Sally Butzin, President, Chair of Public Education Committee

Dr. Butzin is the founding President and Executive Director of the Institute for School Innovation in Tallahassee, Florida. She has been an educator and child advocate for over six decades.  She was a classroom teacher in several elementary schools, including the Florida State University Developmental Research School. In 2008 she was named “Distinguished Educator” by the Florida State University College of Education.

Dr. Butzin has published widely in educational and technology journals. She is the author of Joyful Classrooms in an Age of Accountability: The Project CHILD recipe for success (Phi Delta Kappa, 2005). Her most recent book is Creating Joyful Classrooms: A positive response to testing and accountability in the elementary school (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018). Sally and her daughter Charlotte Butzin Beal are co-authors of Best Buddies Birthdays: The complete guide for homegrown parties for ages 5-10 (Archway Publishing, 2015).

Now retired, Dr. Butzin has remained active in civic and education volunteer work, frequently featured as an opinion writer in The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. She is past Chair of the Board of Trustees for the International Alliance for Invitational Education. She was appointed by the mayor to serve on the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Tallahassee/Leon County Canopy Roads Citizen Advisory Committee. In 2013 she completed a term as commissioner on the Tallahassee/Leon County Status of Women and Girls Commission. Currently she serves as Vice President of the Tallahassee Chapter of the League of Women Voters, as well as a member of the Board of Stewards of the United Church in Tallahassee.

Phelicia D. Stiell, Vice-President

Founder and principal of The Stiell Law Firm, P.A., I am admitted to practice law in Florida State Courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the  Northern District of Florida and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. 

Throughout my adult life I have worked to ensure that every citizen who has a right to vote can do so. I have worked on voter education, increasing voter participation and as an attorney working for election protection, working to ensure that every vote legally made is counted.

My primary objective as your vice-president is to support the goals and principals of the League of Women Voters. During my tenure, my goal is to increase the visibility of the LWVT and our involvement in the governing process. This will include working with non-partisan organizations in our community with similar goals on issues and programs important to our mission, working to secure LWVT member appointments to local government advisory boards materially relevant to our mission and increasing diversity in our membership.

Kathy Winn, Secretary

As a former program administrator with the State, I had the opportunity to see how elected officials and the people who work for the government can affect people’s lives. I also witnessed first hand the influence of the League of Women Voters as they advocated for issues related to voting and inclusive and ethical government. I support the League of Women Voters because I believe that everyone should have a say in decisions that affect their lives. The League provides avenues for people to influence public officials at the local, state and national level by voting, becoming educated on issues, and advocating when decisions affect people’s lives. I enjoy participating in League activities like manning a table at the Downtown Market and following proposed legislation as a Lobby Corps member.As Secretary of the Board, I take seriously the responsibility to accurately report decisions made on behalf of the members. The League’s work is particularly challenging right now, as we must try to figure out how to reach people without being able to contact them in person. There is room for everyone to participate and a lot to do, especially during an election year when we work to encourage people to vote and provide information that helps them to make informed choices.

Anne Newman, Treasurer