McGuireWoods Consulting Vice President Sara Clements has been appointed by the Florida State Board of Education to serve as a member of the state’s new Charter School Review Commission.
Ms. Clements, a former public school teacher, has worked in education policy in Tallahassee for more than a decade. Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, she led external and legislative affairs for the nation’s largest scholarship funding organization, Step Up for Students, and was the Florida advocacy director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
“Sara has proven to be an important leader in PreK-12 educational initiatives in Florida, and her colleagues have long noted Sara’s work in improving educational policy. We are certain that the people of Florida will benefit from her in-depth knowledge,” said Laura Novey, head of MWC’s national education team.
MWC Chairman Mark Bowles: “As a key member of McGuireWoods Consulting’s national education practice, we are proud to see Sara selected to help lead the state’s newest endeavor to grow high-quality charter schools.”
Sean Stafford, director of the firm’s Florida team, echoed Bowles: “This appointment is a recognition of Sara’s experience and leadership in education. We are pleased to see that the State Board has chosen Sara to help advance Florida charter schools.”
In 2011, Sara was nominated for Orange County Public Schools ‘Teacher of the Year’ award. Little more than a year after exiting the classroom, Sara was named by Florida Politics as one of its “30 under 30 Rising Stars” in 2013.
“I’m thrilled and honored at the opportunity to play a role in the new Charter School Review Commission. Thanks to Governor DeSantis, Commissioner Diaz, and the legislature, Florida students will have even more high-quality educational options open to them through the creation of this body,” Clements said.
MWC’s education team assists clients with policy and legislative matters, advising on a variety of issues, including relationship development, issue advocacy, communications strategy, coalition building, design and implementation of appropriations requests and legislative initiatives, analysis, and government relations support.
Since the firm’s inception, McGuireWoods Consulting has advised and advocated on behalf of hundreds of education clients, including Fortune 500 companies, major metropolitan school districts, state associations, higher education institutions, workforce providers, national charter school networks, curriculum and assessment vendors, early learning providers, edtech startups, foundations, and other nonprofits.
