It’s been 30 years since Leanne and her late husband Doug purchased their first home, right here in Palmetto Bay. Together they raised their three kids, Douglas Jr., Marissa and Harrison, enjoying our public schools and parks. Leanne has served our community in many roles over the years, and in 2020, she took her public service to Village Hall. Having served nearly 4 years as your Vice Mayor, Leanne seeks a second term to continue working for Palmetto Bay!
Leanne grew up in South Florida, and cherishes childhood memories of boating on Biscayne Bay and biking up Franjo Road. She attended Cutler Ridge Elementary and Howard Drive Elementary’s Cosmos program back in the ‘70s. She went to Florida State University, graduating cum laude with a degree in Multinational Business and a minor in Spanish. She then returned to Miami to attend Law School at the University of Miami. After some travel, she settled in Palmetto Bay in 1995, practiced law, mediated foreclosure actions and led local non-profits.
Service to our community has always been one of Leanne’s top priorities. As a young lawyer she was on the Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section board, organizing service projects for young women at PACE School for Girls and outings for foster kids. She joined The Junior League of Miami in 1997 and has served on their Board for 6 terms, including President in 2013-14. She is especially proud of her role as Treasurer in building INN Transition South, a 54 unit garden apartment complex for survivors of domestic abuse and homelessness in southern Dade County. In 2023 the Junior League honored her with the “Women Who Make a Difference” Award. Looking back, Leanne knows that her volunteer roles as parliamentarian and strategic planning chair added greatly to the skills and experience she brought to Palmetto Bay’s Council in 2020. The Village has benefitted from her decades of experience, and will continue to do so when we vote her in for four more years!
Supporting education is a priority for Leanne. When her kids attended Coral Reef Elementary School, Leanne joined the PTA Board in 2005 and left only when her youngest graduated in 2016. Some of her best memories were leading that group as President from 2009-2011, and the school’s Fall Festival she co-chaired for many years. While her community volunteer positions are too many to list here, she’s also dedicated her time and talents in these roles:
Inaugural Chair of the Village’s Educational Advisory Committee (2012-2015); Council Liaison (2020-present).
Liaison for the Bond Building Project at Miami Palmetto Senior High (2014-2020).
Appointed by School Board Rep. Larry Feldman to the DCPS Oversight Committee for the General Obligation Bond as an alternate (2014 - present), and the Teacher Compensation Workgroup (2018).
Girl Scout Leader, Tropical Council of South Florida (2008 - 2013, 2016 - 2020),
Boy Scout Troop & Cub Scout Pack 711 volunteer (2006 - present).
The Florida Bar Education Committee (2016 - 2022).
Leanne became a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator right before the foreclosure crisis in 2008. She mediated hundreds of foreclosure cases before becoming Director of Operations of Branches, Inc., a renowned nonprofit that provides after school programs and financial literacy support to challenged neighborhoods from Homestead to North Miami. She then spent nine months with The Everglades Foundation, helping the Palmetto Bay based nonprofit launch a $10 million competition to foster scientific solutions to the green algae crisis. She then returned to litigating, focused on defending large and small businesses throughout South Florida. Ready for a new challenge and concerned about the teacher shortage, Leanne accepted the Lead Teacher position at Coral Reef Senior High School in 2022. She oversees the Legal & Public Affairs Academy while teaching Government and Economics to 12th graders.
As part of her continued commitment to serve the community she loves, Leanne announced she is running for re-election as Vice Mayor of Palmetto Bay. Deeply concerned with making sure her local community continues to work together for efficient and effective government, Leanne’s goal continues to be leading in the same manner she has led our local nonprofit organizations: with kindness, intelligence and effective leadership. Her vision is one of a community that works together and enjoys the wonderful facets of life in Palmetto Bay. Please join the team and support Leanne Tellam for re-election as your Vice Mayor of Palmetto Bay!
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