the honorable florence shapiro

former texas state senator

Florence Shapiro, former Richardson High School English teacher and small business owner, entered her journey into politics in 1979 when she was elected to the Plano City Council. Following six terms on the council, she was elected the first woman Mayor of Plano.  From 1993 to 2013, Florence served as a Texas State Senator.  In 2003, she became Chair of the Senate Education committee for 10 years.  She was best known for her work on regional mobility, setting accountability standards for public education and protecting children  from sexual predators. Senator Shapiro has been a volunteer, a Board Chair, and Founder and first President of the Collin County Junior League and the Assistance League of Collin County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Texas at Austin.  She and her husband, Howard, live in Plano.  They have three children and twelve grandchildren.  Today, Florence is a partner in Shapiro Linn Strategic Consulting, where she serves as a public policy consultant specializing in public and higher education.