Florida PTA Elects First Black Man as State President in 103-Year History – Free Press of Jacksonville

In a landmark moment for one of the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy organizations, the Florida Parent Teacher Association has elected Jude Bruno as its new state president, making him the first Black man, first Haitian American and first millennial to lead the organization in its 103-year history.
Bruno was elected during the 2026 Florida PTA Leadership Convention, where more than 1,500 parents, educators, students and community advocates from across the state gathered for leadership training, advocacy and collaboration. He will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.
His election represents a historic milestone for Florida PTA, which has spent more than a century advocating for public education, family engagement and policies designed to improve the lives of children. The organization, one of the largest volunteer child advocacy associations in the United States, works through hundreds of local PTAs to strengthen partnerships between families, schools and communities.
Bruno, a longtime advocate for students and families, said his own experience with PTA began as a child.
“My journey with PTA began as an elementary school student, where I learned that leadership starts with service and every voice matters,” Bruno said. “To now serve as President of Florida PTA is both humbling and deeply meaningful. I hope my story reminds every student that today’s volunteer or student leader can become tomorrow’s leader. As Florida’s educational landscape continues to evolve, PTA’s role has never been more important. Together, we will strengthen family engagement, support public education, and ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.”
Bruno’s election comes at a time when educators and child advocates continue to push for greater diversity within Florida’s classrooms, particularly among male teachers of color.
According to research cited by the University of Florida, Black male elementary teachers make up only about 1.5% of Florida’s educator workforce—roughly one out of every 67 educators—making them one of the state’s most underrepresented groups in public education. Nationally, only about 11% of elementary school teachers are men, while approximately 6% of the overall public-school teaching workforce is Black, underscoring the limited representation of Black men in elementary education.
Education researchers have found that representation matters. Studies show students who have at least one Black teacher are more likely to achieve higher academically, graduate from high school, enroll in college and experience fewer disciplinary referrals and suspensions. While Black students often see the greatest measurable benefits, researchers have found that students of all racial backgrounds benefit from learning in classrooms led by diverse educators.
Despite those findings, Florida—like many states—continues to face challenges recruiting and retaining Black men in education. Researchers point to several barriers, including comparatively lower teacher salaries, limited recruitment pipelines into the profession, professional isolation as one of few—or sometimes the only—Black male educator in a school, and expectations that Black male teachers serve as disciplinarians, mentors and role models in addition to their classroom responsibilities.
Bruno’s historic election also reflects a broader shift toward more inclusive leadership within organizations that influence education policy and family engagement across Florida.
During his presidency, Bruno said he plans to strengthen local PTAs, elevate the voices of parents and educators, expand opportunities for students and advocate for policies that promote educational success and child well-being.
The 2026 Florida PTA Leadership Convention brought together representatives from county councils and local PTA units across Florida, including Alachua, Broward, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Seminole and Volusia counties.
For many supporters, Bruno’s election is about more than making history.
It represents a new generation of leadership and sends a powerful message to children across Florida—that leadership is built through service, representation matters and every student has the potential to shape the future of education.