About Dr. Sue Woltanski
Dr. Suzanne (Sue) Woltanski is a retired pediatrician, public education advocate, and elected member of the Monroe County School Board. Currently serving her second term representing District 5, she has become one of Florida's leading voices for strong public schools, local governance, and policies that put children first.
Sue's commitment to education began long before she was elected to office. She grew up the daughter of two teachers in Fremont, California, where she attended neighborhood public schools from kindergarten through high school. Her father devoted his career to public education, ultimately serving as Assistant Superintendent of Newark Unified School District. Those experiences shaped her belief that strong public schools are among a community's most important institutions.
An accomplished student and athlete, Sue graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in Pharmacology. During her junior year, she studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, taking medical school courses in physiology and biochemistry while developing a lifelong love of travel and photography. She later earned a master's degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of California, Davis, before attending the University of Michigan School of Medicine, graduating with distinction in 1992.
After medical school, Sue remained at the University of Michigan to complete her residency in Pediatrics before entering practice as a primary care pediatrician. She continued her work as a board-certified pediatrician until retiring from medicine in 2008, when she devoted herself to caring for her young children and aging family members.
Sue and her husband Tom, an emergency physician, married in Michigan in 1999, just weeks after purchasing a home near Tom's parents in the Florida Keys. They moved permanently to Tavernier in 2008 so their children could grow up next door to their grandmother. Their daughter Ali and son Zack attended Monroe County public schools from kindergarten through graduation from Coral Shores, experiences that further deepened Sue's appreciation for the local educators, staff, and community members who help our Keys children thrive.
Like many parents, Sue's involvement in education began as a classroom volunteer. She helped in school classrooms, chaperoned field trips, coached youth activities, organized science programs and book clubs, and served on school advisory councils. Over time, she became increasingly involved in education policy and advocacy, leading local efforts to restore gifted education services in Monroe, founding the grassroots initiative Minimize Testing, Maximize Learning, and writing about education issues through her blog, Accountabaloney.
In 2018, after being encouraged to run by her predecessor, Sue was elected to the Monroe County School Board unopposed. Since then, she has served in leadership roles at the local, state, and regional levels, including Chair of the Monroe County School Board, President of the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards, and Federal Relations Chair for the Florida School Boards Association. Her advocacy work has taken her to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., where she works with policymakers on issues including school funding, workforce
challenges, student mental health, housing for educators, and educational opportunity for all students. Along the way, she has helped secure federal funding for teacher workforce housing, advance public education priorities, and strengthen collaboration among school districts across Florida.
Despite her statewide and national advocacy work, Sue remains most at home in Monroe County's schools. Whether attending a school musical, cheering from the sidelines at a sporting event, celebrating student achievements at graduation, or volunteering at a community event, she believes one of the most important parts of public service is simply showing up. A familiar face at schools and community gatherings throughout the Keys, Sue values the relationships she has built with students, families, educators, and local residents over the years.
Throughout her service, Sue has remained focused on ensuring every child has access to a safe, welcoming, and high-quality public school staffed by excellent educators. She believes strong public schools strengthen communities, support local families, and create opportunities that last a lifetime.
When she isn't advocating for public education, Sue enjoys photography, travel, water sports, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Archie.
Why I Serve
I first became involved in education because I wanted the very best education for my own children. What I quickly realized is that every parent wants the same thing: safe schools, dedicated teachers, meaningful opportunities, and a bright future for their children. I believe Monroe County's public schools can provide all of those things.
Our public schools are one of Monroe County's greatest assets. They help attract and retain working families, strengthen our economy, and connect our communities across generations. I believe every child deserves access to a high-quality, safe public education, regardless of their background, neighborhood, or circumstances.
Serving on the School Board allows me to combine my experience as a pediatrician, a parent volunteer, and an advocate in service to the children and families of the Florida Keys. It is a responsibility I value deeply and one I am proud to undertake on behalf of the children and families of the Florida Keys.
The greatest privilege of my career has been caring for children, first as a pediatrician, then as a parent volunteer, and now as an advocate for their education and future.
