Kate Wallace
Age: 41 | Occupation: Director, State Government Affairs for Spectrum
Campaign Slogan: Proven. Passionate. Ready.
Education
International Baccalaureate diploma, Bartow Senior High School; Bachelor of Science in public relations, University of Florida; certificate in nonprofit management, Harvard Kennedy School.
Links
Brief Bio
Bartow native and DeSantis-appointed incumbent School Board Member, District 3. Brings 20 years of business, advocacy and education policy experience.
Endorsements
- Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, State Representative; Jennifer Canady, State Representative; Jon Albert, State Representative; Hilary Holley, State Representative; Ryan Petty, Florida State Board of Education Chair; Bill Braswell, Polk County Commissioner
Sarah Corona
Age: 52 | Occupation: CEO, Florida Behavioral Medicine
Campaign Slogan: Knowledge is Power
Education
Master of Business Administration; master’s degree in science and leadership.
Links
Brief Bio
CEO of Florida Behavioral Medicine, mental health advocate, and community leader focused on improving care, education, and access to services.
Victor Sims
Age: 30 | Occupation: Senior Program Officer
Education
Associate in Arts, Polk State College; bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of South Florida; Master of Business Administration, Florida International University; law degree, Florida State University.
Links
Brief Bio
Victor Sims is an executive leader, policy advocate, and the only person in this race who has worked with children their entire career.
Endorsements
- Terry Coney – Lakeland City Commissioner
- Daniel Williams – Lake Wales City Commissioner
- Terri Miller – Lake Wales City Commissioner
- Carol Gillespie – Lake Wales City Commissioner
- Clifton Dollison- Winter Haven City Commissioner
- Anne Huffman – Haines City City Commissioner
- Morris West – Haines City City Commissioner
- Kim Downing – Haines City Vice Mayor
- Vernel Smith – Haines City Mayor
- Lekia Johnson – Haines City City Commissioner
- Marisol Ortega – Lake Hamilton City Commissioner
- Kathy Barsotti – Mulberry City Commissioner
- Jaret Landon Williams – Fort Meade City Commissioner
- Curtis Gibson Former Lake Wales City Commissioner
- Samuel Berrien Jr. – Fort Meade City Commissioner
- Brenda Reddout – Former School Board Member
- Sarah Fortney – Former School Board Member
- J.J. Corbitt – Former School Board Member
- Alethea Pugh – Former Dundee Commissioner
- Annette Wilson – Dundee Commissioner
- Mary Richardson – Dundee Commissioner
- Leo Longworth – Bartow Commissioner
- Brent Eden – Lake Alfred Commissioner
- Polk Education Association PAC
- RunforSomething
- Equality Florida PAC
- School Board Project
- School Board Integrity Project
- EducateUs
- OathofOffice
- The Outrun Coalition
- GoodParty.org
Five Questions:
What are your top three priorities?
Wallace: My top priorities are raising student achievement to ensure more Polk County students have access to a competitive education that prepares them for the 21st century economy; recruiting and retaining great teachers through modernizing our compensation system and rewarding effectiveness; and empowering parents with more quality options and a stronger voice in their children’s education. Overall, I hope to promote urgency over complacency and bolder decision-making so Polk County students can soar.
Corona: My top three priorities are supporting educators, improving student achievement, and ensuring safe schools. Great teachers are the foundation of student success, so we must recruit, retain and support them. Every student deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for college, careers, or skilled trades. Finally, school safety includes both physical security and mental health support, creating an environment where every student can learn and thrive.
Sims: My top three priorities are simple: ABC access to quality education, Backing, supporting and retaining great teachers and staff and connecting our community to schools and students. Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, every educator deserves support and respect and every family should have a voice in their child’s education. Together, we can build schools that prepare students for bright futures while meeting the needs of Polk County today and tomorrow.
Why are you running for this office?
Wallace: I grew up in Polk County Public Schools, and my family and I have spent more than 35 years working to improve them. Having studied and toured top schools and innovative models across Florida and the nation, I have seen first-hand what is possible. I am running to accelerate and add urgency to our district’s improvement. Polk County students deserve access to a system that competes statewide and offers more quality options. I am the most prepared and qualified candidate to catalyze real results.
