C. Graham Carothers
Award of Excellence
The Florida School Board Attorneys Association C. Graham Carothers Award of Excellence is given annually to honor a Florida school board attorney who has demonstrated excellence in the profession as exemplified by C. Graham Carothers, Esquire. Graham Carothers served as the school board attorney for the Leon County School Board and editor of the FSBAA Journal for thirty-five years. He was one of the founders of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association and has always been ready to assist fellow school board attorney facing the challenges of the multi-faceted practice of school law. He greeted your phone call for help with “Hello lawyer, what can I do for you?” He always had time to assist. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, he knew the answer off the top of his head, citing the appropriate case or statute and, oftentimes, directing the lawyer to the specific spot on the page where the answer could be found. For thirty-five years he truly served as “the school board lawyer’s lawyer” giving countless hours of his time for public education in Florida.
C. Graham Carothers Award of Excellence Recipients
2006 C. Graham Carothers, Esquire (Leon)
2007 Edward J. Marko, Esquire (Broward)
2008 W. Crosby Few, Esquire (Hillsborough)
2009 James F. Lang, Esquire (Alachua)
2010 Ned N. Julian, Jr., Esquire (Seminole)
2011 John W. Bowen. Esquire (Manatee)
2012 Sheree H. Lancaster, Esquire (Gilchrist and Levy)
2013 Franklin R. Harrison (Bay)
2014 Keith B. Martin (Lee)
2015 C. Wesley Bridges, II (Polk)
2016 Daniel B. Harrell (St. Lucie)
2017 Suzanne D’Agresta (Indian River)
2018 Robert Paul Vignola (Broward)
2019 Mindy McNichols (Miami-Dade)
2020 C. Jeffrey McInnis (Okaloosa)
2021 Nancy Alfonso and Dennis Alfonso (Pasco and Hernando)
2022 John C. Palmerini (Orange)
Florida School Board Association’s (FSBA)
Richard “Spike” Fitzpatrick Award
Richard “Spike” Fitzpatrick was the long serving attorney for the Citrus County School Board. This award is given periodically by the Florida School Board Association in honor of his service to an attorney of one of Florida’s 67 public school districts in special recognition of his or her service to their community, school board and the students in their district.
2010 J. Paul Carland (Broward)
2011 John W. Bowen (Manatee)
Past Officers and Directors
2014-2015: Daniel B. Harrell, Esquire (St. Lucie Co.), President; David Koperski, Esquire (Pinellas Co.), Vice President; Molly Shaddock, Esquire (St. Lucie Co.), Treasurer; R. Wesley Bradshaw, Esquire (Citrus Co.), Secretary; Arthur S. Hardy, Esquire (Sarasota Co.), Director; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Director, Melinda (“Mindy”) McNichols, Esquire (Miami-Dade), Director; Director; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon/Jefferson Co.), Director; and Nancy McClain Alfonso, Esquire (Pasco Co., Past President), Director.
2015-2016: David Koperski, Esquire (Pinellas Co.), President; Molly Shaddock, Esquire (St. Lucie Co.), Vice President; R. Wesley Bradshaw, Esquire (Citrus Co.), Treasurer; Melinda “Mindy” McNichols, Esquire (Miami-Dade Co.), Secretary; Daniel B. Harrell, Esquire (St. Lucie Co., Past President), Director; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon Co.), Director; Arthur S. Hardy, Esquire (Sarasota Co.), Director; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Director; Karen Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.), Director
2016-2017: Charles Wesley Bridges, Esquire (Polk Co.), President: R. Wesley Bradshaw, Esquire (Citrus Co.), Vice president; Melinda “Mindy” McNichols, Esquire (Miami-Dade Co.); Treasurer; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Secretary; David Koperski, Esquire (Pinellas Co., Past President), Director; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon Co.), Director; Arthur S. Hardy, Esquire (Sarasota Co.), Director; Michael G. Dyer, Esquire (Volusia Co.), Director; Karen Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.), Director
2017-2018: R. Wesley Bradshaw, Esquire (Citrus Co.), President; Melinda “Mindy” McNichols, Esquire (Miami-Dade Co.), Vice President; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Treasurer; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon Co.), Secretary; Karen Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.), Director; Charles Wesley Bridges, Esquire (Polk Co.), Past President Director; Michael G. Dyer, Esquire (Volusia Co.), Director; Marylin C. Batista, Esquire (Broward Co.), Director; Heather K. Hudson, Esquire (Bay Co.), Director
2018-2019: Melinda “Mindy” McNichols, Esquire (Miami-Dade Co.), President; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Vice-President; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon Co.), Treasurer; Karen Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.), Secretary; Amy Envall (Brevard Co.); Marylin C. Batista, Esquire (Broward Co.), Director; Heather K. Hudson, Esquire (Bay Co.), Director; R. Wesley Bradshaw, Esquire (Citrus Co.), Past-President
2019-2020: Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), President; Opal McKinney-Williams, Esquire (Leon Co.), Vice-President; Karen M. Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.), Treasurer; Marylin C. Batista (Broward Co.), Secretary; Amy D. Envall (Brevard Co.) Director; Heather K. Hudson, Esquire (Bay Co.), Director; Brian T. Moore, Esquire (Alachua Co.), Director; John C. Palmerini, Esquire (Orange Co.), Director; Melinda “Mindy” McNichols (Miami-Dade County), Past-President
2020-2021: David Koperski, Esquire (Pinellas Co.), President; Karen M. Chastain, Esquire (Duval Co.) and Marylin C. Batista (Broward Co.), Vice-President; Marylin C. Batista (Broward Co.), Treasurer; Heather K. Hudson, Esquire (Bay Co.), Secretary; Amy D. Envall (Orange Co.) Director; John C. Palmerini, Esquire (Orange Co.), Director; Elizabeth Turner, Esquire (Lake Co.), Director; Paul D. Gibbs, Esquire (Brevard Co.), Director; Kristy J. Gavin, Esquire (Flagler Co.), Past-President
2021-2022: Marylin C. Batista (Broward Co.), President; Heather K. Hudson, Esquire (Bay Co.), Vice-President; John C. Palmerini, Esquire (Orange Co.), Treasurer; Amy D. Envall (Orange Co.), Secretary; Walter Harvey (Miami-Dade Co.), Director; Paul D. Gibbs, Esquire (Brevard Co.), Director; Laura Pincus, Esquire (Palm Beach Co.), Director