Laura Hine

When you first meet Laura Hine, it doesn’t take long to figure out what makes her come alive. The education of children – all children – is her passion.

The St. Petersburg-based mother of two left an established career to focus on her work in public education. This work started in 2015 with building community support for the teachers and leaders at her local public elementary school. That school, rated a “D” by the state 10 years ago, was rated an “A” this year.

In 2020, Hine’s passion for exceptional education for all students fueled her decision to run for a seat on the Pinellas County School Board. She won that election and was reelected for a second term in 2024. She is more committed than ever to strengthening public schools and giving every student access to a top-notch education, which ultimately impacts our national security, economic prosperity and community vitality.

Hine was born and raised in Tampa and attended local public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. After high school, she attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. She served in the U.S. Navy for six years as a surface warfare officer, completing two deployments to the Middle East.

Returning to Florida in 2003, Hine earned a commercial general contractor’s license and later, an MBA in finance and international business. As a general contractor, she worked on design-build projects with The Beck Group, including the Southwest Airlines terminal at Tampa International Airport. In 2015, she joined Tom and Mary James to lead the redevelopment of a city block in St. Petersburg, creating a new museum and multiple commercial spaces. She became executive director of The James Museum in 2018.

In 2022, she stepped away from that role to devote her time fully to researching and advocating for public education. With talented leadership, educators, staff, students and families, Pinellas County has made tremendous progress. Some accomplishments Hine is most proud of include:  

• Third-grade reading proficiency has increased by 26 percent over seven years, while the state average has remained flat.
• 89 percent of the county’s schools are now rated “A” or “B,” with no schools rated “D” or “F.”
• Pinellas public schools are the top choice for county families; PCS has a net gain of students from private or home schools year-over-year.

Hine’s recognition that excellence at scale in education is both possible and imperative has led her to statewide advocacy efforts with Educating Florida’s Future.

Laura is married to Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dali Museum. Together, they have two sons who attend Pinellas County schools, two grown children and two grandchildren.