Meet the candidates running for Miami-Dade School Board District 1

The race to fill former Miami-Dade school board member Steve Gallon’s District 1 seat is crowded.

Eight candidates have raised their hands to replace Gallon, who left his position and has earned a spot on the Miami-Dade County council, given that he’s the only person who filed to run in his district.

Their experiences in public service and education vary — some have been steeped in Miami-Dade’s public schools for decades, others have held elected office unrelated to public education and some are first-time candidates.

The Miami Herald sent all eight candidates a survey seeking information on their backgrounds, campaign visions and stances on school choice initiatives.

The Herald did not receive responses from candidates Linda Cothiere or Katrina Wilson as of Monday evening. This story may be updated with their responses.

Here’s how those candidates responded.

Some answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

James Barry Wright

Wright, 58, is a former police chief and city manager of Opa-Locka.

Miami Herald: Did you graduate from, work for, or are you related in any way to MDCPS?

JW: After obtaining enough credits, I made the decision to leave Miami Norland Senior High School in my junior year and obtained a GED from Lindsey Hopkins Technical Center.

MH: What is your educational background?

JW: GED; BPA and MPA from Barry University

MH: Why are you running for this office?

JW: I am running for the Miami-Dade County School Board because District 1 helped shape the person I became, and I believe my next chapter of public service belongs in public education. I grew up here, attended District 1 public schools, and have spent more than 30 years serving this community. I hope to bring that experience to the School Board and work collaboratively with my fellow Board members to strengthen the schools and opportunities that will shape the next generation.

I also believe the School Board deserves leaders with executive and varied experience. Its responsibility extends far beyond education policy. The Board oversees a multibillion-dollar budget, hires and evaluates the Superintendent and School Board Attorney, establishes policy, and is accountable to students, parents, employees, and taxpayers.

Throughout my career, I have served as a lieutenant with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Chief of Police, Interim City Manager, chaired FINRA arbitration panels for 13 years, and now own a small business. Those experiences taught me how to make difficult decisions, manage public resources responsibly, build consensus, and hold organizations accountable. I believe those are the qualities the School Board needs.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

JW: My three priorities are student safety, student success, and workforce readiness. To me, those priorities are inseparable. Students must feel safe before they can learn. When students succeed, they build confidence and discover their potential. Workforce readiness ensures every graduate leaves our schools prepared for life.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

JW: As a business owner, I own a security company in a very competitive industry. My clients have many companies to choose from. I don’t spend my time complaining about the competition. I focus on providing exceptional service, earning my clients’ trust, and demonstrating why my company delivers the greatest value. Miami-Dade County Public Schools could take the same approach. Since parents have choices, our responsibility is to give them every reason to choose our schools by ensuring safe learning environments, outstanding teachers, strong academic outcomes, and preparing students for life.

Wrendly Mesidor

Wrendly Mesidor, 34, is a Catholic elementary school teacher who has previously worked in Miami-Dade’s public school system.

MH: What is your educational background?

WM: I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Broward College in 2019. I later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Florida International University in 2022 and a Master of Science degree in Mass Communication from Florida International University in 2023.

MH: Why are you running for this office?

WM: I am running for Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 because I believe our students, families, and educators deserve a strong advocate who understands education from the inside.

I am running because I want to bring a teacher’s perspective, a parent’s perspective, and a community leader’s perspective to the School Board. My focus is on supporting educators, improving student achievement, strengthening partnerships with families, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. This campaign is about making sure the voices of students, families, and teachers are represented at the decision-making table.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

WM: Supporting and retaining our teachers and school staff. Teachers are the foundation of student success. I will advocate for competitive compensation, better support systems, and policies that help recruit and retain high-quality educators. After serving in classrooms, I understand the challenges teachers face every day.

Improving student achievement and expanding opportunities. Every student deserves access to a high-quality education, strong academic support, and opportunities to prepare for college, careers, and life. I will focus on literacy, STEM education, career pathways, and ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed.

