Kay Fields
Age: 73 | Occupation: Polk County School Board Member, District 5; President and CEO, Girls Inc. of Lakeland
Campaign slogan: Kay Fields – A Strong Voice For Children
Education
Bachelor of Science in English/Secondary Education
Links
Brief Bio
Kay Fields has served on the Polk County School Board since 2002. She has been a strong voice for children in Polk County for over 45 years.
Endorsements
- PEA PA
Sumanth ‘Sam’ Neelam
Age: 52 | Occupation: Entrepreneur
Campaign slogan: Principled Leadership. Academic Excellence. Proven Results.
Education
Master of Science in Computer Science & Math
Links
Brief Bio
Sumanth “Sam” Neelam, a principled leader for Polk County School Board District 5. Serial technology entrepreneur and Florida Poly Trustee. Dedicated.
Five Questions
What are your top three priorities?
Fields: 1. Strengthening Academic Achievement – Prioritizing strong instructional support, investing in teachers and staff and focusing on data driven strategies that ensure students are learning will be a priority.
2. Supporting Teacher and Staff – Ensuring that teachers and school employees have the tools, training and working conditions they need to excel will remain essential.
3. Ensuring Safe and Nurturing Schools – Creating and maintaining a safe and secure environment will be critical.
Neelam: Students First – Put our kids at the center of every decision. We must focus on basics like reading, math and real skills to deliver strong academic results.
Parents First – Parents know their children best. I will ensure full transparency and give families a real voice in their kids’ education.
Results & Accountability – No more excuses. I will demand high standards, fiscal responsibility, and measurable improvements so our schools actually deliver for students and taxpayers.
Why are you running for this office?
Fields: I want to continue to be a strong voice for students and employees; advocate for our parents and the communities that our schools serve; and continue improving the quality of education delivered in our district. I have been intimately involved in our community for over 45 years serving on numerous boards and committees and have established relationships that can help me better understand the needs of our community and how we can best work together for the betterment of our school district.
Neelam: I’m running for Polk County School Board District 5 because our kids deserve better.
I grew up in poverty and succeeded through strong academics, discipline, and the power of a good education. That same opportunity should be available to every child in Polk County.
Today, too many schools are distracted by politics instead of focusing on reading, math, and real skills. Parents feel shut out and results are suffering. I’m running to put Students First, Parents First, and deliver real results.
What do you think is the appropriate use of technology in classrooms?
Fields: Appropriate use of technology in classrooms should support learning goals, not replace strong teaching. Use technology for practice, feedback, and differentiation, and access to high-quality content; maintain routines for device free focus; ensure accessibility and digital literacy; protect student privacy; and monitor screen time. Teacher led instruction remains important, with technology used purposefully and consistently.
Neelam: Technology in classrooms should be a tool that supports learning — not a replacement for strong fundamentals. I believe we should use it wisely for personalized learning, research, coding and STEM skills that prepare students for real careers. However, it must never replace reading, writing, math, or human interaction. We need to limit distractions, protect student data and privacy, and ensure screens don’t replace books or focused teaching.
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?
Fields: Strengthening compensation pathways, creating career ladders and offering reliable support in the first years of teaching can help attract and retain teachers. Expand high quality mentoring, reduce administrative burden through streamlined processes, improve substitute coverage and strengthen support for school leadership can also be beneficial. Consider offering retention bonuses tied to performance and longevity. Work closely with local government to offer affordable housing.
Neelam: Polk County needs to get serious about solving our teacher shortage. We should offer competitive pay and performance-based bonuses, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork, and create a respectful work environment where teachers can actually teach, not manage politics or disruptive behavior. Better discipline policies, strong school leadership, and real recognition for great teachers will help attract and retain quality educators. Parents and students deserve stable, excellent teachers.
With reading scores still struggling statewide, what should schools in your district focus on most to help students improve academically?
Fields: With reading scores still struggling, our district should focus on consistent, evidence-based literacy instruction across all schools. Prioritize high-dosage tutoring and target small group intervention. Ensure teachers have strong training in phonics and structured literacy, and use frequent progress monitoring to adjust instruction quickly. Strengthen home and school routines and provide aligned materials and coaching so every student receives the needed support daily.
Neelam: To improve reading scores, our schools must focus on the basics. We need systematic phonics, daily reading practice, strong vocabulary, and writing skills — especially in early grades. No more excuses or unproven trendy programs. Support teachers with the right resources, hold schools accountable for results and keep parents fully involved. Reading is the foundation of all learning. It’s time to make it our top priority.
Research the candidates' campaign contributions
This story was compiled from LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
