SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — School choice activist Erika Donalds, a former Collier County School Board member, launched her statewide “Florida Promise Tour” on Monday in South Miami.
Donalds, 46, is married to U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican running for Florida governor with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
“Here in South Florida, it’s not having enough seats for the demand for school choice, we’re heading that all over, but here it’s especially acute,” Erika Donalds, a mother of three, said. “The best schools have waitlists. Families feel like they don’t have enough transportation to access some of the other options.”
Madeline Pumariega, the president of Miami Dade College, helped to organize the event at CasaCuba, a restaurant at 5859 SW 73 St. Florida Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez was among the event’s guests.
Erika Donalds, a certified public accountant, is the founder and chair of the Education Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and Optima Ed, a Naples-based company that supports virtual reality in education.
Erika Donalds is also a member of Moms for Liberty, a far-right organization that supports parental rights in public education. She is set to speak at the Broward Women’s Republican Club’s ticketed event at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Jay’s Steakhouse, at 441 NE Third Ave., in Fort Lauderdale.
Byron Donalds is running against David Jolly, the Democrat who is campaigning for Florida governor. Jolly recently announced he doesn’t plan to debate his opponent.
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