Politics & Chill: Katrina Wilson Calls for Stronger Teacher Support and Parent Involvement in District 1 Schools

Katrina Wilson called for better support for teachers, earlier intervention when students struggle and greater parent involvement in school decisions during a Politics & Chill conversation about her campaign for Miami-Dade County School Board District 1.

Moderated by Hy-Lo News founder and publisher Janey Tate and radio personality Papa Keith, the conversation covered student achievement, teacher retention, school closures and career preparation before moving into questions from the audience.

Before the discussion began, Tate corrected the event’s earlier promotion, explaining that Wilson’s opponent, Linda Cothiere, had not confirmed attendance. Tate took responsibility for a booking miscommunication that led organizers to incorrectly advertise that all candidates had confirmed.

Tate said organizers had mistakenly believed a confirmation came from Cothiere’s team. When Tate contacted the team directly about an hour before the event, she learned they had not received the event information and would have liked to attend had they known.

“I don’t want the community to think that a candidate confirmed that they did not show up,” Tate said.

Wilson, who described her experience as a high school teacher and school principal, connected her education priorities to her upbringing in the community now known as Miami Gardens.

She recalled her family’s move from a one-bedroom apartment to a house in Carol City, saying her parents viewed the move as an opportunity to give their four daughters a better future.

“Carol City, as it was known then, was their hope for their four girls,” Wilson said.

She described attending local schools and later earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Florida Memorial University.

Wilson said vocational education and help from a work experience counselor gave her practical skills and access to employment as a young person. She argued that students today need similar preparation, whether they plan to attend college, enter the workforce or become entrepreneurs.

“So what’s important to me is that we prepare a generation for the workforce,” Wilson said.

She said that preparation should begin early, with students learning what it takes to obtain a job, keep it and advance.

Her approach to student achievement centered on identifying problems throughout the school year rather than waiting for standardized test results.

Wilson said teachers should use daily work, quizzes, tests and other feedback to determine whether students understand instruction. That information, she said, can help educators adjust their teaching, communicate with parents and recognize when a child may need additional evaluation.

“You don’t catch it at the time that they take the standardized test,” Wilson said. “You catch it at the time when you can instruct and correct, instruct and correct.”

Asked how she would pursue equitable resources for District 1 schools, Wilson emphasized parent advocacy. She said families should expect access to strong instruction and appropriate learning materials regardless of which neighborhood their children attend school in.

Teacher recruitment and retention brought the conversation to housing costs and compensation.

Wilson said teachers need greater access to affordable housing or higher earnings so housing expenses do not consume their salaries.

“So we’re going to have to either find ways to get them into affordable housing so that their housing doesn’t eat up their earnings or we’re going to have to increase their earnings,” Wilson said.

She connected teachers’ financial stability to their ability to arrive in classrooms prepared to support students. She also emphasized the value of educators who recognize when children are struggling academically or emotionally and help connect them with support.

“And when you find teachers with that skill and ability, pay them well,” Wilson said.

On school consolidation and closures, Wilson said parents must be consulted before decisions are made.

“They shouldn’t close nothing until they talk to the parents,” Wilson said.

She called for considering where displaced students would attend school and whether they would feel welcomed in a new environment. She also argued that school buildings carry historical and personal significance for their communities.

“I graduated from Miami Carol City, it means a lot to me,” Wilson said.

She suggested exploring evening classes and vocational training in school buildings, including opportunities for adults to return for certifications or develop skills in nursing and automotive work.

During the audience discussion, Wilson also supported strengthening JROTC programming and helping students understand the opportunities available after high school.

“Because they’re not going to all go to college,” Wilson said. “But if they have some viable options for themselves, I think that they would do well.”

When asked about student safety and mental health, Wilson emphasized communication, respectful interactions and helping young people understand how bullying and online content can affect their well-being.

“We’ve got to get back to dinner tables and places where we can talk with the human touch,” Wilson said.

She also criticized negative campaigning, saying personal attacks distract from student performance, teacher compensation and the work candidates are seeking office to do.

“See, if we’re talking about my car, then we’re not talking about math and science,” Wilson said.

An audience member later asked how she would ensure young people know who represents them. Wilson said she would visit schools and had already traveled past every school in District 1, recording concerns she could identify from the outside.

She said she wanted to inspect school interiors as well and establish timelines for addressing visible maintenance needs.

When asked why people without children in public schools should care about the race, Wilson pointed to the students who will eventually serve the community.

“The children that are in school today are going to become the police officers, they’re going to become the firefighters, they’re going to become me,” Wilson said. “They’re going to become you.”

Closing the conversation, Wilson urged residents to remain involved in their schools and demand higher standards.

“Your voice, your participation, it matters,” Wilson said.

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