Broward School Board member Lori Alhadeff announces she will not seek reelection to dedicate more time to national school safety advocacy
Broward County, Florida – Lori Alhadeff, the Broward County School Board member representing Coral Springs, has announced she will not seek reelection to her seat, signaling a shift in focus from local governance to national school safety advocacy. Alhadeff, whose District 4 also covers Parkland, Tamarac, and North Lauderdale, shared the news in a Facebook post and video, explaining her decision to dedicate more time and energy to her nonprofit organization, Make Our Schools Safe.
“This next chapter allows me to fully focus my time and energy on Make Our Schools Safe, continuing the work to protect students and advocate for safer schools on a broader, national level,” Alhadeff wrote. Her announcement comes after nearly eight years of service on the school board, during which she has become a leading voice for school safety initiatives and student protection.
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Alhadeff’s journey into public service is deeply personal. She was first elected to the Broward County School Board in 2018, following the tragic Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where her 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was killed. Since that time, Alhadeff has devoted herself to advocating for stronger safety measures in schools, building coalitions, and pushing for policies designed to protect students and staff across Broward County. Her efforts earned her the respect of her peers, who twice elected her to serve as chair of the school board.
During her tenure, Alhadeff has been instrumental in shaping initiatives to improve school safety, address mental health resources, and ensure emergency preparedness. Her work on the board has often intersected with her advocacy efforts through Make Our Schools Safe, which she co-founded and continues to lead at the national level.
Alongside her announcement, Alhadeff endorsed Dr. Sharry Kimmel as her recommended successor for District 4. Kimmel, a longtime educator who currently teaches at Broward College, responded to the endorsement in a Facebook video, outlining her priorities if elected.
“I plan on carrying the torch for school safety that you have carried so eloquently for so long,” Kimmel said. She emphasized that maintaining safe schools would remain her top priority, while also focusing on teacher retention and fiscal responsibility.
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Kimmel highlighted her 22 years of experience preparing educators for classrooms throughout Broward County, noting that serving on the school board would allow her to expand her impact on the district. “As a teacher of teachers at Broward College, I have been trying for 22 years to prepare the best of the best for Broward County, and now I will have the ability to do that at a much higher level,” she said.
In addition to safety and teacher retention, Kimmel stressed that managing resources responsibly and ensuring financial stability for the district would be a key part of her platform. Her experience in higher education, combined with her commitment to classroom excellence, positions her as a candidate ready to address both instructional and operational priorities for District 4.
Alhadeff’s decision to step away from the school board underscores a broader commitment to improving safety standards nationwide. While her presence on the board will be missed, her continued work through Make Our Schools Safe promises to influence policies and initiatives far beyond Broward County.
As the community prepares for the upcoming election, attention is now turning to Kimmel and other candidates who will seek to continue the work Alhadeff championed locally, particularly around student safety, teacher support, and responsible governance. For Alhadeff, the next chapter represents an opportunity to broaden her advocacy, shaping safer schools across the country while leaving a lasting legacy in Broward County.
