Yesterday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Richard Holzknecht, Todd Leonard, and Audrey McDonald and the reappointment of Dr. Troy Tippett to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees.
Holsknecht, licensed realtor and business broker, ran for the District 4 School Board seat in 2024, losing to Carissa Bergosh by 1,039 votes. He said he was running to “protect our children, to preserve their innocence, and to get back to educational basics without indoctrination.” He claimed that the school district had been ranked #5 out of 67 20 years earlier, and he wanted to reverse the downward trend.
- Fact check: The Florida Department of Education began assigning grades to the school districts in 2004. Since then, Escambia County has never been ranked #5. From 2004-2014, the Escambia County School District’s highest rank was #44 in 2011.
Leonard has been the athletic director at West Florida High since 2022. Before that, he was running backs coach at Escambia High, after serving as the head football coach, weightlifting coach, and boys and girls lacrosse coach at Pensacola High.
McDonald is listed as a “homeschooler educator” by the governor’s office. She is the former chief strategy officer of the Healthcare Experience Foundation, a Pensacola-based consulting firm made up of former Baptist Health Care leaders.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees
January 8 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Richard Holzknecht, Todd Leonard, and Audrey McDonald and the reappointment of Dr. Troy Tippett to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees.
Richard Holzknecht
Holzknect is a Commercial and Residential Sales Agent for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, serving as a Naval Aviator and was the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal. Active in his community, Holzknect is a member of the LifeWise Academy of Escambia-Pensacola Board of Directors and the Restoring the Heart Ministries Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in oceanography from the United States Naval Academy, his master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and his master’s degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Todd Leonard
Leonard is the Athletic Director for West Florida High School. He previously served as the Head Football Coach for Pensacola High School. A veteran of the United States Army, Leonard earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of West Florida.
Audrey McDonald
McDonald is a Homeschool Educator focusing on classical curriculum. Previously, she served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Healthcare Experience Foundation, the Client Outcomes Partner for HealthStream, and a Performance and Research Coach for the Baptist Leadership Group. McDonald earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and international affairs from Florida State University.
Dr. Troy Tippett
Dr. Tippett is a Neurosurgeon, Medical Director, and Owner of The Neurosurgical Group. Active in his community, he has served as a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Neurosurgical Education and Research Foundation. A veteran of the United States Air Force and the United States Army Reserve, Dr. Tippett earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.