Who is Erika Donalds?
Erika B. Donalds is an American conservative education activist from Florida. She gained recognition as the District 3 representative on the Collier County School Board. In 2014, she won a runoff election against Kathy Ryan. While serving on the school board, she was appointed to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in 2017. Erika is currently the Founder and CEO of Optima Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on expanding access to high-quality, virtue-based classical education. She is also known as the wife of Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman from Florida. Erika has a background in finance and accounting, having worked in various roles such as CFO, CCO, and Managing Partner in financial firms. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.
Biography
Erika Donalds earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University in 2002 and her master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2006. She worked at Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC (DGHM), an investment management firm based in New York, from 2002 until 2018. During her time at DGHM, she held positions as a controller and partner. Erika is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA). She actively participated in the Collier County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican Women’s Club of Naples. Erika and her husband, Byron, have three sons.
In March 2017, Erika Donalds was appointed to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) by Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Republican. The CRC, consisting of 37 members, is established in the state constitution to review and propose changes to the Florida Constitution. The commission convenes every 20 years and has the authority to refer constitutional amendments directly to the ballot for a public vote. As a member of the CRC, Erika traveled to different parts of Florida to conduct research and gather public testimony in order to make recommendations for ballot measures. The commission’s composition for the 2017-2018 term included appointments by Governor Rick Scott, President of the Florida Senate Joe Negron, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Richard Corcoran, and Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court Jorge Labarga.
Wiki
| Name | Erika Donalds |
| Gender | Female |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | CEO and President |
| Married/Single | Married |
| Husband | Byron Donalds |
| Children | Damon Donalds , Darin Donalds and Mason Donalds |
| Education | Master’s Degree |
| erikadonalds | |
| @ErikaDonalds | |
| edonalds |
Elections
In the 2014 elections for the Collier County Public Schools, Erika B. Donalds ran for the District 3 seat against Luis Bernal, JB Holmes, and Kathy Ryan. The general election took place on August 26, 2014, and if no candidate received a majority of the votes (50 percent plus one), the top two candidates advanced to a runoff election on November 4, 2014.
In the general election, Erika B. Donalds received 46.7% of the votes, Kathy Ryan received 26.7%, JB Holmes received 17.3%, and Luis Bernal received 9.3%. Since no candidate achieved a majority, Erika B. Donalds and Kathy Ryan moved on to the runoff election. In the runoff, Erika B. Donalds emerged as the winner, receiving 58.3% of the votes, while Kathy Ryan received 41.7%.
During her campaign, Erika B. Donalds emphasized several themes. She advocated for excellence in education, empowering students to achieve their highest potential and making them the primary focus of decision-making. She also stressed the importance of parent involvement and the need to give teachers the freedom to educate students without being constrained by government regulations. Erika B. Donalds was committed to being accountable to taxpayers, ensuring that taxpayer dollars were spent efficiently and maximizing the benefits to students by reducing administrative costs.
During the campaign, Erika B. Donalds received endorsements from The Libertarian Party of Collier County, the Naples Daily News, and former Representative Tom Grady. Her campaign reported monetary contributions of $75,606.63 and in-kind contributions of $1,493.11, with $67,750.41 in expenditures, leaving her with $7,856.22 on hand.
Overall, Erika B. Donalds campaigned on a platform of improving education, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and being accountable to taxpayers.
Political Activism
Erika Donalds became politically active in 2013 after a disagreement with administrators at her child’s public school in Naples, which led her to enroll her child in a private school. She joined local efforts through a group called Parents ROCK to utilize state education funds in establishing a charter school known as the Mason Classical Academy.
From 2014 to 2018, Donalds served as a member of the Collier County School Board. During her tenure, she spearheaded a group of pro-charter activists and was instrumental in creating the short-lived Florida Coalition of School Board Members, which opposed the established Florida School Boards Association.
In recognition of her contributions, Donalds was appointed by Florida House of Representatives Speaker Richard Corcoran to the 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission. Additionally, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Development, as well as the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees.
Erika Donalds is involved in various advisory boards, including the Classical Learning Test, Moms for Liberty, and the Independent Women’s Forum Education Freedom Center.
In December 2022, Donalds organized a fundraiser featuring former President Donald Trump for the Classical Education Network.
Education Business
Under the education business sector, Erika Donalds established Optima Ed in 2017. This company offers management assistance to six classical charter schools in Florida that are affiliated with Hillsdale College. Optima Ed receives funding through a 10% portion of the state funding allocated to these schools, generating substantial annual revenue amounting to millions of dollars.
Personal Life
On March 15, 2003, Erika Donalds married Byron Donalds. Together, they have three children named Damon, Darin, and Mason. They reside in Naples, Florida.
Husband
Erika Donalds is married to Byron Donalds.
Byron Donalds, Erika Donalds’ husband, is a former financial professional who was elected to the Florida House in 2016 and then to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. He ran as a conservative ally of former President Donald J. Trump and was one of the Republicans who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Byron Donalds was raised by a single mother in Crown Heights and his experiences growing up shaped his values as a devoted family man and congressman.
Education
Erika Donalds obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University and a master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Career
Prior to her involvement in education and activism, Erika Donalds worked as a controller and partner at Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC (DGHM), an investment firm based in New York. She was actively engaged in the Collier County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican Women’s Club of Naples.
Political Career
Erika Donalds served as a member of the county school board from 2014 to 2018. She was appointed to the Constitutional Revision Commission in 2017, which convenes every 20 years to propose amendments to the state Constitution. In 2022, she was appointed by Governor DeSantis to the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees.
Children
Erika and Byron Donalds have three sons together named Damon, Darin, and Mason.
Parents and Family
Erika Donalds was born to Gayla Blanton Lees as her mother. The information about her father is unclear. She is married to Byron Donalds, and together they have three sons named Damon, Darin, and Mason. The entire family resides in Naples, Florida, in the United States.
Height
Erika Donalds has a height of 5 feet 5 inches (1.68 meters).
Net Worth
The exact net worth of Erika Donalds is unknown. However, her husband, Byron Donalds, has an estimated net worth of $1 million.
Ethnicity and Nationality
Erika Donalds belongs to the White ethnicity and holds American nationality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Erika Donalds is a notable figure known for her involvement in education and political activism. She has served on the school board, founded the Optima Foundation, and been appointed to various committees and boards. Erika Donalds is married to Byron Donalds, and they have three sons. While information about Erika Donalds’ parents is available, her exact net worth remains unclear. She is associated with organizations such as Moms for Liberty and has made contributions to the charter school sector. Erika Donalds resides in Naples, Florida.
