The FSBA Executive Officers include the President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President. In addition, the FSBA Chief Executive Officer serves as an ex-officio member of the Executive Officers. All Executive Officers except the Immediate Past President, President, and the Chief Executive Officer are elected by ballot of a majority of the membership in attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Association.
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Angie Gallo
Orange County
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Dr. Allison Campbell
Marion County
VICE PRESIDENT
Heather Kahoun
Osceola County
TREASURER
Justin Sharpless
Polk County
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Tim Bryant
Okaloosa County
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Andrea Messina
Tallahassee
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The FSBA Board of Directors is composed of the five Executive Officers, 27 Directors representing geographical districts in the state, and FSBA members who serve as an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA). The table below lists the geographical districts, the school districts within each geographical district, and the Director and Alternate that represent each geographical district. These Directors serve two-year staggered terms. The Board of Directors’ meets four times annually to establish positions and provide direction on major issues that directly impact the Association’s activities. The meetings are held in conjunction with the Day in the Legislature, Annual Summer Conference, Board of Directors Leadership Development Training, and Annual Joint Conference.
FSBA COMMITTEES
The work of FSBA Committees is essential for the Association to carry out its Mission and Strategic Goals. The FSBA Bylaws establish three types of committees: Standing Committees for ongoing action; Ad Hoc Committees to explore topics or issues of special interest; and Nominating Committee to recommend a slate of candidates for FSBA executive officer positions.
The FSBA President, in consultation with the other Executive Officers, appoints the Chair and Vice Chair of each committee, consistent with requirements set forth in the Bylaws and Policies. School board members may sign up to serve on FSBA Committees by completing and submitting the FSBA Committee Assignment Request Form. The current FSBA Committees and Subcommittees are described below and linked to more information about each committee’s/subcommittee’s leadership, membership, staff support, and activities.
Advocacy Subcommittee: The Advocacy Committee shall develop a comprehensive public relations and communications strategy designed to strengthen FSBA’s advocacy for public education. The strategy must include elements to encourage public involvement and to earn public understanding and support for public education. The Advocacy Committee has two subcommittees: Legislative and Federal Relations.
Committee Documents & Activities
- Creating an Advocacy Template for your District
- FSBA Advocacy Calendar – July 2021
- FSBA Advocacy Calendar June 2021
- 2020-21 Advocacy Bingo for CBM Points
- Advocacy Subcommittee End of Year Report — June 2019
Committee Staff Support: Joe McGehee, Esq.
MEMBERS
Chair: Teri Barenborg, Indian River
Vice Chair: Jason Catalano, Walton
Legislative Subcommittee: The Legislative Subcommittee shall develop a propose legislative platform to be presented to the Advocacy Committee for adoption in accordance with the timeline and procedures set forth in FSBA Policy 2025. The Legislative Subcommittee shall pursue legislative changes consistent with the adopted FSBA legislative platform and shall represent the interests of local school boards before the Florida Legislature, Executive branch, and State agencies.
Committee Support Staff: Joe McGehee, Esq.
MEMBERS
Co-Chair: Alva Smith, Leon
Co-Chair: Debbie Jordan, Lee
Subcommittee members- coming soon
Committee Documents & Activities:
- Visit the FSBA State Government Page for information on the committee’s work and updates
Federal Relations Subcommittee: The Federal Relations Subcommittee shall develop a proposed Federal platform to be presented to the Advocacy Committee for adoption in accordance with the timeline and procedures set forth in FSBA Policy 2025. The Federal Relations Subcommittee shall pursue legislative changes consistent with the adopted FSBA Federal platform and shall represent the interests of local school boards before the United States Congress, the Executive branch, and Federal agencies.
Committee Support Staff: Joe McGehee, Esq.
MEMBERS
Chair: Cindy Pearson, Duval
Vice Chair: Armor Persons, Lee
Committee Documents & Activities:
- Federal Relations Subcommittee Mid-Year Report — December 2019
Equity Committee: Sensitizes and cultivates positive images and attitudes among school board members on multicultural education issues and recommends program topics for workshops and conferences.
FSBA Staff Support: Andrea Messina
MEMBERS
Chair: Chephus Granberry, Jackson
Vice Chair: Terry Castillo, Osceola
Committee Documents & Activities:
Finance Committee: Monitors the financial operation and budgetary process of FSBA.
Committee Support Staff: Jordan Steffens, CPA, CPM
MEMBERS
Chair: Justin Sharpless, Polk
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Hewey, Santa Rosa
Committee Documents & Activities:
- To view previous reports and notes, visit the FSBA BoardDocs page
Leadership Services Committee: Plans, guides, and monitors the implementation of the Leadership Development Program which includes the Certified Board Member and Master Board Programs, New School Board MemberAcademy and ethics trainings.
