Erika Donalds | |
---|---|
![]() Donalds in January 2021 | |
Born | 1980 (age 43–44) |
Education | Florida State University Florida Atlantic University |
Occupation | Education activist |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Erika Donalds (born 1980) is an American conservative education activist from Florida. Her husband, Byron Donalds, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]
Background
Donalds holds a bachelor's degree (Florida State University, 2002) and a master's degree (Florida Atlantic University, 2006) in accounting. She worked for New York investment management firm Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC (DGHM) from 2002 until 2018.[2]
Political activism
In 2013, following a dispute with administrators of her second child's public school in Naples, Donalds placed her child in a private school. She became involved in local efforts (via the group Parents ROCK) to deploy state education funds to establish a charter school, the Mason Classical Academy.[3][4]
Donalds was a member of the Collier County School Board from 2014 to 2018. She led a group of pro-charter activists in establishing the short-lived Florida Coalition of School Board Members, in opposition to the long-standing Florida School Boards Association.
Donalds was named by Florida House of Representatives Speaker Richard Corcoran to the 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Development and the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees.[5]
Donalds is a member of advisory boards for Classical Learning Test, Moms for Liberty, and the Independent Women’s Forum Education Freedom Center.[6]
In December 2022, Donalds hosted a fundraiser featuring Donald Trump for the Classical Education Network .[7]
Education business
In 2017, Donalds founded Optima Ed, a company that provides management support for one Hillsdale College-affiliated "classical" charter school in Florida. Optima is funded by a 10% cut of state funding to its schools, bringing in millions of dollars annually.[8]
Personal life
Donalds married Byron Donalds on March 15, 2003. They have three children: Damon, Darin and Mason. They live in Naples, Florida.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Congressman Byron Donalds". house.gov. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ↑ "Commissioner Erika Donalds". 2017-2018 Constitutional Review Commission. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Jacob, Ogles (January 22, 2019). "Erika Donalds brings years of commitment to school choice issue". Florida Politics. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Bennett Williams, Amy (August 10, 2020). "Candidate Byron Donalds and his accuser each calls the other a liar; ethics commission won't weigh in until at least next month". Fort Myers News-Press. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Ogles, Jacob (March 26, 2022). "Gov. DeSantis names Erika Donalds to FGCU Board of Trustees". Florida Politics. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ "Leadership". Optima Ed. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ "Trump Fundraiser". Optima Ed. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Gordon, Mark (October 22, 2020). "Florida charter school leader targets expansion". Business Observer. Retrieved 3 February 2023.