Lawrence E. Dennis (Chairman)

Email: DennisL5@duvalschools.org

Mr. Dennis is a native of Mobile, Alabama and a graduate of Florida A&M University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also received a Certification in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. He recently retired after a 37-year career with Duval County Public Schools, where he served as an elementary school principal, middle school principal, and in 2003, principal of Jean Ribault Senior High School. Under his leadership, Ribault was removed from the “F” schools list. In 2008, Mr. Dennis was appointed as region superintendent for Duval County middle schools. That title was expanded in 2011 when he served as the Region 2 Superintendent, overseeing thirty-one schools (twenty-three elementary schools, five middle schools, and three senior high schools). He has worked with novice and aspiring principals and assistant principals to teach and develop leadership skills.

Mr. Dennis and his wife, Kimberly, are the parents of a son, Mylz, and are involved in numerous community initiatives.  Both are active members of The Bethel Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Heather Guzzino

Email: GuzzinoH@duvalschools.org

Heather Lane Guzzino is a long-time resident of Neptune Beach and graduated from Fletcher High School in 1986. She has served the last 15 years as the Treasurer for the Beaches Educational Foundation, which provides deserving high school seniors with financial scholarship awards to help them with college tuition and various expenses. 

Heather and her husband, Alan, are investors in the restaurant, Salt Life Food Shack. They have 3 wonderful children who attend(ed) Fletcher High School.

Marion Tischler

Marion Tischler migrated to Jacksonville in 1978 from the Northeast. Marion worked in the financial services industry for 36 years where she began designing, planning and implementing health care programs for employer groups and Medicare recipients.

 Marion retired in 2014 from a twenty-two-year career as a personal financial advisor. She has a Bachelor of Science from Drexel University and a Masters of Hospital Administration from George Washington University.

Erdine Johnson

Email: JohnsonE13@duvalschools.org

Erdine C. Johnson's career as a distinguished educator spanned over 40 years. She started her career as a classroom teacher in Marion County and later joined Team Duval. 

Rising through the ranks, Erdine became an outstanding principal, where her greatest success was spending all her principalship in urban school settings. Under her leadership, these urban schools never received a poor or failing school grade. This proved her philosophy: All children can be successfully educated.

Nathan Love Jr.

Email: LoveN@duvalschools.org

Nathan Love Jr. is a Jacksonville native and a life-long member of Central Metropolitan CME Church. He supports his church locally, nationally, and internationally and holds a position on the Trustee Board. Nathan also has several designations within the church such as General Superintendent of Church School, North Florida District Lay Leader, Local Director of One Church-One School and class leader.

Nathan was married to the late Rosemary Clayton Love for forty-three years, and together share five children and eight grandchildren, who are all his absolute pride and joy.

Josh Trent

Email: TrentJ2@duvalschools.org

Originally from Charlotte, NC, Josh did as so many other smart people have done and transplanted to Florida. He and his wife, Katie, left Charlotte, followed the Lord, and moved to Jacksonville in 2008. He immediately sunk in his heels, laying roots in what he felt was the greatest place and opportunity to live. 

Josh comes from a wide array of professional backgrounds, ranging from Commercial HVAC to Warehouse Procurement/Management, Executive at a software company, and now owns a flooring company.

Allison Busuttil

Email: BusutlilA@duvalschools.org

Allison grew up in the Duval County Public School system, where she graduated from Sandalwood High School. She then received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in civil engineering. She has worked in both private and public sectors as a project engineer and currently works as a program manager with security and construction projects.

She and her husband love to volunteer and seek to be an integral part of their three children’s educational journey in Duval County Public Schools.

Vacant

Stephanie Schaap

Email: 

Dr. Dawn Emerick

Email: EmerickD@duvalschools.org

Dr. Dawn Emerick is the Senior Director of Public Policy Research for the Jacksonville Civic Council. Originally from the DC / Maryland metropolitan area, she graduated from Frostburg State University (B.S.) and is a two-time alumnus of the University of North Florida (MPA, Ed.D). 

