Katrina Wilson, the former principal who led an eight-candidate field in Tuesday's Miami-Dade School Board District 1 primary, will carry a platform built around an independent enrollment study and tackling student absenteeism into a Nov. 3 runoff. The winner will vote on policy directly affecting Key Biscayne K-8 Center and MAST Academy.
Wilson captured about 32% of the vote on Aug. 18 but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to win outright, according to the Miami Herald. She will face Linda Cothiere, a Haitian American public school educator who edged out United Teachers of Dade-endorsed Joy Jackson by less than two percentage points for second place.
The seat is being vacated by Dr. Steve Gallon III, who represented District 1 since 2016 and endorsed Wilson to succeed him. The board is already studying a K-12 and 6-12 campus model countywide, a decision that directly affects how schools like Key Biscayne K-8 and MAST Academy are structured, and has approved closure of nine schools districtwide.
Wilson's Top Priority: Fighting Student Absenteeism
In a Hy-Lo News Miami interview published on Election Day, Wilson named absenteeism as her single biggest concern.
"You can't help anybody that's not there. The question is: Where are the children?" she said.
Wilson framed chronic absence as the root of challenges in mental health, school safety and college readiness. She also wants the district to study why families choose charter or private schools over traditional public options, saying public schools need to determine what they can do differently to become families' first choice.
Wilson Pushes for Independent Study on Enrollment, School Properties
Wilson called for the district to commission an independent study examining enrollment projections and the long-term use of school properties over the next decade. She cited declining birth rates, families leaving South Florida due to cost of living and school-choice expansion as drivers.
Possible uses for underutilized property could include affordable housing for teachers or partnerships with other educational programs, she said, but the district needs data before making permanent decisions. That position matters locally. MAST Academy just broke ground on a $20.6 million new main building at Florida International University's (FIU) Biscayne Bay Campus, while the board recently closed two District 1 schools, Parkway Elementary and Rainbow Park Elementary.
Wilson's Charter School Background Shapes Her Accountability Stance
Wilson, who was principal and CEO of Liberty City Charter School during its early years (Florida's first charter school, co-founded with former Gov. Jeb Bush), said she supports accountability for every school receiving public dollars. She also addressed fears among immigrant families about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement near schools, pledging to examine what the law permits to keep schools safe for all children.
What's Next Before the Nov. 3 Runoff
Wilson and Cothiere will face voters Nov. 3. The winner joins a board navigating a leadership transition: incoming Superintendent Rafael Villalobos, selected July 29, is set to replace Superintendent Jose Dotres, whose contract ends Feb. 14, 2027.
