Dr. Howard Hepburn, Superintendent of Broward County Schools, and Torey Alston, president of Broward College, share a student-centered philosophy, dedication to creating equitable learning opportunities and commitment to creating world-class educational institutions.

They are colleagues and collaborators who understand their ability to produce top-flight students plays a pivotal role in the economic success of Broward County. They also believe, from first-hand experience, that education is the great equalizer – offering life changing opportunities to those who pursue it.

“My goal is to provide the best learning experiences for our students and to create the most impact for our local families, economy and industries,” says the 46-year-old Hepburn, who was selected to lead the district a little more than a year ago. Born and raised in South Florida, Hepburn grew up in Palm Beach County and obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida and his doctorate from Florida Southern College.

Alston  is intimately familiar with the college he has helmed since February 2025. He grew up in Broward County and his father attended Broward College, a fact he says gives him a front row seat to understanding the value and opportunity that state colleges provide.

“I saw how my dad’s education changed the trajectory of our family,” says Alston, who served in various executive leadership roles in Broward County Public Schools, including assistant superintendent, before assuming his current role. He was a member of the Broward County Public School Board that selected Hepburn from hundreds of candidates. “I know Broward County and Broward County knows me,” says Alston, the 40-year-old academic and graduate of Florida A&M University, where he also served as a trustee for several years.

Although illuminating young minds is a passion for both administrators, Hepburn said he wasn’t always set on a career in education. A biology major, he took a teaching job while waiting for a position in his field and never left.

“Helping students learn and seeing the light bulb go off for them and supporting them through their educational journeys captivated me,” says the father of three. “I know what a quality education has done for me and my family and I realize for many, an education is the only lever they can pull to change the trajectory of their lives.”

Hepburn’s strategies have changed the district’s course in measurable ways. For the first time in more than a decade, Broward County Schools received an “A” grade from the state. In addition, for the first time since Florida started grading schools in the late ‘90s, the district has no schools with a “D” or “F” letter grade.

As the leader of the sixth largest school district in the country, Hepburn is tackling declining enrollment, a drop in birth rates, an increase in school choice and home schooling with strategies that engage students, parents, community partners and administrators and make the district more nimble, innovative and responsive to the needs of the community.

“When I walk the campuses in the district, I look at our facilities and curriculum through the lens of my own kids and ask myself if what we are doing is good enough for them,” said Hepburn.

Alston is responsible for 51,000 students, many of whom are Black and brown and are the first in their families to attend college. In addition, many of the college’s students are recipients of financial aid. With three campuses and 3,500 staff, the college offers two-year and four-year degrees as well as specialized certificates and an extensive list of continuing education courses. He says making sure the curriculum offerings match the needs of the local business community is why the college is focused on nursing, aerospace science and aviation.

As president Alston takes a personal approach to his role, interacting with students, faculty and the business community to make Broward College the first choice for graduating seniors, those seeking certificate programs and adult learners.

During a recent commencement at the college, Alston said he was especially moved by the perseverance of a 75-year-old graduate. “Shaking the hand of that graduate as they received their diploma and opened the door to new opportunities reminded me of what I’ve always believed, that it’s never too late to get an education,” Alston reflected.