Over a span of 30 years, she has crafted her leadership skills at various private, government, and non-profit organizations in Florida, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, and Texas.

Lynette Clinch

Email: ClinchL@duvalschools.org

Lynette Clinch is a wife, mother, and grandmother of three beautiful girls.  She is a retired Corrections Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 32 years of service.

Lynette graduated from Florida Community College of Jacksonville (now Florida State College at Jacksonville) with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. She has a strong belief that education is the key and having the necessary tools is of fundamental importance. She has worked as a certified court mediator, served on several boards, and loves reading and traveling.

Monique Tookes

Email: TookesM@duvalschools.org

Monique Tookes is best described as authentic, driven, and invested. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and has over 16 years of experience as a Parent and Education Advocate in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). Monique is a dedicated member of the DCPS Parent Academy and contributed to the program’s development. She is an alumnus of the second Parents Who Lead cohort, completing the requirements to be recognized as a DCPS Parent Leader. She also participated in the development of the Single Gender Leadership Academies program at Eugene J. Butler, and the Fort Caroline Middle School Visual Performing Arts program.

With an investment of eight children in the DCPS system, she is a visionary leader with a proven track record serving in various roles such as, DCPS advisory councils, a board member on the Public School Facilities Planning Joint Planning Committee, Director of Family Empowerment at the Potter’s House International Ministries, and a twenty-seven year member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Monique brings tenacity, fiscal responsibility, and dedication expected while serving families for the betterment of the community and the educational system.

Monique is currently serving in her second term as the representative for the Jacksonville Joint Planning Committee and was recognized as the Sales Surtax Oversight Committee's Vice-Chair during her first term.

Hank O. Rogers

Email: RogersH4@duvalschools.org

Hank Rogers is a graduate of the University of North Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  He went on to further his education at Troy University, where he attained his MPA (Master of Public Administration).

Hank worked for the Florida House of Representatives for nearly 10 years and resigned from his position to focus more on volunteering and mentoring.  He currently works with the I'm A STAR Foundation. In addition, Hank is a Guardian Ad Litem, fighting for kids in the foster care system that have no voice, all while serving on various boards and committees, including the Jacksonville Branch N.A.A.C.P. 

Hank is currently serving in his second term as the representative for the Jacksonville NAACP and was recognized as the Sales Surtax Oversight Committee's founding Chairman during his first term.

Amy Henderson

Email: HendersonA6@duvalschools.org

Amy serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. Her love of reading and writing, fostered by many of her public school teachers, led her to Troy University, where she received a Bachelor's of Science in Journalism. 

She was a reporter and news editor at the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight (Bainbridge, GA.), and Editor of the Cullman Times (Cullman, AL.). Amy spent the bulk of her career with the Georgia Municipal Association, where she served as Director of Marketing and Communications.

Ryan Murphy

Email: MurphyR2@duvalschools.org

Ryan Murphy is the Director of Policy and Advocacy for JAX Chamber.

Originally from Ormond Beach, she graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Political Science. She has previously worked for the Florida Senate and the city of Jacksonville.

Dan Janson (Vice-Chair)

Email: JansonD@duvalschools.org

Dan Janson serves as a Public Safety, Environmental Health Safety (EHS), and Community Leader. Through outgoing and systematic approaches, Mr. Janson provides extensive experience in creating processes and procedures that help prepare organizations for the future by using state-of-the-art technology.

 Mr. Janson’s expertise includes enhancing and executing operational plans and decision-making processes that provide calm, safe work spaces and communities. His strong communication, time management, critical thinking, and relationship building skills exemplify his commitment to creating meaningful and impactful substantive changes in the lives of others.

Anita Vining

Email: AnitaV@duvalschools.org

Anita Vining has been a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services since 1996. She has received the following recognitions:  Top 5 Realtors in Jacksonville for 2022-23 by the Jacksonville Business Journal, 2022-23 Top 500 Realtors in State of Florida, and Woman of Influence for 2016 by the Jacksonville Business Journal.  

