Former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings an OCPS Alumna and Teacher
The 16th Lieutenant Governor of Florida, Antoinette “Toni” Jennings, has dedicated her life to serving others. A product of Orange County Public Schools, she attended Fern Creek Elementary School and Glenridge Middle School. After graduating from Winter Park High School in 1967, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan College in Conn.
Jennings began her professional career as a fifth-grade teacher with OCPS at Killarney Elementary School. In 1976, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida Legislature. Jennings also served in the Florida Senate from 1980 to 2000 and was its two-term president from 1996 to 2000.
Her career of “firsts” continued when she was appointed Florida’s first female lieutenant governor under Gov. Jeb Bush. During her time in office from 2003 to 2006, she focused on a number of key issues, including education policy, hurricane preparedness, disaster relief, and business and industry in the Sunshine State..
After leaving office in 2007, she returned home to Orlando to chair the board ofJack Jennings & Sons, Inc., a general contractor and construction management business founded by her father in 1948. She had previously served as the company’s president, working alongside her twin brothers.
Jennings’ contribution to the Central Florida community also includes service on numerous community boards, including Brown & Brown, Inc.; Florida Council of 100; Nemours Foundation; NextEra Energy; Post Properties; Winter Park Health Foundation; and more. She is also a past member of the board of trustees for Rollins College.
Jennings has earned countless awards throughout her career. In 2002, she was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame; she was recognized as the “2004 Central Floridian of the Year” by the Orlando Sentinel; she has received the “Distinguished Women” award from the Florida League of Women Voters and the “Friend of Education” award from the Florida School Boards Association; and many others.
Today, she continues to champion issues affecting children and their families through the Toni Jennings Institute at UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education.