Strengthening partnerships between schools, families, and the community. Schools are strongest when parents, educators, and community members work together. I will prioritize transparency, listening to families, and building stronger connections between our schools and the communities they serve.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

WM: I believe every child deserves access to a high-quality education, and families should have options that best meet their children’s needs. My perspective comes from experiencing education from multiple angles.

I understand the value that both public and private educational environments can provide. At the same time, any expansion of vouchers or charter schools must include strong accountability, transparency, and protections to ensure we continue investing in the public schools that serve the majority of our students. As a School Board member, my focus will be on making sure every student has access to excellent teachers, safe learning environments, and opportunities to succeed, regardless of the type of school they attend.

Thera Johnson

Thera Johnson, 43, is a write-in candidate who , helping people with disabilities, for Miami-Dade County. She was a candidate for city council in Miami Gardens in 2020.

MH: Did you graduate from, work for, or are you related in any way to MDCPS?

TJ: Yes, I am a graduate of Miami Norland Sr High School; I have also worked with Miami-Dade schools as an educator.

MH: What is your educational background?

TJ: Alumnus of Miami Norland Sr. High school, Bachelor’s degree from Florida International University in Education and a Master’s degree from the University of West Florida in Public Administration.

MH: Why are you running for this office?

TJ: I’m running for Miami-Dade School Board District 1 because I believe every child deserves access to a high-quality education, every teacher deserves the resources to succeed, and every parent deserves a voice in the decisions that affect their children’s future.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

Improve Student Achievement: Every student deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for success after graduation. I want to strengthen reading and math achievement, close learning gaps, and ensure students are prepared for college, careers, and entrepreneurship. Success should be measured by student growth and real outcomes.

Support Our Teachers and School: Great schools start with great educators. I will advocate for ensuring District 1 schools have the resources they need, support teacher recruitment and retention, promote professional development, and make sure classrooms have the tools necessary for students and teachers to succeed.

Accountability, Safety, and Community Partnership: Parents deserve transparency, and students deserve safe, welcoming schools. I will work to ensure every budget decision is focused on improving student success, support safe learning environments and student mental health, and strengthen partnerships with parents, businesses, and community organizations so every child has the support they need both inside and outside the classroom.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

TJ: I believe families should have access to high-quality educational options, and I respect that parents want to choose the learning environment that best meets their child’s needs. School choice is an important part of Florida’s education landscape. Whether it is helpful or hurtful is subjective based on how you view the matter. The education of children can never be hurtful unless proper channels are not in place to ensure children are receiving proper education in a worldly well-rounded manner. These policies should apply to all child regarding of which institution of learning they are attending.

Bernard Jennings

Bernard WH Jennings, 58, is chair of the board at Florida Memorial University and a former executive director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee.

MH: What is your educational background?

BJ: I hold a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Administration from Florida Memorial University and the Master’s of Applied Social Science in Public Administration from Florida A&M University and an Honorary Doctorate from the Los Angeles Institute of Divinity in Entrepreneurship.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

BJ: To seek an increase in salaries for teachers, para-professionals, bus drivers, teachers aides, counselors and staff. We have an affordability crisis. How can they focus on our most important asset — our children — if they are facing financial crisis at home? Secondly, I will urge fellow board members to seek a resolution along with other school boards in the state to demand an outside audit of the Florida Lottery. To reveal where non-distributed Lottery dollars are held and how much funding is provided to District 1. Lastly, work with my fellow board members and the superintendent to provide greater transparency to the residents of the community regarding funding and expenditures of the Miami-Dade County School Board’s $7.4 billion dollar budget.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

BJ: They are obviously hurtful to the public school system as the divert dollars away to private entities with no enumeration policy for students that return back to the public school system after November of each year, as they often do. I would propose that we offer paid asynchronous learning to youth in other nations through the United Nations Global Goals Initiatives. Goal#4 Education. I implemented this initiative at Florida Memorial University that has and continues to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars. Other Nations will pay millions if not billions of dollars to access online learning from Miami-Dade County Schools. The foreign students are able to upskill themselves over the internet while remaining in their home country. Miami-Dade County Schools will benefit from much need international funding in the millions.

