Board Members

School Board Zones

View an interactive map that displays boundaries for school board members' zones. This map also lists the schools located in each zone organized by level (Elementary, Middle, High).

Dr. William Allen - District 1
Board Chair

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-546-8141
[email protected]

Dr. William Allen is a tenured Associate Professor of Interactive and Game Design at Florida Southern College. He has committed over 15 years to teaching and shaping young minds to be transformative contributors to society.

As a professor, Allen was awarded the Distinguished Miller Teaching Award, the Omicron Delta Kappa teacher of the year, and Distinguished Faculty Award for connectedness with students. His current research interests include studying changes in cinematic codes between two-dimensional and 360 cinematic spaces and the impact that has on short-term learning behavior and cognitivism.

Besides his educational experience, Allen is an active award-winning documentarian and media researcher. Recently, Allen served as a grant reviewer with the National Science Foundation’s Interactive division.

Allen’s PhD is in Digital Media from the University of Central Florida. He holds an MFA in Web Design and New Media from the Academy of Art University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.

Dr. Allen resides in Lakeland and just celebrated 18 years of marriage to Jill. They have three kids and a small pup.

Dr. Allen was elected in 2020. His term expires in November 2028.

Travis L. Keyes - District 2

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-534-0529
[email protected]

Travis L. Keyes is a Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at SouthState Bank, N.A. In this role he serves the local community by providing financial services to business owners and developing long-term relationships with those clients.

Travis has previously held key leadership positions at well-established small businesses within Polk County, providing expertise in business management, finance, IT/technology, policy development, purchasing, procurement, safety, and sales. While serving in those various capacities, he also played an essential role in developing and maintaining relationships with customers who included both The Walt Disney Company and Mosaic. Travis is also the owner of Keyes Contracting & Consulting, LLC and holds the license of Certified General Contractor.

In addition to his professional career Travis has also served, or is currently serving in the following roles in the local community:

• Spring Pines West Homeowners Association - President (2015-current) Vice-President (2014)
• CRA Pulse Committee - CenterState Bank (2018-2020)
• NE Polk Chamber of Commerce - Adult Leadership Haines City, Graduate, Class IX
• NE Polk Chamber of Commerce - Government Affairs Committee, Co-Chair (2018-2019), Co-Chair (2020-2021)
• Polk County Public Schools - Audit & Finance Committee (2018-2024), Chair (2021-2024)
• Lake Wales Care Center - Dundee/Lake Hamilton Advisory Board (2018-2020)
• Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce - Youth Leadership Co-Chair (2019-2023)
• CRA & Fair Lending Committee Board - CenterState Bank (2019-2020)
• Women and Youth Center - Board Member, President-Elect (2019-current)
• Polk Vision_Leadership Polk - Graduate, Class XIII
• Polk County Public Schools - Attendance Boundary Committee, Vice Chair (2019-2024)
• Haines City Rotary Club – Member, Treasurer (2019-2020), President- Elect (2019-2020), President (2020-2023)
• Franklin Covey Leadership Journey - Graduate, CenterState Bank (2020)
• Polk County Public Schools - Superintendent Search Committee (2021)
• Polk County Sheriff’s Office - Sheriff’s Advisory Council (2021 – current)
• Florida School of Banking – Graduate, President C/O 2024

A proud product of Polk County Public Schools, Travis attended Dundee Elementary (Student Council President), Shelly S. Boone Middle School (Student Council President), and Haines City Senior High School. Travis also holds a BS in Organizational Management with a focus in Business Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University and an MS in Organizational Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Travis is very happily married to his wife, and they have two beautiful daughters. The Keyes family faithfully attend church and are actively involved in church ministry. Travis is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, gardening, hunting, and golfing.

Mr. Keyes was elected in 2024. His term expires in November 2028.

Kate Wallace - District 3

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-534-0529
[email protected]

Kate Wallace is a public policy advocate with 20 years of experience working with all three levels of government to promote pro-business, pro-family and pro-educational opportunities for all students.

