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Andrew Spar is president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest association of professional employees.

Spar was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, attending public schools. A violinist since age 6, he earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ohio State University, graduating in 1994.

That same year, he went to Daytona Beach to teach at Turie T. Small Elementary School, where more than 90 percent of the students lived in poverty. The music teacher soon found his voice as an advocate and has worked ever since on behalf of public school students, schools, teachers and education staff professionals.

“I could not read when I was in first grade,” Spar recalls. “I struggled in school. But the educators in my life were empowered to make my success a priority, and that’s just what they did. I want the same world for my family and for all of Florida’s children.”

At Turie T. Small, Spar served as school-improvement chair for two years and as a union steward for seven years. He would go on to become president of his local union in May 2003 and led Volusia United Educators until he was elected FEA vice president in 2018. In September 2020, he was named FEA president after the previous president, Fedrick C. Ingram, was elected secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers.

During his 15 years leading the Volusia union, Spar negotiated 14 contracts, handled numerous grievances and arbitrations, and spent many long hours advocating for members and working families.

In 2017, he led the merger of the Volusia Teachers Organization and the Volusia Educational Support Association to create Volusia United Educators(link is external). The new union has nearly 3,800 members and represents more than 6,000 teachers, paraprofessionals and office specialists in Volusia County Schools.

Throughout his career, Spar has served on committees and task forces for the AFT. At FEA, he spent eight years on the executive cabinet. He also has served on the executive board of the Florida AFL-CIO(link is external) and was secretary-treasurer of the organization from January 2016 until September 2020.

Spar’s wife, Vernell, is also a public school music teacher. 

The Committee to Protect Health Care, composed of over 36,000 doctors and advocates across the United States, drives lasting change in health care by using our tested and proven strategies across everything we do.

Through our physician-led initiatives and targeted advocacy, we push for accessible, affordable, and equitable health care. Our programs reflect our commitment to advancing policies that put patients first and safeguard the health and freedom of every family.

Nearly 25 years as an emergency medicine physician has provided Dr. Rob Davidson with a wealth of knowledge in practicing health care.

Two years ago, however, he decided that he needed more. He began pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in the online Population and Health Sciences program at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. 

“I've always been right at that point of health care where you meet people at significant moments in their life,” said Davidson, a West Michigan-based physician. “The ER seems far removed from the goals of population health and public health, but you come to realize just how much people’s wider world has an impact on what brought them to the ER at that point in time.” 

Davidson pondered earning his master’s degree for a while, having seen colleagues who earned their MPH go on to impact local health outcomes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he knew that pursuing an MPH was the right next step. 

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