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    About Teach Florida

    Teach Florida, a division of Teach Coalition, was founded in 2016 to advocate on behalf of Florida’s nonpublic schools and parents. Our advocacy has helped Florida become the national leader in school choice. With a projected 240,000 state scholarships in 2022-2023, more than a quarter of the country’s nonpublic school scholarships will be in Florida. Florida offers two primary scholarship programs:

    • Private School Scholarships: Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and The Family Empowerment Educational Options (FTC/FES-EO), are for students K-12 in the amount of approximately $7,800 for nonpublic school students attending an eligible private school.
    • The Family Empowerment Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), is for private school and homeschool students ages 3-22 who have a qualifying disability in the amount of approximately $9,800.

    See our dedicated scholarship page

    Florida Legislators, Jewish Community Leaders, Join Orthodox Union’s Teach Florida at Annual Event to Celebrate $60 Million in 2022 Funding for Jewish Day School Families.

    Sign Our Petition in Support of School Choice

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    Our Team

    Dan Mitzner

    COO & Director of Government Affairs, Teach Coalition

    Marissa Moskowitz

    Annual Fund Director, Teach Coalition

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    Marissa Moskowitz

    Annual Fund Director, Teach Coalition

    Marissa Moskowitz is the Annual Fund Director at Teach Coalition, where she oversees donor cultivation and stewardship programs, multichannel campaigns, and donor communications. Previously, Marissa worked as Development Coordinator at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she led grant and proposal processes, supported lay leader programs, and developed fundraising campaigns. Marissa received a BA in art history from Columbia University, and an MA in corporate communications from Baruch College. She lives in Tenafly with her husband and their two children.
    Daniel Aqua

    Executive Director, Teach Florida

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    Daniel Aqua

    Executive Director, Teach Florida

    Danny Aqua is an impassioned advocate for educational opportunities for children, parents and schools. As Field Director at Teach Florida, Danny built a grassroots initiative that engaged parents in the legislative process. In addition to trips to Tallahassee, petition signings and traditional advocacy, Danny has been an integral part in Teach Florida’s get-out-the-vote program that has resulted in doubling and sometimes tripling voter turnout in the Jewish day school community over multiple elections. Danny’s work at Teach Florida enables him to use skills from his two prior careers – law and teaching. Prior to working at Teach Florida, Danny practiced real estate law as an Associate at Blank Rome, LLP and then taught both in elementary and middle schools. Danny received his Bachelor Degree in Political Science from Baruch College magna cum laude, his Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School Order of the Coif and his Masters Degree in Education from Azrieli Graduate School of Education.
    Ariana Dalezman

    Event Manager, Teach Coalition

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    Ariana Dalezman

    Event Manager, Teach Coalition

    Ariana Dalezman serves as Teach Coalition’s Event Manager. Prior to joining the Teach Coalition team, Ariana served as the Director of Operations and Events at one of Bergen County's largest orthodox synagogues. Ariana is a life-long resident of Bergen County, and currently resides in Teaneck, NJ with her husband and three children. Ariana graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Communication, when she is not planning events, Ariana enjoys traveling with her family and baking.
    Melissa Glaser

    Engagement Director, Teach Florida

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    Melissa Glaser

    Engagement Director, Teach Florida

    Prior to joining Teach Florida, Melissa created a shampoo company and worked as in house lawyer for Total Relief Skincare . She is actively involved in the Hollywood Jewish community and has worked for the past three summers in Camp Kfir Katan's day camp, running programming and communications. Melissa has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women and received her J.D.  from Touro Law Center. Melissa is a native Floridian who returned to Florida after law school with her husband Josh. They have three children and live in Hollywood, Florida. Melissa brings passion, a strong work ethic and a deep belief that every child deserves a Jewish education.  Melissa will be working to grow our advocacy program by strengthening old relationships and building new ones.
    Malka Kownat-Rhodes

    School Funding Specialist, Teach Florida

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    Malka Kownat-Rhodes

    School Funding Specialist, Teach Florida

    Malka Kownat-Rhodes is a long-time professional in the field of special education, with over 10 years of experience working in a large school district in Ohio. Malka graduated cum laude from Brooklyn College with a BA in Psychology, and then earned a master's degree in Education from Notre Dame College in Ohio. Most recently, Malka worked as the Director of Student Support for The Torah Academy of Boca Raton in South Florida.  Malka has a history of successfully partnering with government agencies and school districts, and with non-profit organizations like The Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Services, to procure funding for educational initiatives. Malka’s years of experience working with families struggling with the cost of private school tuition combined with the cost of services for children with special needs, has led to her joining Teach Coalition. In her new capacity as a funding specialist, she helps families access funding for both specialized services and private school tuition.
    Penina Nudell

    Engagement Coordinator, Teach Florida

    Elizabeth Wolff

    Executive Administrator, Teach Florida

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    Elizabeth Wolff

    Executive Administrator, Teach Florida

    Elizabeth Wolff is the Executive Administrative Assistant/Government Maximization Specialist on our Teach Florida Coalition team.  She joined the Florida team in July 2022 and is originally from Brooklyn, NY but has now lived in South Florida for over 30 years.  Elizabeth has worked in Customer Service and Education for the past 16 years and has seen the tremendous growth of the Jewish communities and Yeshivas in Florida. As a Torah observant mother of four children (now a grandma too), all who have graduated from Yeshiva and an inaugural Step-Up parent, Elizabeth understands the value and sacrifices it takes to make sure families and schools get the support, financial assistance and student services that Teach Florida constantly provides, which also aids in instilling Torah values within our community. Elizabeth's work supports the growth of the Teach Florida Coalition, new and current School DOE Compliance, Jewish Day School Security Guard Grants and scholarship families and schools.