Overview:
Linda Cothière, an educator with more than 35 years of experience in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, defeated Katrina Wilson Tuesday in District 1 — becoming the first Haitian-born member of the county’s school board.
MIAMI — Linda Cothière, an educator who has spent more than three decades in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, won a closely contested runoff election for the District 1 seat on the county School Board. Her win makes the Cap-Haïtien native the first Haitian American to represent the heavily-Haitian area in one of the nation’s largest public school districts.
“We did it,” Cothière said in a statement to The Haitian Times late Tuesday night.
“This victory means so much to me personally,” she added. “As a Haitian-born American who came to this country at 15 and was raised by a hardworking single mother, I am living proof that where you begin does not determine how far you can go.”
Cothière received 51.6% of the vote to fellow educator Katrina Wilson’s 48.4%, according to the county’s Supervisor of Elections.
Cothière brings more than 35 years of experience in the district, where she has worked as a paraprofessional, community specialist and classroom teacher. The mother-of-two will represent a diverse area of northern Miami-Dade that includes Miami Gardens, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka and Biscayne Gardens.
Her election follows a competitive August election in which Wilson led an eight-candidate field with about 32% of the vote, while Cothière received just under 21%. Neither secured the majority needed to win outright, sending the two educators into Tuesday’s runoff.
The contest drew attention to the future of public education in a district facing declining enrollment, school closures and increasing competition from charter and private schools. It also offered voters a choice between two candidates with substantial education experience but different professional backgrounds and approaches to school governance.
“The victory is bigger than me. It represents hope, opportunity, and the power of our community coming together.”
Linda Cothière, Miami-Dade School Board member-elect
Cothière campaigned on strengthening teacher support, improving communication with families and increasing accountability in how district resources are used. Her message resonated with residents, earning her a seat at the table as Miami-Dade confronts decisions about school facilities, staffing, enrollment and the allocation of public education funds.
Wilson, who spent 15 years as principal and CEO of Liberty City Charter School, helped establish the Florida Consortium of Charter Schools.
Her campaign emphasized academic achievement, teacher support, school safety and partnerships with families and community organizations. She also advocated for smaller class sizes, housing assistance to help retain teachers and community discussions before school consolidation proposals reach the board.
Cothière recognized the role that grassroots engagement and unity played in her campaign’s success.
“The victory is bigger than me,” she said. “It represents hope, opportunity, and the power of our community coming together.”
From Cap-Haïtien to Miami-Dade classrooms
Cothière, 58, moved to the United States as a teenager and grew up in the Carol City area, now Miami Gardens. She built her career in the public school system, working in several roles, including paraprofessional, community specialist and teacher. She is married to Democratic state Rep. Wallace Aristide,who previously served as principal of Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
In her own bid for office, Cothière emphasized the perspective she brings from working directly with students, families and educators. She focused on giving teachers a greater voice in district decisions, reducing repetitive reporting requirements and improving compensation to help Miami-Dade compete with neighboring school districts.
Cothière also called for a closer oversight of District 1’s share of the $1.2 billion school construction bond approved by voters in 2012, with particular attention to air conditioning, building repairs and classroom technology.
For families, she proposed clearer updates on school budgets and academic performance, with communication available in English, Haitian Creole and Spanish. A co-host of “The Reyini Talk Show” on Radio 1360 AM, Cothière also advocated for consulting parents when making decisions to close schools, merge campuses or change attendance boundaries.
Cothière will succeed Steve Gallon III, who left the school board seat he held for 10 years to run for county commissioner—also representing District 1. He won his race without opposition.