Joy Jackson

Joy Jackson, 72, is a 51-year veteran of Miami-Dade’s public school system. She is a pastor and has been active in local unions during that time; she has the endorsement of the United Teachers of Dade.

MH: What is your educational background?

JJ: Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Barry University; Master’s Degree, Florida International University; Doctorate in Theology, St. Thomas University

MH: Why are you running for this office?

JJ: I am running because I believe my 51 years of experience in Miami-Dade County Public Schools have prepared me to help lead our district at the board level. I have spent my career serving students, supporting families, advocating for educators, and working to strengthen public education. I want to use that experience to improve academic achievement, support competitive teacher and staff compensation, strengthen school safety, and ensure every decision reflects the best interests of students. I am running to serve, to lead, and to help build stronger schools for every child in Miami-Dade County.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

JJ: Competitive teacher and staff compensation to recruit, support, and retain high-quality employees who are essential to student success.

Academic excellence by ensuring every student has access to high-quality instruction, the resources they need to succeed, and opportunities to reach their full potential.

Safe, supportive schools by strengthening school safety and building strong partnerships among schools, families, employees, and the community.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

JJ: I support giving parents educational options, including high-quality charter schools that are accountable for student achievement and responsible stewardship of public funds. However, my priority is strengthening our traditional public schools, where the vast majority of Miami-Dade students are educated. I have concerns about universal private school vouchers when they divert funding from public schools without the same level of accountability and transparency required of public schools. My focus will always be ensuring every child, regardless of the school they attend, has access to a high-quality education while protecting the long-term strength of our public school system.

Erhabor Ighodaro

Erhabor Ighodaro, 53, is a former city councilman and vice mayor of Miami Gardens. He was chief of staff for the late Robert B. Ingram when he was on the school board and ran unsuccessfully to replace him in 2008.

Miami Herald: Did you graduate from, work for, or are you related in any way to MDCPS?

Erhabor Ighodaro: Former chief of staff to late District 1 school board member Robert B. Ingram; Teacher at Norland Middle School; Teacher at Miami Norland Senior High School; and Teacher at North Miami Adult.

MH: What is your educational background?

EI: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Florida Memorial University; Master of Science in Justice Administration, St. Thomas University (2002); PhD in Conflict Resolution, Nova Southeastern University.

MH: Why are you running for this office?

EI: It is a vacant seat and I believe I am the best person with the history and pedigree to fill the vacancy. As an educator, a former Miami-Dade County Public School teacher, a parent of twin daughters who received a world-class education and graduated from MDCPS, I believe in public education.

For ten years, I worked in the office of Miami-Dade County School Board, District 1 as the Chief of Staff to the late Dr. Robert B. Ingram and evidencing my qualification for the office, I received the endorsement of the Miami Herald as a candidate for the School Board seat in 2008.

MH: What would be your three top priorities as a school board member representing District 1?

EI: Recognizing the District Cost Differentials (DCD): I would advocate for equity of tax dollars from Tallahassee to our school district.

Address disparities in resources (funding, capital improvement, technology, goods and services) among the nine districts within the county.

Recruitment and retention of the best teachers across MDCPS.

MH: What is your position on universal private school vouchers and charter schools? Are these policies helpful or hurtful to education in Miami-Dade?

EI: I believe this issue needs to be addressed at the state level. In education, we know that parental involvement is the X factor in student achievement and I support all reasonable measures to empower parents. However, as a public school advocate my fiduciary responsibility is to optimize, manage and advance funding for public schools. Private schools and charter schools have important roles to play in our ecosystem. Notwithstanding, as a School Board Member my role is to make sure that they supplement and not supplant traditional public schools.

This story is part of a statewide partnership of nonpartisan newsrooms and universities working to help Florida voters make informed decisions in the 2026 school board elections. Learn more about the Florida Elections Reporting Partnership at floridaelections.org.