Miami-Dade School Board to elect leadership this week. Will conservatives win again?

The Miami-Dade County School Board on Tuesday is expected to elect a chair and vice chair — an annual vote that determines who will preside over the year’s monthly meetings, appoint members to committees and act as a liaison and resource between the board and the superintendent.

The meeting is set for Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Last November, following the election of political newcomers Roberto Alonso and Monica Colucci, the board elected Mari-Tere Rojas and Lubby Navarro as chair and vice-chair, respectively. (Rojas was elected unanimously, while Navarro was elected in a 5-4 vote.)

But less than two months later and after the addition of two new members — Mary Blanco, who replaced Navarro, who resigned over a law that prohibited elected officials from working as lobbyists, and Danny Espino, who replaced Doral Mayor Christi Fraga — the board had to choose another vice chair.

The board elected Espino in a 5-4 vote. Steve Gallon III, Lucia Baez-Geller and Luisa Santos voted for Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, who voted for herself.

The election of Rojas and Espino as chair and vice-char, respectively, solidified a conservative stronghold on the governing board of the nation’s third largest school district. (Alonso, Blanco, Colucci and Espino were either endorsed or appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.)

And while it remains unclear if the board’s leadership will remain the same, there’s room to speculate about who would want the top job and who has the experience to do so.

Here is a look at the board members, current and incoming, and a few of their qualifications:

Roberto Alonso

Despite his experience as a member of the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees, this past year was Alonso’s first on the School Board. He represents District 4.

Since January, he’s championed an array of agenda items, including an amendment to a flag policy he proposed, a policy that would allow for legislative invocations before board meetings and establishing a program that would deliver heart screening services to all high schoolers wanting to play sports.

A conservative on the board, his nomination could be supported by the majority.

Lucia Baez-Geller

The former teacher at Miami Beach Senior High School for 15 years, Baez-Geller, was elected to the board in 2020 and is considered one of the more liberal members on the board.

Despite gaining a support from the community for her effort to recognize October as LGBTQ History month, it’s unlikely she’ll go for a leadership position. She represents District 3.

On Thursday, she announced she would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar for her Miami House seat. She’d previously announced she would not seek reelection for her School Board seat.

Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall

Elected in 2010, Bendross-Mindingall, who represents District 2, is the longest-serving board member and served as the first African American vice chair. In 2020, she led the board’s effort in asking the district to review curriculum related to racial and cultural understanding. Previously, she served as a state representative for District 109 from 2000 until 2008.

Last year, Gallon nominated her for the vice chair role, but Rojas, who was the determining vote, chose Espino, who had just been appointed to the board. Nevertheless, some could argue her tenure and experience make her a natural fit for either chair or vice chair.

Mary Blanco

As a teacher, psychologist and guidance counselor, Blanco has also been consistent in her push for the district to ensure sufficient — if not more — mental health services to students across the district. Blanco, who represents District 7, also serves on the Board of Trustees at Miami Dade College.

Though she has the shortest tenure on the board (she was appointed in January), like Alonso, she could have the backing of the other conservatives to earn a top spot.

Monica Colucci

In her first year on the dais, the former teacher at Everglades K-8 Center in Westchester has pushed forward initiatives championed by conservatives and DeSantis, including the possible implementation of a classical education curriculum model.

Similar to Alonso and Blanco, Colucci, who represents District 8, could get the votes needed for a possible post.

Danny Espino

The local attorney and former Miami Springs city councilman who unsuccessfully ran for the school board in 2012, was a newcomer to education and the board when DeSantis appointed him the night before the swearing in ceremony in November 2022. As the board’s vice chair, though, some could argue that Espino should continue in his position. He represents District 5.

Espino’s leadership came under fire in May when the Black community called for Espino to apologize over setting up an April meeting with Alonso to discuss minority participation in district contracts and then telling Bendross-Mindingall she wasn’t invited.

Steve Gallon III

Gallon, who represents District 1, has been on the board since 2016 and was first elected vice chair in 2019, a role he had until last year. Given his previous leadership role, the former teacher, principal and superintendent of schools in New Jersey, could be seen as a possible fit for either role.

Seen as a liberal on the board, however, he may not have the backing of enough members to ensure his election to a top seat.

Maria Teresa Rojas

As the current chair, it’s likely Rojas is seen as a shoo-in for the role. The former teacher, principal and district official, all in Miami-Dade public schools, Rojas was first elected to the board in 2016. Rojas represents District 6.

Previously, she was seen as somewhat of a swing vote, but in the last year, she’s often sided with the more conservative members.

Luisa Santos

Elected to the board in 2020, Santos has spearheaded much of the board’s green and digital-first initiatives. Moreover, perhaps more than others, Santos, who represents District 9, is consistently requesting how initiatives and programs relate to the district’s Strategic Blueprint, a five-year plan that outlines the district’s efforts to maintain financial stability, operational efficiency, communication and workforce excellence, among other initiatives.

Nevertheless, as the youngest member and viewed as a liberal on the board, it may be tough for her to receive the backing needed to be elected into a leadership position.

This story was updated to accurately reflect the votes in 2022 for chair and vice chair.