Tanice Y Knopp, PhD – After 37 years dedicated to Florida public school education, Dr. Knopp has volunteered for the past three years for the Council, with particular focus on helping Kindergarten and PreK students learn to love reading and improve literacy skills through school-based volunteer read-aloud and family engagement programs and the Starfish initiative model that supports organized volunteering in schools. In the seven years prior to her retirement, Dr. Knopp served as the Coordinator of the Sarasota County School District Volunteer & Partnership Program and co-coordinator for the district’s Restorative Strategies program. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida (USF) teaching special education teacher preparation courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and supervising student interns. Her research included the study of teacher beliefs and dispositions on practice, beginning teacher-mentor teacher relationships, collaborative education programming for students with severe and complex needs, and emergent evaluation of educational programs. During her 18 years with USF, she helped secure more than $2 million in grants. Dr. Knopp graduated from Millersville State Teachers College with dual degrees in elementary education and special education. She received her Master’s degree in special education from USF-Tampa and her PhD from the University of Florida. She has taught students with disabilities in Manatee County Schools, served as a special education resource teacher and staffing specialist with Hillsborough County Schools, and was a coordinator networking services for students with severe emotional disabilities (SED Network) for a five-county area. She also served as the EBD and autism program specialist for the State of Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee. Tanice spent a year establishing a nonprofit volunteer driver network for senior citizens and individuals with visual impairments (ITNSarasota). The boat Moondance upon which she makes her home is her happy oasis with her husband, Ken Marsh, and their two cats Chloe and Finn.