Trump Promotes a Conservative ‘Champion’ in Education

In 2021, Byron Donalds, Republican Representative of Florida, along with his wife Erika, were guest speakers at a function organized by the Truth & Liberty Coalition. This group advocates for incorporating Christianity into public institutions and its leader has labeled homosexuality as the devil’s work.

The duo was applauded for their contributions to education reforms in Florida, with Erika being recognized for establishing a charter school. Byron, while serving as a state representative, had brought a school voucher program into existence, enabling students to pursue bible based education.

A rapid political rise has marked Byron’s career, the main pillars of which are educational reform, evangelical Christianity, and support for Donald J. Trump. His second term as congressman has seen him emerge as a surrogate for Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign and a regular on conservative media.

Mr. Trump has commented about Donalds as a potential future governor of Florida and as a possible running mate. This attention is unsurprising in Florida where the couple had been working their way up the political ladder in the state’s highly-controversial education system.

The couple has been instrumental in revolutionizing traditional public education, endorsing charter or private schools over public schools seen to harbor liberal ideologies. Mr. Donalds is known for his contribution towards providing external groups more say in school curricula.

The couple is closely associated with groups such as Moms for Liberty, Hillsdale College and Florida Citizens Alliance, all of which have played significant roles in the debates concerning education reforms. They have both expressed negative views about homosexuality.

The duo’s work is a combination of both advocacy and income. As Mr. Donalds advocated for increasing access to charter schools and voucher programs, Ms. Donalds began building a company and a nonprofit that could leverage the expanded opportunities.

Mr. Trump has lauded the couple’s efforts at several public events, signaling their increasing influence in his campaign and the national political sphere.

Byron and Erika Donalds’ journey into education reform began with their own experiences in the public education system. Byron’s interest in education policy stemmed from his own experiences with school choice and Erika’s contributions were inspired by their child’s struggles in a public school.

Their work in the education sector, advocating for charter schools and school choice, has intersected with their business interests. Erika Donalds has set up a successful charter school management operation and has benefited from policies her husband supported in the Florida House of Representatives.

In 2022, Ms. Donalds was managing several charters schools in Florida. Her company, OptimaEd, was reimbursed with approximately 10 percent of the schools’ public funding, collecting about $4 million in public funds and investing around $2.6 million back into the schools. Nonetheless, three charter schools managed by OptimaEd ended their contracts with the company amid claims of insufficient reinvestment into the schools.

The couple has played a significant role in the ‘parents’ rights’ debate that has put Florida at the center of education reform discussions. Their association with groups like Moms for Liberty and Florida Citizens Alliance, has shaped their advocacy for conservative education reform.

Mr. Donalds has taken credit for some of Governor DeSantis’s education policies and expressed commitment towards his vision for education in his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.