Florida school board members selected a new statewide leader.
Last week, former Charlotte County School Board Member Andrea Messina was named new executive director of the Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors.
She will be replacing the retiring Dr. Wayne Blanton, who held the position since 1985.
Prior to her promotion to executive director, Messina served as FSBA’s director of professional development.
“We were fortunate to consider several excellent candidates for this position,” said FSBA President Caroline Zucker, who sits on the Sarasota County School Board. “Andrea presented the best combination of experience and leadership to take the helm as executive director.”
During the formal process to replace Blanton, as FSBA created a special Selection Committee to interview and evaluate applicants, Bill Graham served as interim executive director. Graham is executive director of the Florida School Labor Relations Service.
FSBA is the nonprofit corporation representing all school board members in Florida. Founded in 1930, the FSBA has developed into the advocacy and collective voice for Florida school districts, often working with other educational and community agencies to improve education in Florida. The group’s primary mission is to increase student achievement with effective school board leadership.
“I look forward to this new opportunity to work with school board members and school districts to build on FSBA’s legacy of advocating for students and public education,” said Messina.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Messina became FSBA’s director of professional development in 2012. Prior to her tenure at the association, she served three terms on the Charlotte County School Board.
