The success of the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program comes not only from the dedicated work of volunteers and community supporters, but from talented and thoughtful leadership at both the local and statewide level.
Our Leadership
Contributing vision, professionalism and empathy, our circuit director is responsible for ensuring children in the program are appropriately supported; providing volunteer training opportunities; organizing fundraising and community outreach events; and supervising the staff.
Circuit Director Deborah Moore has been with the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program since 1998. After serving as Assistant Circuit Director for eight years, Moore transferred to the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office as Volunteer Recruiter in 2006. Two years later, she was promoted to Public Information Officer.
On October 1, 2009, Moore returned to the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program to assume the position of Circuit Director. "There are many times each day when I think how fortunate I am to work with a program supported by so many giving volunteers and community supporters," said Moore. "The best part of my job is knowing that what we do really does make things better for many children."
Moore is the recipient of the 2009 Barbra Sessa Award, presented annually by the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program to an individual who exemplifies the spirit and mission of child advocacy and the program. She was also nominated and selected as a finalist for the 2015 Women of Distinction Award, a program of the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle. In May 2021, Moore was presented the Joy Aukema Taps Children's Advocate Award during Law Day 2021.
Moore is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She lives in Leon County near her family and son.
Statewide Leadership
Responsible for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, which provides oversight of and technical assistance to the local guardian ad litem programs operating in Florida's twenty judicial circuits, the executive director is a gubernatorially-appointed position with a renewable term of three years.
Reporting to the governor, the executive director carries out the purposes and functions of the office in supplying a statewide infrastructure to increase efficiency and standardization among the programs, implementing performance measures and standards, developing guardian ad litem training programs and maximizing the use of local funding sources.