Anita is a current board member of the San Marco Merchants Association, and previously served as a board member for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF).

Jessie Spradley

Kay Hawkins

Email: HawkinsK1@duvalschools.org

Kay Hawkins has served as a VPK Teacher, as well as a preschool teacher and director. She is currently the Duval County Council PTA Board President and has served on the DCCPTA Board for the last ten years. In the last two years, Kay has also served on the Florida PTA Board and carried roles on various committees for the Florida PTA. 

She has a daughter who is currently in the 9th grade at Fletcher High School.

Wanda Ford

Email: FordW@duvalschools.org

Dr. Wanda L. Ford has over twenty-five years of higher education administration experience and currently serves as the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Florida State College at Jacksonville. 

She provides oversight and leadership for the offices of Finance, Budget, Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, Risk Management, and Campus Safety.

Dr. Christopher Bernier was sworn in as Duval County Public Schools Superintendent on July 1, 2024.  With nearly 128,000 students and 11,000+ employees, Dr. Bernier is leading the sixth largest school district in Florida and 18th largest in the United States.

His priority as Superintendent is to lead with a student-centered philosophy and ensure that the district’s strategic plan outcomes will meet the academic and social emotional needs of our students and drive the economic engine of our community. Dr. Bernier plans to prioritize the district’s budget to ensure that the district is fiscally responsible and good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Dr. Bernier’s leadership is guided by his core values:

• Belief in Students
• Excellence
• Integrity
• High Expectations
• Accountability
• Professionalism

Prior to Duval County, Dr. Bernier served as the Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Lee County. There he supported over 100,000 students and 13,000+ employees.  Lee County was the ninth largest school district in Florida and 32nd largest in the United States. Under Dr Bernier’s leadership, Lee County increased graduation rates, improved student achievement and removed all schools from state oversite; all while dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Dr. Bernier led his team in Lee County back from the devasting $350 million in school storm damage and reopened schools within 17 days following the storm. 

During his tenure, Lee County was also recognized as the Cambridge Large School District of the Year for inclusive enrollment practices and student achievement. Lee was also recognized by the Carnegie Institute Learning Leadership Network and named as one of nine school districts in the nation to participate in problem of practice and solutions to transform student outcomes. Dr Bernier was also named the Servant Leader of the Year by the Lee County Chamber for 2024.

Prior to Lee County, Dr. Bernier served as the Chief of Staff for the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fifth largest school district in the country. For three years, he helped to execute the student-centered vision of the Clark County School District for the over 300,000 students and 42,000 employees, investing an annual budget in excess of $5 billion. As an Executive Cabinet leader, Dr. Bernier led many projects, including a few below:

• Emergency Operations and COVID Response Commander
• Lead Member of the District’s Negotiation Team
• Chairman and Digital One to One Project Lead
• Chief Facilitator of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee
• Chairman of the Community and School Safety Committee

Before being recruited to Las Vegas, Dr. Bernier served in Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) from 1987 until 2019. He was a devoted classroom teacher; Assistant Principal; Principal at middle, high and virtual schools; Director of Professional Development and Associate Superintendent. His final promotion with OCPS resulted in Dr. Bernier leading the Office of School Choice, where he was responsible for all choice options, including Alternative Education, Charter Schools, Orange County Virtual School, K-12 Magnet Programs, School Age Services, Student Enrollment, Teen Parent Program and Home Education. These responsibilities supported the vision and mission of OCPS and influenced the trajectory for more than 200,000 students, 25,000 team members and a budget in excess of $2.2 billion.

Dr. Bernier has received numerous recognitions for his work, including being named Florida Principal for the Year by The Florida PTA. Throughout his career, he has remained a devoted student advocate and has fostered, nurtured, and maintained safe and positive learning environments wherever he has the opportunity to serve. Dr. Bernier has a proven capacity for developing and implementing equitable educational improvement efforts, advancing access for all, and raising student achievement through shared leadership with school leaders, educators, students and community members.

Dr. Bernier earned his undergraduate degree in History and Education from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern and his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida.

Cameron Marshall