Winter Park, FL: On August 22nd at 6:00pm Representative Anna V. Eskamani will be bringing local experts and community members together to talk about the status of education in Florida, with a focus on both K-12 and higher education. 

There is a lot going on in the realm of education in Florida — from underpaying teachers and union busting, voucher expansion and book bans, to needing to better support our kids with disabilities and those who are not English speaking. Of course, in Florida, higher education has also been under attack and we are seeing faculty leave the state and students of all ages get caught up in the culture war crossfire.

This town hall will serve as an opportunity to dive deeper into these topics and will offer ways for everyday people to get more involved. Panelists will include: 

  • Dr. Jennifer Sandoval is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida and the Assistant Director of Inclusive Culture at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media who demonstrates her leadership by fighting for labor and reproductive rights.
  • Judi Hayes is a lawyer and mom of exceptional kids who has been advocating for inclusive, robust, and accessible public education for years.
  • Stephanie Vanos is the Vice President of the Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida and Chair of Help Out Public Education.
  • Susanne Peña is the President of the Florida Association for Bilingual Education, the lead education consultant at SMP Education Consulting, and a project member of FIU’s Creating TLC grant from the Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition.
  • Ladara Royal is a High School Dean and Graduation Coach, serving on the Florida Education Association in the Governance Board. He is currently completing a Master’s in Higher Education leadership with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion as he seeks to provide meaningful opportunities for educators and students of color.

“As a graduate of Orange County public schools, I am incredibly concerned about the future of education in Florida,” said Representative Eskamani. “We need to create space for some level setting, and help create a path for everyday people to get more involved too.”

Below are event details.

  • WHO: Representative Anna V. Eskamani and Community Partners
  • WHAT: Education Town Hall with Rep. Anna V. Eskamani
  • WHEN: Tuesday, August 22nd from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
  • WHERE: Winter Park, FL 32789 

RSVP: bit.ly/edutownhall23