Committee Support Staff: Tina Pinkoson
MEMBERS
Chair: Eddie Hand, Wakulla
Vice Chair: Li Roberts, Martin
Committee Documents & Activities:
- To view previous reports and notes, visit the FSBA BoardDocs page
Long Range Planning Committee: Engages in long range and strategic planning to ensure that FSBA’s vision, mission, and strategic directions are pursued and to encourage the smooth transition of leadership within the Association. The membership of the Long Range Planning Committee includes the FSBA executive officers and two at large members elected from the general membership.
Committee Support Staff: Andrea Messina
MEMBERS
Chair: Dr. Allison Campbell, Marion
Committee Documents & Activities:
Policy Committee: Assists in the review, development, and revision of the FSBA Bylaws and Policies and facilitates the adoption process of any proposed changes.
Committee Support Staff: Andrea Messina
MEMBERS
Chair: Heather Kahoun, Osceola
Vice Chair: Laurie Cox, Leon
Committee Documents & Activities:
Past Presidents’ Council: Serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Officers on issues of governance, seeks ways and strategies to advance the FSBA President’s focus area, recruits leaders for FSBA, and performs other duties as assigned by the FSBA President.
Committee Support Staff: Andrea Messina
MEMBERS
Chair: Tina Certain, Alachua
Committee Documents & Activities:
The FSBA Nominating Committee is a very important committee that selects a recommended slate of officers for the FSBA leadership team. The association needs you to be a part of this important process. Nominating Committee members are elected during the General Membership Meeting, at the FSBA Annual Joint Conference.
The FSBA Nominating Committee is comprised of members elected by regions of the FSBA general membership during the general membership meeting held annually at the joint conference in the fall. Individuals who are interested in serving in an Executive Officer’s capacity must submit a completed Declaration of Candidacy and related materials to the Committee. The Committee meets to review the applications, interview all candidates, and nominate a slate of candidates for consideration and election by the FSBA General Membership.
- FSBA Bylaws and Policies Relating to the Nominating Committee and Application Process
- FSBA Bylaws and Policies Relating to Powers and Duties of Executive Officers
- FSBA Executive Committee Time Commitment
Chair: Tim Bryant, Immediate Past President, Okaloosa
- 2025-26 Declaration of Candidacy Application Process and Schedule
- 2025-26 Declaration of Candidacy
- Learn more about the Nominating Committee
Committee Support Staff: Kim Beaty
Ad Hoc Committee: AI & IT:
This committee will explore best practices for AI and IT use in school districts and share their findings with the membership. It will take a deeper dive into better understanding, the tools, use, challenges, enhancements, and impacts of Gen AI in Education, and how School Board Members will need to better understand the impacts over the coming 1 to 3 years within these subgroups:
- Operational, facilities, and transportation
- Information services and accountability
- Curriculum and instruction
- Policy
FSBA Staff Support: Dr. Demetrius Rice
MEMBERS
Co-Chair: Thomas Kennedy, Citrus
Co-Chair: Roberto Alonzo, Miami-Dade
Committee Documents & Activities:
Ad Hoc Committee: School Safety
Florida Statute 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student discipline and school safety outlines the duties of the district school board relating to school safety.
Florida Statute 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school mandates that each district school board…shall partner with law enforcement agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school officers at each school facility within the district.
Between 2018 and today, the Florida Legislature has passed multiple bills related to school safety (https://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/msdhs-psa.stml).
This committee will synthesize all current legislation and statutes and share information with members to ensure that school boards understand their responsibilities related to school safety.
FSBA Staff Support: Joe McGehee, Esq.
MEMBERS
Co-Chair: Joe Faherty, former School Resource Officer, Citrus
Co-Chair: Tyler Brandenburg, Lake
Committee Documents & Activities:
Ad Hoc Committee: Know and Grow 2.0
2024 is an election year with 152 school board seats up for election. With the implementation of school board member term limits in 2022’s election, our need to create relationships with newly elected school board members is all the more important. New school board members will need to feel more welcomed, more informed, more ready to assume their responsibilities than ever before.
This committee will focus on supporting newly elected school board members in multiple ways.
FSBA Staff Support: Tina Pinkoson
MEMBERS
Co-Chair: Kelly Barrerra, St. Johns
Co-Chair: Eddie Hand, Wakulla
Committee Documents & Activities: