Compare the 2026 Miami-Dade School Board District 1 Candidates

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

According to the candidate’s campaign website, Cothiere has more than a decade of classroom teaching experience in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and is a certified mediator. She holds certifications in ESOL and Reading. She co-hosts “The Reyni Talk Show” on 1360 AM and Island TV. She is a Deaconess at Good News Church of North Miami. She has worked in education, workforce development, and community service across North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, and Miami Gardens. Source

Prior public service or education experience

No prior elected or appointed public office is stated in the candidate’s own campaign materials or in news coverage reviewed. Cothiere is a graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School, holds an associate degree from Miami Dade College, and holds a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Thomas University, according to her campaign website. Source

Publicly stated priorities

• Empower teachers in the classroom. “Teachers know their students best.” Source
• Safe and modern campuses. “You can’t learn where you don’t feel safe.” Source
• Parents as partners. “Education is a team sport.” Source

Campaign website: lindaforschoolboard.com — live as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

Ighodaro holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution Studies from Nova Southeastern University, an M.S. in Justice Administration from St. Thomas University, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Florida Memorial University. He is a former Miami-Dade public school teacher, Founder/CEO of the Oracle Consulting Group, and teaches at Florida Memorial University. He is Executive Director of the Dr. Robert Ingram Foundation and serves as the Miami-Dade School District Administrator for the Ingram Africa School Alliance Rites of Passage Project. Source

Prior public service or education experience

According to Biscayne Times, Ighodaro served eight years on the Miami Gardens City Council and held the position of vice mayor. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the late Robert Ingram, Ph.D., a Miami-Dade County School Board member. Sources: 1, 2

Publicly stated priorities

No published platform located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026.

Campaign website: Campaign website not yet published as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

According to Pineapple Report, Jackson retired after 51 years with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. No further detail on her specific roles or titles during that tenure was located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026. Source

Prior public service or education experience

No additional prior public service or education-career details beyond her 51-year Miami-Dade County Public Schools tenure were located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026.

Publicly stated priorities

No published platform located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026.

Campaign website: Campaign website not yet published as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

Jennings is Chairman of the Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator with more than ten years of experience, and a HUD-Certified Loss Mitigation Specialist with a background in mortgage banking. He founded the Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce and is a former Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee. According to the candidate’s campaign website, he has spent his career in education leadership, public service, and youth advocacy. Sources: 1, 2, 3

Prior public service or education experience

Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, Florida Memorial University. Master’s degree in Applied Social Science, Florida A&M University. Miami-Dade County Hearing Officer and Special Magistrate. Credited as initiator of Florida House Bill 775, the “Ethan Good Dad Act,” which strengthens parental responsibility following the establishment of paternity. Mentor with the 5000 Role Models of Excellence program. Sources: 1, 2

Publicly stated priorities

• Four platform pillars listed on the candidate’s campaign website: Student Success, Academic Excellence, Community Engagement, and Safe & Supportive Schools. Source
• His campaign announcement lists teacher support, parent engagement, school safety, workforce and career readiness, and STEM and technology education among his priorities. Source

Campaign website: district1schools.com — live as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

According to the candidate’s own bio, Mesidor is a 5th grade teacher of math, science, and social studies at St. James Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Miami for the 2026-2027 school year. He previously taught 3rd grade English Language Arts and Social Studies and completed a Teacher Accelerator Program internship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 2024. He holds degrees from Broward College and Florida International University, including a Master of Science in Mass Communication. Source

Prior public service or education experience

According to the candidate’s own bio, Mesidor served on the North Miami Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board, as Vice Chair from May to November 2024 and then Acting Chair through July 2025, and on the North Miami Beach Multicultural and Beautification Committees. Source Mesidor was a qualified candidate for North Miami Beach City Commission, Group 6, in the 2022 municipal election, per the city’s own candidate-qualification records. Source

Publicly stated priorities

• Student Achievement plank: “Every student deserves a high-quality education,” with commitments to improve reading and math proficiency, expand STEM and career pathways, support early literacy, and close achievement gaps. Source
• Supporting Teachers plank: “Teachers deserves the tools to help students succeed,” with commitments to reduce unnecessary paperwork, increase classroom resources, improve teacher retention, and invest in professional development. Source
• Partnering with Parents plank: “Parents are a child’s first teachers,” with commitments to better communication, more family engagement, and transparency from the Miami-Dade School Board. Source

Campaign website: votewrendly.com — live as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

Wilson is a veteran educator with more than 30 years of service in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, per her official Miami Gardens city government biography. She began as a part-time clerk, then taught Social Studies for 11 years at Miami Killian Senior High School. In 1996 she was appointed Principal and CEO of Liberty City Charter School, Florida’s first charter school, serving 15 years. She most recently served as a Curriculum Support Specialist with the district. Source

Prior public service or education experience

Wilson served on the Miami Gardens City Council from December 2018 to June 2026, per Legistorm’s tenure record. Source She holds a Bachelor’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Reading K-12 from Florida Memorial University, with post-graduate work in Educational Leadership at Nova University. She served as a founding officer and Vice President of the Florida Consortium of Charter Schools and as a Commissioner on the Florida State Appeals Commission. Source

Publicly stated priorities

No published platform located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026.

Campaign website: Campaign website not yet published as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Qualified — on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot

Experience identified in public materials

According to news coverage, Wright previously served as police chief of the City of Opa-locka and as the city’s city manager. No campaign website or candidate-authored biography describing his current occupation was located as of July 10, 2026. No source reviewed states his education background or degrees. He is one of seven candidates on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot for the District 1 seat. Source

Prior public service or education experience

Wright’s public service reflected in materials reviewed consists of two municipal executive roles in Opa-locka: police chief and city manager. No source reviewed documents elected office, school-system employment, or school board or committee service. No education-sector role or teaching credential was located in the sources reviewed as of July 10, 2026. Source

Publicly stated priorities

No published platform located in materials reviewed as of July 10, 2026.

Campaign website: Campaign website not yet published as of July 10, 2026.

County filing and campaign-finance record: County filing and campaign-finance record

Information last reviewed: July 10, 2026