Damaris Allen is a product of Hillsborough County Public Schools and the proud mother of two HCPS graduates. She began her advocacy journey when she registered her oldest child for kindergarten and discovered her neighbors were opting out of sending their children to their neighborhood public school. Instead of pulling her child from the school, she decided to focus her efforts on working with parents, teachers, and the administrators to improve the school. Today, this local elementary school is one of the most sought-after schools in the district. Damaris went on to serve in numerous roles, including but not limited to president of Hillsborough County PTA/PTSA, Chair of the Hillsborough County School Board Citizens Advisory Committee, and a member of the Florida PTA Legislation Committee. She now serves as the executive director of Families for Strong Public Schools.

Before becoming a full-time education advocate, she studied Christian Education and Theatre at Florida Southern College and worked with children, youth, and their families in the United Methodist Church. Her advocacy work has taught her to never underestimate the power of the collective voice to transform education.

In her free time, she is an avid reader of nonfiction, loves to bake for friends and family, and takes ballet classes whenever possible. Damaris is driven by the desire to help parents discover the power of their voice and empower them to use it to create high-quality public schools for all children.