Ms. Andrea Messina

Vice Chairman
Charlotte County Schools, School Board, Florida

Andrea Messina was born and raised in eastern North Carolina, the fourth of five children to a Marine Corps officer and his seamstress wife.  

She earned her associate’s degree from the University of Central Florida in 1985 and her Bachelor of Science degree in 1987 from the University of South Florida, where she was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key National Honor Society.

Messina was a full time high school English teacher for 8 years and taught an additional 3 years part-time after becoming a parent.  During her teaching career, she taught high school, middle school, and adult education.  She has written new curriculum, been awarded local and state grants, supervised student intern teachers and beginning teachers, and was a Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation Team member.  She was a National Fellow, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1993, and was awarded Florida’s Promising Programs and Practices, 1993.

In 1999, Andrea was named Tupperware Corporation’s single National Star, serving as a national spokesperson for the international company.  She worked with corporate training, marketing, and product development departments and launched Tupperware on the Home Shopping Network.

She was first elected to the Charlotte County School Board in Nov. 2000, serving as Vice Chair for two years before assuming the Chairmanship from November, 2002 until November, 2004.  Reelected in 2004, Messina is again the Vice Chair.

When Hurricane Charley hit Charlotte County in 2004, as Chairman of the Board, Andrea helped to oversee the complete reorganization of her school district.  80% of schools had to go on double session; 1/3 of the schools were completely destroyed.  She has since spoken to School Board members throughout Florida and the nation on the topics of Leadership in Times of Crisis and Disaster Preparedness.

During her tenure as a School Board Member, Andrea served on the Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors and is currently the Chairman of Florida’s Federal Relations Network.  Through Florida’s School Boards Association, Andrea has earned both Certified Board Member and Master Board Member status.

She was twice appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, and is serving in the role of Treasurer for that body. 

She and her husband of 19 years, Mike, have two young sons aged 9 and 11.