Leadership Florida Education Class 11 Application

Which Leadership Florida Class Program is the right one for you?

• The Leadership Florida Education Class Program has no age requirements. Leadership Florida Connect and Cornerstone Class Program applicants must meet specific age requirements.
• Applicants must be 40 or older to be eligible for the Cornerstone Class Program.
• Applicants aged 25-39 are eligible for the Leadership Florida Connect Class Program.

The specified age is as of September 1 for the upcoming class year. For example, the specified date for the 2026-2027 Program Year is September 1, 2026.

The Application Deadline is Monday, March 2, 2026, at Noon EST

Preparing for Your Application

As you prepare to complete this application, please review the following information designed to help you understand Leadership Florida and the selection process better.  A statewide Selection Committee reviews each application. Your application should reflect who you are.

Please use the CONTACT US form on our website for technical issues relating to this application form.

This application contains several questions that will take significant time to complete. Below are several suggestions to make the process smoother.

• We highly suggest downloading the sample applications available on our website as a working copy when preparing your application.  Please remember, however, that all applications must be digitally submitted through this form.  No paper or emailed applications will be processed.
• Plan to schedule a time to remain uninterrupted for the entire process.
• Have all the information available, such as your résumé and reference information, as outlined on the sample application.
• Open-ended questions will have character limits.  Review these carefully before beginning your response.  For your reference, a counter is included near the bottom right of each text field with limits (example format: 0 of 100 max words).
• Do not leave your browser idle for an extended period.
• A PDF of this application is available here.  Paper applications will not be accepted and are provided as a courtesy only.
• You will be allowed to review and edit your responses before final submission.
• This form has a "Save and Resume" feature.  We encourage you to use this feature early in the process.

 

Note: When using Save & Resume, files uploaded to the form and signatures will NOT be saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database.  You should not upload files or sign the forms until you are ready to submit them.

About Leadership Florida

Leadership Florida is celebrating 44 years of educating, engaging, and inspiring Florida’s leaders. Leadership Florida is a highly respected and trusted leadership organization. Our mission is to continually convene a statewide community of committed leaders to enhance and recharge their leadership skills and to educate and inspire them to work across their strengths and diversities for a better Florida. We engage Floridians by providing meaningful forums for sharing essential information and viewpoints, and we create opportunities for shared experiences that are inviting, inspiring, and of lasting value.

Finding the path to vault Florida's education system to national prominence is the central goal for the Leadership Florida Education Class program participants. The Class program includes accomplished superintendents, school board members, principals, teachers, state education department professionals, education foundation representatives, association leaders, business partners, and other public officials. Over the course of eight months, the class members intensively focus on the opportunities and challenges associated with making Florida the number one state in the country for education.

Each session will provide Class participants with a comprehensive look at K-12 education from international, national, and statewide perspectives for the purpose of advancing K-12 outcomes in Florida, with some emphasis on post-secondary education. Classes focus on educational systems, the examination of best practices, schools, classrooms, partnerships, innovation, and more!

The Leadership Florida Education Class program has been made possible through unique partnerships with the Helios Education Foundation, the Florida Department of Education, Regions Bank, and other generous supporters. This partnership recognizes Leadership Florida's unique position as the state's most respected nonpartisan convener of leaders on critical issues facing Florida's future. Each organization recognizes that no issue is more important than education - an education that enhances the opportunity for all young people to have the life they deserve.

Members of the Leadership Florida Education Class Program are challenged to apply what they learn in their own work, whether it is in a classroom or a boardroom. The partners also intend for class members to build trusting relationships statewide that can be leveraged for the rest of their careers on behalf of Florida's students, families, and educators.

Selection Criteria

The Leadership Florida Selection Committee, comprised of Leadership Florida graduates from throughout the state, seeks to identify those most likely to utilize their leadership abilities for Florida's long-term benefit and individuals committed to making Florida a better place to live and prosper.  Throughout the application process, including discussions with references, the committee strives to select participants who will represent Florida's diversity.  The basic profile and criteria for selection include the following:

•    Professionals that serve in the education space with significant achievements in career and community

•    Sincere concern about the future of Florida and a personal commitment to help shape its future

•    Demonstrated commitment to the community through past and present activities

•    The potential for exercising substantial leadership in the future

•    Willingness to commit the time and energy necessary to continue involvement in the organization

Previous Graduates
It is a rare exception when Leadership Florida accepts a member into more than one Class Program.  If you are a current member of Leadership Florida and are interested in applying for a Class different from the one you graduated from, please get in touch with us immediately so we can provide some guidance. Please reach out to Abbey Stewart at astewart@leadershipflorida.org or 850-321-1100.

