in less than a year. We abroard: auto-parts, medicine, food. Why not Education. 2. Consolidate contracts 3. Lobby the State to end the use of public schools for private us
Education Masters of Science Degree in Public Administration
Public Service CEO of Legacy FBCF, LLC NFP organization; Community Volunteer in Athletics
Campaign Phone 3055028923
Age 43
I am seeking to serve on the Miami-Dade County School Board because public education has been a central focus of my career and community service. Over the past 25 years, I have worked in Miami-Dade County government, gaining experience in public administration, strategic planning, budgeting, community engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. My work with children, including children with special needs, my experience within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system, and my academic training in public policy have given me an understanding of many of the opportunities and challenges facing students, educators, and families.

If elected, I would approach the role with a commitment to listening to students, parents, educators, and community members, reviewing data and evidence when making decisions, and working collaboratively with fellow School Board members, the Superintendent, and community partners.
Transparency: Create board items to increase visibility of where and public funds are being spent. Enrollment: Create enrollment incentives to attract and retain students to ensure the dollars return to our schools. Compensation: Ensuring teachers; admins; support personnel, etc are being paid fair livable wages. I will do a complete in-depth analysis of the budget and make board item requests to freeze historically vacant positions; remove positions of duplicate work and then make recommendations on where public funds ca be used and transferred to the operating funds.
Education * Master of Science in Mass Communication, Florida International University * Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication, Florida International University * Associate of Arts in Business Administration, Broward College
Public Service I have dedicated my career to serving students and our community through education, civic engagement, and volunteer leadership. My public service includes serving on the North Miami Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board, the North Miami Beach Multicultural Committee, and the Beautification Committee. I believe in listening to residents, collaborating with community partners, and making thoughtful decisions that put students first.
Campaign Website http://Votewrendly.com
Campaign Phone 9544454129
Campaign Twitter Handle @VoteWrendlyMesi
Age 34
I am running for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools District 1 School Board because every student deserves a quality education, every teacher deserves support, and every parent deserves a voice. As a current third-grade teacher, I understand the challenges facing our schools and want to help improve student outcomes.

My experience as an educator, community leader, and public servant has prepared me to make thoughtful, student-centered decisions. I am committed to supporting teachers, increasing parental engagement, promoting transparency, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.
The three most important issues facing Miami-Dade County Public Schools are:

Student Achievement: We must improve literacy, math proficiency, and close achievement gaps through targeted interventions, early learning support, and expanded tutoring programs.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention: We need to attract and keep high-quality educators by advocating for competitive pay, professional development, mentorship programs, and a positive work environment.

Mental Health and School Safety: Students learn best when they feel safe and supported. We should increase access to mental health services, strengthen partnerships with families and community organizations, and continue investing in school safety measures and prevention programs.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Education Bachelor and Master Degrees Public Administration - Barry University
Public Service Wright Worldwide Inc -Owner 2019-Present City of Opa Locka - City Manager 2022 Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Administrator 2008-2016 City of Opa Locka Chief of Police 2005-2008 Miami Dade Police Department 1985-2005
Campaign Phone 7865751356
Age 61
As a proud product of District 1 schools and a 49-year resident of this community, I am running because I believe this is a critical time for our district and I have the executive leadership experience to help move it forward.

I am not running to be a teacher or the Superintendent. I am running to help govern one of the nation's largest school districts by providing sound judgment, strategic oversight, fiscal responsibility, and accountability.

My experience as a Police Chief, City Manager, business owner, and parent has prepared me to lead complex organizations, manage public resources, solve difficult problems, and build partnerships that deliver results. Those experiences have taught me how to make decisions that balance competing priorities while always keeping people first.

My focus will remain on three priorities: Student Safety, Student Success, and Workforce Readiness. ensuring every decision is guided by what is best for students, families, employees, and taxpayers.
1. Fiscal Sustainability and Enrollment Management

As a former City Manager and business owner, I view this issue through the lens of strict fiscal discipline, data-driven planning, and strategic governance. This requires an ongoing effort to eliminate waste, inefficiencies and ensuring we are getting the best value for every dollar we spend.

2. Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting a High-Quality Workforce

Prioritizing long-term fiscal strategies aimed at optimizing our budget to maintain competitive salaries and benefits. Directly addressing local cost-of-living challenges for our workforce. Requiring exit interviews to determine why teachers are leaving (we can't evaluate what we do not know). And working with partners to present options for housing.

3. Student Safety and Academic Readiness Ensure ongoing audits for safety protocols Robust mental health support Benchmarking and measurable performance for core literacy and math proficiencies.