School Choice








Contact Us . . .

Floridians for School Choice
PO Box 530568
Miami Shores, FL 33153
Toll-free Phone: 888.301.2949
E-mail: help@floridachild.org

About us . . .

Patrick Heffernan, Ph.D. - President (CEO), Floridians for School Choice
Dr. Heffernan grew up in Miami and earned his B.A. in Philosophy cum laude from Florida Atlantic University. After teaching at the elementary and secondary level in both public and private schools, he earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from the University of London. He subsequently was admitted to the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University as a Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at Homerton College. His academic interest in parental choice of schools began there and has since led to advocacy.

Dr. Heffernan later served as the Director of the Fay School in Massachusetts and of the Education Foundation for the Archdiocese of Miami. In 1998, he created Floridians for School Choice, followed by its web-based resource for parents — FloridaChild. A contributor to education policy discussions in Florida, Dr. Heffernan served on Florida's Blue Ribbon Committee on Educational Governance and others. He serves on and is former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Greater Miami.

Marthenia "Tina" Dupree - Director (COO), FloridaChild
Dr. Dupree earned her B.S. Degree from Trinity International University, followed by a Masters and Doctorate from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. Tina is fondly known internationally, as "the Chicken Lady" because of her 12 years as the dynamic spokesperson for a major chicken restaurant chain. She later started her own business, the Motivational Training Center (MTC) in Miami. As the founder of the MTC, Dr. Dupree conducts corporate training programs and seminars in leadership, customer service, public speaking, professional speaking, and many other topics. She is an inspiring and sought-after speaker to businesses and community groups around the nation.

In 1999 Dr. Dupree became the Director of FloridaChild. As a strong advocate for school choice, she has worked with parents and others throughout the country. She is also the key spokesperson for MyAmericanChild.com, which focuses on the parental choice options under the No Child Left Behind Act. In 2001 Dr. Dupree accepted a special invitation to the White House from President George W. Bush in recognition of her work on behalf of parental choice of schools.

Dr Dupree is a minister and current co-host of a local radio talk show in Miami. She is involved in numerous community organizations and is an adjunct professor at a local university in South Florida.


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