Corona: I am running for School Board because I believe every child deserves a quality education, every teacher deserves support and every family deserves a voice. My experience as a healthcare executive has taught me how to lead with accountability, manage budgets responsibly and solve complex challenges. I want to bring that leadership to our schools by improving student achievement, supporting educators, strengthening school safety, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
Sims: I’m running for School Board because Polk County schools shaped my life and my family. As a foster youth, I attended 12 schools where educators saw my potential. As a parent, I also saw how hard it can be when my child with an IEP wasn’t receiving the services they needed. That experience strengthened my commitment to accountability and support. I want every student to get the services they’re entitled to, every teacher supported and every family heard. I plan to move from survival to service.
What do you think is the appropriate use of technology in classrooms?
Wallace: Young children learn best through human interaction, play, and direct instruction. Screen time for the youngest learners should be little to none. As students grow, technology should be introduced gradually and purposefully, focused on skills-building, personalized instruction and academic enrichment. Devices should never replace the face-to-face experiences that build social skills, empathy and resilience. Those traits are developed off screens.
Corona: Technology should be used in the office to improve efficiency, communication, and accuracy, not to replace human judgment. It is most appropriate for tasks such as organizing information, automating routine work, supporting collaboration and helping employees make better decisions. At the same time, technology should be used responsibly, with attention to privacy, security, and maintaining a professional and respectful workplace.
Sims: Technology should be used in classrooms in a way that prepares students for a rapidly changing world. It should enhance not replace strong teaching and critical thinking. When used well it gives students access to tools skills and information they will need in college careers or military service. Our goal should be to ensure every student is competitive in whatever path they choose while also balancing screen time with real world learning and human connection.
Polk County has a large number of teacher vacancies. What can the school district do to attract and retain teachers that it is not already doing?
Wallace: Polk County should increase and modernize compensation to reward effectiveness, not just tenure, and pay more to teachers in the hardest settings and roles. This means moving beyond outdated pay scales that younger generations reject. Teachers also need real autonomy and fewer bureaucratic burdens. These changes would naturally grow our candidate pool. Having more A-rated schools would also attract more talent across all industries, so improving our academic standings remains my top focus.
Corona: Attracting and retaining great teachers starts with making them feel valued. We must offer competitive salaries, provide meaningful professional development, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensure classrooms have the resources teachers need. Mentorship for new teachers, opportunities for career growth and a positive work environment where educators feel respected and supported will help Polk County recruit and retain high-quality teachers
Sims: Polk County can do more to attract and retain teachers by improving both pay and working conditions while also being creative about revenue. We should fully leverage programs like Step Up for Students to expand course offerings and bring additional funding into our schools. We can also explore long term investments like adding solar to school facilities to reduce utility costs and generate savings that can be reinvested into classrooms and staff.
With reading scores still struggling statewide, what should schools in your district focus on most to help students improve academically?
Wallace: Schools must commit fully to the science of reading and adopt only evidence-based, high-quality instructional materials. The most intensive reading interventions should be before and during Kindergarten, not waiting until third grade. Every struggling reader needs systematic, explicit instruction and small-group support. Summer reading programs should expand and pre-K waiting lists must be eradicated. Strong curriculum, early action, and trained teachers are the formula.
Corona: Priority should be early literacy in K–3, especially in the lowest-performing schools. Focus on strong phonics instruction, early screening, targeted intervention, tutoring support and reading coaches to close gaps quickly and improve long-term student success.
Sims: With reading scores still a challenge, schools should focus on strong early literacy instruction grounded in phonics, vocabulary and comprehension. We should provide timely interventions like tutoring and reading support during the school day and support teachers with training and resources. Using data to guide instruction and engaging families early is key. We can also bring back creative incentives like the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! program to make reading fun and build stronger reading habits.
Research the candidates' campaign contributions
This story was compiled from LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
