CO-FOUNDER

Lisa Schurr did her undergraduate work at The Ohio State University and also holds the joint degrees of Master of Taxation and a law degree from the University of Akron.   She also earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in taxation from the University of Florida.

Lisa worked in Chicago, London, and Brussels before relocating to Moscow, Russia in 1992.  She spent twenty years working in international law and taxation in Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Baltic states and served as the Global Head of Tax/Managing Director for a Moscow-based investment bank. She has managed practices spanning Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Lisa returned to the US in 2011 with her daughter, who was about to enter first grade—settling in Sarasota, known for its great public education system. In 2021, she joined with other local parents to found Support Our Schools (SOS).. The group quickly discovered much more disruption in local public education than just opposition to masking.  As a public school graduate, LIsa’s passion is to fight against school privatization and efforts to dismantle the public education system.

CO-FOUNDER

Carol Lerner currently serves as acting Chair of the Board for Support Our Schools. Carol holds a MSW degree from the School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania. For more than 35 years, Carol Sserved as an educator, social worker, and program manager in public education for Philadelphia, New York City, and Mercer County, New Jersey.

As a consultant Carol authored the state resource guides on special education for New York City Department of Education and for the New Jersey Division of Special Education. Carol Lerner has authored dozens of policy and research papers on defunding public education, education equity, and school choice. She has authored articles for the National Education Association, the Herald Tribune, and Critical Times; in 2017, she founded Protect Our Public Schools of Manasota, later joining partners with Support Our Schools. Lerner is also the legislative chair for the Suncoast NEA-Retired and a member of the Florida Education Association.

CO-FOUNDER

Born and raised in Siesta Key, Florida, Angela's roots run deep in our gulfcoast community.. Angela’s life revolves around her roles as a mother, a musician, a paralegal, a massage therapist, and a passionate advocate for public education.

Angela studied music education at the University of Florida and taught music to young children and their parents. She is a devoted mother; her most cherished role is nurturing and guiding her children as they navigate the complexities of life. Her dedication to their well-being and development is unwavering.

Angel'a’s keen attention to detail, analytical research skills, and commitment to social justice make her an invaluable asset as a legal paralegal and an active member of Support Our Schools.