Leadership Under Scrutiny
Moms for Libros, the South Florida organization driving opposition to Success Academy's Miami expansion, is co-led by Vanessa Brito, a Democratic strategist with a criminal record and multiple unresolved civil judgments. The group, which describes itself as "Miami moms fighting for your child's right to read and learn," has mobilized against the New York-based charter network's planned 2027 debut in five Miami-Dade high schools.
Success Academy, backed by billionaire Ken Griffin, received approval from the School Board of Miami-Dade County in April. The expansion has ignited tensions over education policy, with critics arguing it divert resources from traditional public schools while supporters emphasize its academic track record.
Operative's Legal History
Brito, currently campaign manager for Democratic congressional candidate Phil Ehr, was arrested in 2024 on a warrant tied to a 2017 Target shoplifting incident. Court records also show she defaulted on an $11,850 nursing home bill for her mother's care and was held in contempt in 2017. "I chose not to go [to court] so I could stay with her," Brito told the Washington Free Beacon.
Additional judgments include a $29,000 debt to attorney Scott Behren stemming from a failed 2022 lawsuit against Ron DeSantis over pandemic unemployment benefits. Behren alleged Brito diverted GoFundMe donations intended for legal fees to personal use. Brito called the judgment "bullying" and denied wrongdoing.
The Our Schools Miami campaign, run by Moms for Libros, urges parents to lobby school board members and ally with United Teachers of Dade and the NAACP. The group's tax-exempt status was revoked in 2025 for failing to file returns, though co-founder Lissette Fernandez called it a "volunteer-run labor of love."
Charter school debates in Florida have intensified under DeSantis, whose administration has expanded school choice programs. Success Academy's entry marks one of the most high-profile tests of public support for charter expansion in the state.