School Board of Lee County Chair Sam Fisher, Vice-Chair Jada Langford-Fleming and members Melisa Giovannelli, Bill Ribble, Debbie Jordan, Armor Persons, and Vanessa Chaviano, along with Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin, recently attended the Florida School Board Association and Florida Association of District Superintendents 79th Annual Joint Conference. The event brought together over 425 school board members, superintendents, and educational leaders from across the state for four days of collaboration, learning, and inspiration under the theme “Game Changers.”
“This joint conference was an invaluable experience for our new School Board and Superintendent Carlin as we unite with One Vision, One Team,” said School Board Chair Sam Fisher. “We gained valuable insights from colleagues across the state while learning more about vital topics school districts face such as school safety, student success, and family engagement. To achieve lasting success, we must consistently look for new ways to improve, keeping student achievement and high performance at the center of our efforts.”
The conference kicked off with an inspiring keynote from Damon West, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and motivational speaker encouraging attendees to harness their inner strength to overcome challenges and create meaningful change in their schools and communities. Former NFL linebacker and leadership coach Rennie Curran delivered the keynote address “One Team. One Dream.” His session provided actionable strategies for building teamwork, fostering leadership, and driving success in education, leaving attendees motivated and equipped to enhance their school board efforts.
School Board of Lee County Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno led a breakout session on the First Amendment rights of elected officials and constituents. The presentation focused on advising school board members how to navigate free speech protections on and off the dais by exploring recent legal decisions and how they impact public officials as it relates to social media and public comment during board meetings.
“This year’s conference was a resounding success, with new school board members joining experienced leaders to engage in meaningful discussions and learning opportunities,” said FSBA Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Messina. “Our speakers, sessions, and events highlighted the collective commitment of Florida’s education leaders to shaping a brighter future for students and communities across the state.”
The mission of FSBA is to increase student achievement through the development of effective school board leadership and advocacy for public education. Association members will convene in March for the 38th Annual Day in the Legislature, a Tallahassee advocacy event.