April Griffin to Head School Board

The Hillsborough County School Board selected a new chair and vice chair and recognized outgoing chair Candy Olson with a commendation for her service at its reorganizational meeting Nov. 20.

"It's been a very interesting year for all of us," said Olson. "We've had great tragedies and challenges but when we focus on what is best for our students, we do great work."

April Griffin was elected as school board chair, and Carol Kurdell was elected vice chair. The votes by their fellow board members were unanimous.

This is Griffin’s first time as chair. Griffin represents the District 6 at-large seat on the school board. First elected to the board in 2006, Griffin was re-elected in 2010.

Kurdell represents the District 7 at-large seat on the board. First elected to the board in 1992, Kurdell was re-elected in November.

The seven-member board is responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the eighth-largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with 25,000 employees.

Griffin, a Tampa resident, has been a member of the PTA, a classroom volunteer and active in her children's schools for many years. Prior to her full-time commitment to the school board she was a business owner and longtime child and elder advocate. Griffin is also a published author with her contribution to the book “Who’s Schooling Who?”

She currently serves on the national board of directors of Ignitus Worldwide (formerly Youth Crime Watch), as chair of the Hillsborough County Council of Governments, on the Juvenile Justice Board and the Kids Healthcare Foundation.

Born, raised and educated in Hillsborough County, Griffin has been married to Brian Griffin for 22 years. They have two sons educated in Hillsborough County public schools.

The board will host its next regular meeting Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.