MDCPS Citizen's Coalition for Public Schools

08/19/2026

Your Guide to the 2026 Referendum - Election day is November 3, 2026

07/21/2026

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article316581402.html?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawTMsI1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKVEMwalBPU2JZQlc4QnNZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlh3gwSkumJyettrPF-eSGNga_8f6zitfSty8vpk-nDf2oPXOkBCq9kSSqHM_aem_OvrlUybnwIogktIPZ8vOsQ

Six candidates for Miami-Dade superintendent got advanced as semifinalists. See who your school board member selected.

07/20/2026

Greetings,

Our petition calling for a moratorium on synthetic turf installations—which closed to new signatures on Earth Day, April 26, 2026—is gaining traction with the news media and the Miami-Dade County School Board.

You can read the recent Miami Herald article here; also attached as a PDF in case the article is behind a paywall.

The assistant to School Board Member Joseph Geller, District 3, contacted us to say that he is considering proposing a resolution to pause synthetic turf installations until independent experts assess the potential health and injury risks.

Green Schoolyards America sent this research on the increased athletic injuries associated with artificial turf.

Please stay tuned—and contact your own School Board member to let them know that you would like the Board to address these concerns. https://www3.dadeschools.net/SchoolBoard/members Alejandro Duran is the Student Advisor to the School Board, Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Consider forwarding this email with your own comment to: [email protected]

Finally, if you have not yet renewed your Florida Green Schools PTSA membership, please join us for the 2026–2027 school year: https://fgsptsa.givebacks.com/shop. We are an all-volunteer organization and rely on the support of our members and community. Members will receive our community newsletter with updates and grant opportunities.

Thank you.

Warmly,
Michele Drucker
President
Florida Green Schools PTSA

07/12/2026

https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/07/08/dps-superintendent-alex-marrero-misses-cut-for-miami-dade-job/

Denver Public Schools (DPS) Superintendent Alex Marrero did not make the short list of candidates vying for the top job with the Miami-Dade County Public School District. The Miami-Dade school board narrowed the field from 21 applicants to six semifinalists. The list includes two Miami-Dade administ...

07/12/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1684419890351315&id=100063499605005&mibextid=wwXIfr

“My former candidacy for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent position does not diminish my focus on Denver or the work we have led together,” Marrero said in a statement.

06/12/2026

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1018733370624877

06/12/2026

https://www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/2026/06/11/denver-superintendent-alex-marrero-candidate-for-top-schools-job-in-miami/

Marrero has led Denver Public Schools since 2021. The Miami Herald reported Thursday that he is one of 21 candidates for the top job in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

06/11/2026

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article316092785.html
(link to the article above)

Here's the list of candidates published in the Miami Herald's article:

Samuel Bentsen
Amanda Blatter
Santarvis Brown
Jose Bueno
Taran Chun
Jaime Cole
Latanya Collins
Corey Gardenhour
Linus Guillory
Lidice Lascano
Ernie Lozano
Alex Marrero
Sylvia R. Mitchell
Jeffery Mosley
Desmond Moulton
Carlos Perez
Angel Rivera
Christopher Ruszkowski
Christopher Spence
Shawn C. Thorpe
Rafael Villalobos

Who will succeed Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres? More than 20, including some district employees, have applied.

06/10/2026

Yesterday, some of the items discussed during Board Member Roja's listening session were:

- Proven current executive leadership experience to make difficult operational decisions; capable of balancing innovation, fiscal responsibilities, and community trust.
- Independence, integrity, and a commitment to transparency in decision-making.
- A commitment to meaningful public engagement, active listening, and open communication.
- Accessibility and responsiveness, with a willingness to engage directly with parents, teachers, staff, and community members without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers or layers of intermediaries.
- Empathy and a deep understanding of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and needs of the students, families, teachers, and communities served by the institution.
- The ability to lead by example
- Strong understanding of technology and emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, and the ability to leverage them responsibly to improve educational outcomes and operational efficiency.
- A willingness to modernize outdated processes, reduce administrative burdens, and create more effective systems that allow teachers to focus on instruction and student success.
- Track record of effective oversight and accountability to ensure direct leadership rather than hierarchical reporting structures.

*** The SURVEY attached is an opportunity for parent voices to be heard on the priorities for the next superintendent selection process. Reports have been shared on the superintendent search website with reporting and data collected based on the surveys already received. Please grow your voice, deadline is approaching.***

COMING UP ***Next SCHOOL BOARD MEETING is JUNE 17 at School Board Administration Building*** Please consider attending to provide three minutes of public input.

06/08/2026

MDCPS FIRST BUDGET MEETING to discuss the 2026-2027 District Budget
Time: 10 am
Location: School Board Administration Building - 1450 NE 2nd AVE. Conference Room 726.

The public may view or read the Closed Captioning of the School Board Workshop by visiting https://www3.dadeschools.net/SchoolBoard/information and clicking on the Web Simulcast button in the navigation on the left side of the page.