Katie Leach, Donna Korn appointed to Broward School Board

Gov. Rick Scott announced his picks on Friday to fill the two vacancies on the Broward School Board.

Katie Leach will take the at-large place of Jennifer Gottlieb, who stepped down earlier this month. Donna Korn will replace Dave Thomas, who resigned a day before Gottlieb.

Leach, who is involved on several school district boards, is a mother of two and a special-education teacher.

Korn, the chairwoman of the Children's Services Board of Broward County, ran for School Board in 2000 -- and lost by 244 to Beverly Gallagher, the disgraced ex-board member now serving a a three-year sentence in federal prison for corruption charges.

At the time of the 2000 race, Korn lived in a southwestern Broward school district and not District 4, the district she would now represent. She was also a Democrat in 2000 -- and if she still is, would be an interesting choice for Scott, a Republican who had the chance to appoint two from his party to the longtime Democratic-dominated School Board. (Seats on the board are non-partisan.)

Last time a Republican governor appointed a Republican to the board, it was Gov. Charlie Crist picking Kevin Tynan to replace Gallagher. Tynan then ran for Gallagher's seat and lost to Board member Patricia Good.

Leach, meanwhile, has reportedly said she plans to run against Board member Maureen Dinnen.

UPDATE: Here's a list from the governor's office of who applied for the posts.

Read the governor's press release with biographies of his two choices after the jump.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Katherine P. “Katie” Leach and Donna P. Korn to the Broward County School Board. 

Leach, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, is an educator at Nova Southeastern University.  She will fill the at-large vacancy created by the resignation of Jennifer Gottlieb. She is appointed for a term beginning August 26, 2011, and ending November 19, 2012.

A Broward County teacher from 1995 to 2001, Leach has directed autism consortium contracts for the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development at Nova Southeastern University since 2009. She is a member of the Autism Society of America and served as a board member of the organization’s Broward Chapter from 1997 to 1999. She also is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children.

As an advocate for children, she has served on the boards of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Discovery and Science, the SNAC Transition to Independence Committee, the YMCA of Broward County and the Children's Services Board of Broward County. She has also served on the Education Advisory Board of Fort Lauderdale, Broward Schools Parent/Community Involvement Task Force and the Broward Schools Facilities Task Force. Leach received her bachelor’s and master's degrees in exceptional student education from Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University, respectively.

Korn, 40, of Davie, has been a commercial real estate agent with Taylor and Mathis of Florida since 2009.  She will fill the District 4 vacancy created by the resignation of Dave Thomas.  She is appointed for a term beginning August 26, 2011, and ending November 19, 2012.

A Broward County high school teacher from 1994 to 1997, Korn previously was a real estate agent with Colliers, Abood, Wood-Fay from 1997 to 2009. She has served in a leadership role for Broward County Schools on several occasions, including serving on the Community Budget Task Force Committee. She is a past chair of the Facilities Task Force and past member of the Site Review Committee and the Oversight Committee for Interlocal Agreement.

Korn is the chair of the Children's Services Board of Broward County and serves on the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County.  A founding member and past vice-chair of Voices for Children of Broward County, she is a guardian ad litem for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and a member of HANDY Inc., an organization that supports Broward County's foster care children and those placed under protective supervision. She is a member of the Women's Leadership Council of the United Way of Broward County. Korn received a bachelor’s degree from Emory University.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Katherine P. “Katie” Leach and Donna P. Korn to the Broward County School Board. 

Leach, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, is an educator at Nova Southeastern University.  She will fill the at-large vacancy created by the resignation of Jennifer Gottlieb. She is appointed for a term beginning August 26, 2011, and ending November 19, 2012.

A Broward County teacher from 1995 to 2001, Leach has directed autism consortium contracts for the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development at Nova Southeastern University since 2009. She is a member of the Autism Society of America and served as a board member of the organization’s Broward Chapter from 1997 to 1999. She also is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children.

As an advocate for children, she has served on the boards of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Discovery and Science, the SNAC Transition to Independence Committee, the YMCA of Broward County and the Children's Services Board of Broward County. She has also served on the Education Advisory Board of Fort Lauderdale, Broward Schools Parent/Community Involvement Task Force and the Broward Schools Facilities Task Force. Leach received her bachelor’s and master's degrees in exceptional student education from Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University, respectively.

Korn, 40, of Davie, has been a commercial real estate agent with Taylor and Mathis of Florida since 2009.  She will fill the District 4 vacancy created by the resignation of Dave Thomas.  She is appointed for a term beginning August 26, 2011, and ending November 19, 2012.

A Broward County high school teacher from 1994 to 1997, Korn previously was a real estate agent with Colliers, Abood, Wood-Fay from 1997 to 2009. She has served in a leadership role for Broward County Schools on several occasions, including serving on the Community Budget Task Force Committee. She is a past chair of the Facilities Task Force and past member of the Site Review Committee and the Oversight Committee for Interlocal Agreement.

Korn is the chair of the Children's Services Board of Broward County and serves on the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County.  A founding member and past vice-chair of Voices for Children of Broward County, she is a guardian ad litem for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and a member of HANDY Inc., an organization that supports Broward County's foster care children and those placed under protective supervision. She is a member of the Women's Leadership Council of the United Way of Broward County. Korn received a bachelor’s degree from Emory University.