This story is part of a statewide partnership of 27 nonpartisan newsrooms and universities working to help Florida voters make informed decisions in the 2026 school board elections. Learn more about the Florida Elections Reporting Partnership.

Voters in Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 sent two candidates into the Nov. 3 runoff. In a crowded field that featured eight candidates, Katrina Wilson and Linda Cothiere – both graduates of Miami Carol City High – will face each other.

Wilson received 33% of the vote, followed by Cothiere with 21%, according to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections.

Wilson, a former public and charter school administrator, resigned from the Miami Gardens city council to run for the school board. Wilson focused on student performance, teacher compensation and facilities. 

Cothiere, who is Haitian-American, is a longtime public school teacher. She focused her campaign on preschool access, parental involvement and teacher empowerment. 

The race started after former School Board member Steve Gallon resigned to run for the Miami-Dade commission. Gallon, who had represented District 1 since 2016, endorsed Wilson.

The eight candidates entered the race as schools face declining enrollment, competition from private school vouchers, charter schools and school closures. At a Miami-Dade NAACP candidate forum, the candidates criticized Florida’s “School of Hope” law. This allows for approved charter school operators to occupy underused and low performing public schools. 

The district represents a large swath of northern Miami-Dade County, including the cities of Miami Garden, Opa-locka, a share of North Miami and unincorporated Miami-Dade.

Tuesday’s primary saw 240,456 voters (about 19%) of the county’s 1.28 million registered voters cast a ballot.

The other candidates and their vote totals were Erhabor Ighodaro (8%); Joy L. Jackson (19%); Bernard W.H. Jennings (5%); Wrendly Mesidor (4%) James Wright (9%) and write-in candidate Thera Johnson (0.5%).

District 8 incumbent sails to re-election

In District 8, incumbent Monica Colucci returns to serve another term for District 8, which covers a large swath of southern and western Miami-Dade including Homestead, West Kendall, Palmetto Bay and unincorporated areas.

Colucci received 92% of the vote, defeating Sam Joseph, who received 8%. Joseph’s name did not appear on the official ballot because he is qualified as a write-in candidate.

Colucci, the incumbent, has spoken about school safety, career education and academic fundamentals. Her platform centered on protecting students’ educational opportunities, giving parents a voice in their children’s education. She has been an elementary teacher for over 26 years and was first elected to the school board in 2022.

Joseph, an education advocate and political newcomer, campaigned on accountability and change in direction for the District 8 School Board.

Brianna Duardo is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Digital Journalism at the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University in Miami.