References
All applicants must include two references, and one must be a Leadership Florida Member reference.  Please include this person as Reference #1 on your application.

Members of the Selection Committee will contact all references.

Application Procedure
All applications must be submitted electronically through this form no later than Monday, March 2, 2026, at Noon EST. 

A processing fee of $25 must accompany the application.  After confirming your application information, you will be taken to a secure page for credit card information input.

Your application will not be complete until:
•You have digitally signed your application
•You have accepted the policies and terms and clicked the final "Submit"
•Leadership Florida has received your processing fee

The Selection Committee's decision will be announced at the Leadership Florida Annual Meeting (June 11-14, 2026).

Please remember that the Selection Committee is building a Class representative of Florida's professional, geographic, age, racial, gender, and ethnic diversities.

Tuition and Payment Policy

For classroom teachers and principals employed by local school districts and public charter schools within Florida, Leadership Florida works to minimize the cost of participation in the Education Class Program. The Florida Department of Education provides funding to support tuition and most travel-related expenses. If accepted, these participants will be asked to contribute $295 toward tuition.

For all other applicants, the tuition fee is $2,295 per participant (not including travel or lodging).

Tuition is expected to be paid by August 1, 2026. Payment details and instructions will be provided upon acceptance. Participants who are unable to meet the payment deadline should contact Leadership Florida as soon as possible to discuss available options. Failure to complete payment by the communicated deadline may result in forfeiture of a participant’s place in the Class and placement of an alternate.

Cancellation Policy
Leadership Florida strongly encourages participants to take their commitment seriously. Our cancellation policy is as follows:

• Withdrawal before August 1, 2026: full refund less $250.
• Withdrawal after August 1, 2026 will result in 100% of tuition forfeiture. Those funds will instead become a tax-deductible donation to Leadership Florida.  This policy also applies to new Class members who cannot fulfill the attendance requirements.

Participation
Participants are REQUIRED to attend each session in its entirety to graduate with their Class. Leadership Florida strictly enforces this policy.

Class program sessions typically begin around noon on the first day listed and end around noon on the last day listed.   Specific times will be provided after the Class is selected.

Class dates are as follows:

Education Class 11
September 27-29, 2026: Howey-in-the-Hills
November 18-20, 2026: Tallahassee
January 28, 2027: Virtual
February 24-26, 2027: Orlando
June 3-7, 2027: Annual Meeting (optional)

Employer Commitment
All applicants must submit a signed statement by their current employer acknowledging the Class program's time commitment and confirming that the applicant will attend each session.

Choose one of the following categories that best describe your present employment:

At Leadership Florida, we continually discover and convene committed individuals, enhancing and recharging their leadership skills by introducing them to an influential community through whom they find knowledge and inspiration.

We engage Floridians by providing essential information and a meaningful forum for their opinions and create opportunities for shared experiences that are inviting, inspiring, and of lasting value.

Important!
Note: When using Save & Resume, files uploaded to the form and signatures will NOT be saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database. Users should not upload files or sign the forms until they are ready to submit.

I understand the purpose of the Leadership Florida program, and if I am selected, I will devote the time and resources necessary to complete the entire program. I understand that all sessions in their entirety are mandatory and that even though emergencies do arise, any participant not adhering to this policy may be asked to withdraw from the program and no portion of the tuition shall be refunded.  I have the full support of my employer for the time required to participate.

I also understand that Leadership Florida is much more than an eight-month curriculum and that if selected, I will strive to become an active member of the organization by sharing my time, talents, and resources to support its work.

Further, I understand that, if accepted, full tuition must be paid by August 1, 2026, to ensure my slot in this class.  Failure to pay tuition by this date will eliminate my place in the class, and an alternate will be placed in my slot.

I have read and agree to all of the terms outlined in this application and agree to be bound by the above commitments in signing this application.

Please review your information carefully.  Remember, all fields are required unless indicated as optional.

The application fee for the Education Class 11 application is $25.  Your application is incomplete without payment and will not be sent to the Selection Committee. After entering your payment information, please thoroughly review your information before clicking the "Submit Application" button.

By checking this box, I confirm that I have read and will abide by the policies set forth by Leadership Florida as defined by the information contained within this application.