Haitian-American educator Linda Cothiere launches bid for Miami-Dade School Board seat
Key Points(5)
- Haitian-American educator and community advocate Linda Cothiere has announced her candidacy for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools School Board District 1 seat, pledging to draw on more than 35 years of experience in education, workforce development and community service.
- Cothiere, a certified teacher, court mediator and longtime resident of Miami-Dade County, said her campaign will focus on student achievement, parent engagement and teacher support under the slogan, “Students First.
- Support Teachers.” A graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School, Cothiere earned an associate degree from Miami Dade College and a bachelor's degree in education from St.
- She holds certifications in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading.
- Throughout her career, Cothiere has worked with students, families, educators, faith leaders and community organizations across North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka and Miami Gardens.
Haitian-American educator and community advocate Linda Cothiere has announced her candidacy for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools School Board District 1 seat, pledging to draw on more than 35 years of experience in education, workforce development and community service.
Cothiere, a certified teacher, court mediator and longtime resident of Miami-Dade County, said her campaign will focus on student achievement, parent engagement and teacher support under the slogan, “Students First. Empower Parents. Support Teachers.”
A graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School, Cothiere earned an associate degree from Miami Dade College and a bachelor's degree in education from St. Thomas University. She holds certifications in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading.
Throughout her career, Cothiere has worked with students, families, educators, faith leaders and community organizations across North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka and Miami Gardens. She has also been involved in numerous community outreach initiatives, including school supply drives, food distributions, toy drives and mentorship programs.
“Education is personal for me because this community raised me,” Cothiere said in announcing her candidacy. “As an educator, court mediator and community advocate, I understand that student success happens when teachers are empowered, parents are engaged and schools have the resources they need.”
Her campaign platform centers on four priorities: empowering teachers, improving school safety and infrastructure, strengthening partnerships with parents and increasing efforts to recruit and retain educators.
Cothiere said she wants to reduce administrative burdens on teachers and provide them with greater classroom autonomy, while also advocating for investments in modern facilities, enhanced security measures and updated technology.
She is also proposing expanded parental engagement efforts, including making information and resources available in English, Haitian Creole and Spanish.
Addressing Florida's ongoing teacher recruitment and retention challenges, Cothiere said she supports directing local resources toward competitive salaries and retention initiatives.
“When teachers win, students win,” she said. “Investing in our educators is one of the smartest investments we can make in our children's future.”
In addition to her education work, Cothiere co-hosts The Reyni Talk Show on 1360 AM and Island TV, where she regularly discusses community issues with residents and local leaders.
District 1 encompasses communities in Miami Gardens, Opa-locka, North Miami and North Miami Beach.
The election is scheduled for August 18, 2026, with early voting set to run from August 3 through August 16.
