Daniela Simic, a former assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Hillsborough County Public Schools, is running for the District 2 seat on the Hillsborough County School Board. The nonpartisan general election is Nov. 3, 2026. Brittany Lyssy is also running for the seat.

Asked why she is running, Simic said in our candidate questionnaire: "Public education has been my life's work, and I believe my experience can be useful at a time when our schools are facing complex decisions about academics, staffing, budgets, safety, growth, and the needs of families."

"I'm also the mom of a fifth grader in Hillsborough County Public Schools," Simic said. "Being both an educator and a parent has given me a different perspective on how decisions made at the district level actually affect children and families."

Candidate information

Age: 48, as reported by WUSF in July 2026

Party: Registered Democrat. Simic said in our questionnaire: "The Hillsborough County School Board election is nonpartisan, and I believe the work of educating children should remain focused on students, families, educators, and the needs of our community rather than political party."

Education: Simic said in our questionnaire: "I earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Delaware and my Master of Science in Education in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania."

Family: Simic said in our questionnaire: "I am the proud mom of a 10-year-old son, Roman, who is a fifth grader in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Roman has dyslexia, and navigating school alongside him has given me another perspective on public education … My husband, Roman's father, passed away a few months before Roman was born, so I have raised him as his only parent."

Experience and public service

Simic said in our questionnaire: "I began my career as an elementary school teacher and later worked with the Florida Department of Education supporting some of the state's lowest-performing schools. I served as Executive Director of Transformation Schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Chief of Curriculum and Instruction in Duval County Public Schools, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Hillsborough County Public Schools, where I supported 233 schools and more than 12,000 educators."

She has not previously held elected office, according to her questionnaire response.

Simic said in our questionnaire: "I serve as the Vice President of Advocacy for the Hillsborough County Council PTA and the PTA President for Macfarlane Park Elementary."

Her endorsements include the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, the Florida Education Association, state Sen. Brian Nathan, Ruth's List Florida and the Hillsborough Society, according to WUSF. The AFL-CIO has also endorsed Simic, according to BallotReady. The Florida Democratic Party selected her for its 2026 Take Back Local program, according to an EIN Presswire release.

On the issues

Board's role: Asked where the board can make the biggest difference, Simic said: "A School Board should not try to run classrooms or manage schools day to day. Its responsibility is to set clear priorities, adopt sound policy, approve and oversee the budget, evaluate the superintendent, and make sure the district is producing results for students."

What sets her apart: Simic said in our questionnaire: "I have spent more than 25 years as a teacher and education leader … I have firsthand experience with the academic, operational, policy, and budget decisions a large school district faces. Through PTA, I have advocated for students, families, and schools, elevating parent voices and strengthening collaboration between families and educators."

Teacher retention: Simic said teacher retention suffers from compensation, unsustainable workloads and restrictive policies, according to WUSF. She supports protecting planning hours and providing tools or training for teachers to build curriculum to prevent overworking, Simic said.

Best advice: Simic said in our questionnaire: "Good leaders do not have to pretend they know everything. They have to listen carefully, surround themselves with people who understand the work, ask good questions and be willing to change course when the facts tell them something is not working."