Haitian American Linda Cothière advances to Miami-Dade school board runoff, seeking to make history

The Cap-Haïtien native and longtime educator will face Katrina Wilson on Nov. 3 for the vacant District 1 seat, with a victory making her the first Haitian American elected to the U.S. third-largest county’s school board
by Fritznel D. Octave Aug. 20, 2026
Cothière’s campaign
Overview:
Linda Cothière, who describes herself as a proud Miami-Dade public school product, has advanced to a runoff that could make her the county’s first Haitian American school board member. With no candidate clearing the 50% threshold to win the seat outright, top contenders Cothière and Katrina Wilson are locked in a Nov. 3 election to decide who becomes the next school board member representing the predominantly Black North Dade district — including a large Haitian population.
MIAMI — Linda Cothière, a Haitian-born public school educator who has spent more than three decades working in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, is one election away from potentially becoming the first Haitian American elected to the county’s nine-member school board.
Cothière advanced to a Nov. 3 runoff against Katrina Wilson, another longtime’s Miami-Dade educator, for the vacant District 1 seat after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s nonpartisan election. Wilson finished first with 33% of the vote, while Cothière received 21%, according to results reported after the Aug. 18 vote.
“I don’t take this opportunity for granted and the responsibility that comes with it lightly,” Cothière said in an exclusive interview with The Haitian Times, describing her candidacy as one grounded in integrity, respect and service.
“As I have never let my mother down as a daughter, I will not let my community down,” she added. “Children first, parental collaboration always.”
The race carries particular significance for South Florida’s Haitian-heavy community because a Cothière victory would put a Haitian American on the board overseeing one of the nation’s largest public school districts. District 1 includes North Miami, North Miami Beach, Biscayne Gardens and Opa-locka, areas with substantial Haitian populations.
But Cothière is campaigning on a broader message than ethnic representation. She said she wants to represent all District 1 families, using her experience as an educator to address teacher pay, school safety, declining enrollment, parental involvement and how district resources are allocated.
The mother of two said her Haitian background is an important part of her story but does not define the diverse constituency she hopes to serve.
“I am not running just for the Haitian community,” she said. “I am running for District 1.”
That distinction could be important in a district that also includes large African American, Caribbean, Latino and other communities.
Her campaign plans to increase direct voter outreach before the November runoff through door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, community visits and other efforts aimed at building relationships with voters.