Broward County Public Schools names new board chair and vice chair
The School Board of Broward County unanimously elected Sarah M. Leonardi as its new chair and Jeff Holness as vice chair during the board’s annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, November 18.
Leonardi, who represents District 3 and was elected in 2020, steps into the role after previously serving as vice chair to the board.
According to her BCPS biography, she has nearly a decade of teaching experience, primarily teaching high school English, and she was voted Teacher of the Year at Coconut Creek High School in 2016.
Holness, who represents District 5, is stepping into the board leadership for the first time. He was first elected in 2022.
Holness grew up in Fort Lauderdale and has worked for over 15 years as a teacher in Broward County Schools. Acording to his BCPS biography, he also has received numerous recognitions, including Social Science Teacher of the Year at both Walter C. Young Middle and Apollo Middle, as well as being named a finalist for Broward County Social Science Teacher of the Year.
The board met three times Tuesday, holding its annual organizational meeting, a leasing corporation meeting and a special school board meeting.
The board’s organizational meeting also included swearing-in returning members and procedural votes on committee appointments.
The meeting was streamed live on the district’s website with the full agenda.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Broward County Public Schools names new board chair and vice chair."