Presently, she supports expanding access to high-speed broadband internet for thousands of Floridians, including helping to secure connectivity for more than 11,000 previously-underserved rural Polk County households, as a member of the Florida government affairs team at Charter Communications (Spectrum).

Prior to joining Charter, Ms. Wallace was the director of public affairs for Florida Internet & Television (FIT), Florida's cable industry trade association.

She championed a quality education for all through previous roles with the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) and as the founding executive director of Lakeland Leads (now known as ConnectED Polk).

With ExcelinEd, Ms. Wallace advanced student-centered statewide K-12 education reform policies in Florida and multiple southeastern states, primarily in the realms of school choice, early literacy, accelerated college readiness, and post-secondary course credit access.

As the founding executive director of Lakeland Leads, she helped Lakeland attract a nationally-renowned charter school (IDEA Public Schools), which serves more than 700 first-generation college-bound students. She also promoted efforts to bring the Junior Achievement 3DE Program to Tenoroc High.

A Bartow native, Ms. Wallace is a proud product of Polk County Public Schools, having attended Bartow public schools from grades K-12 and earning an IB Diploma from the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow Senior High. She subsequently earned a bachelor of science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Ms. Wallace has been active in local, statewide, and national civic organizations all of her adult life, including the Junior Leagues of Florida, Leadership Florida, the United Way of Central Florida, Polk Vision, the Gator Bowl Sports Committee, American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Leadership Network, and numerous local Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Councils across Florida. She also serves on the Florida Fiduciary Board of IDEA Public Schools.

In her spare time, she enjoys working out, traveling, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends. She resides in Bartow and is a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Bartow.

Ms. Wallace was appointed in 2025 by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill a vacancy left by the passing of Rick Nolte. Her term expires in 2026.

Sara Beth (Reynolds) Wyatt - District 4

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-604-2023
[email protected]

Sara Beth (Reynolds) Wyatt is serving her second term on the School Board, first elected in 2016. Reynolds is a graduate of Polk County Public Schools, holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Florida and is currently pursuing her master’s degrees in public administration and nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida.

Sara Beth has served as the Director of Development at Theatre Winter Haven. She is currently the President & CEO of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Wyatt serves as the Board liaison for Polk Vision’s Operating Board, the Florida School Board Association’s Board of Directors, the Florida School Board Association's Advocacy Committee, and the Polk Academies Advisory Board. She is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven’s Class 38 and Leadership Florida’s Education Class IV. She is a recipient of the Florida School Board Association’s 2017 Emerging Leader Award. Sara Beth is board member and volunteer for Junior Achievement and Winter Haven’s Public Education Partnership. She attends Redeemer City Church in Winter Haven.

Mrs. Wyatt was elected in 2016. Her term expires in November 2028.

Kay Fields - District 5

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-802-5483
[email protected]

Kay Fields, a native of McComb, Miss., is serving her sixth term on the School Board. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and received a bachelor’s degree in English/secondary education.

She is president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Lakeland, a program for girls in grades K-12. Fields has served on numerous committees and boards, and currently is a member of the Pig Fest board, the Lakeland Optimist Club, the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, and the Polk Vision board of directors.

Fields is a member of New Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Lake Hamilton, where she currently serves as a steward. 

Mrs. Fields was elected in 2002. Her term expires in November 2026.

Justin Sharpless - District 6
Board Vice-Chair

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-534-0529
[email protected]

Born and raised in Lake Wales, Justin Sharpless attended Polk County Public Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. He graduated from Lake Wales High School in 2002.

Sharpless enrolled in the University of Florida and earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s in agricultural business.

Upon returning to Polk County, Sharpless began teaching agriculture at middle and high schools for PCPS and the Lake Wales Charter Schools.

He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and is currently a PhD candidate in agricultural education and leadership.

In 2015, Sharpless became an assistant professor of agricultural studies at Warner University.

Sharpless is married to Emilyn, a Polk County educator. They reside in Lake Wales and have two sons, Wyatt and Rhett. They are active members of HighPoint Church and involved in the community through Future Farmers of America (FFA), Alpha Gamma Rho and the Polk County Youth Fair.

Sharpless was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term on the Polk County School Board.

His term expires in November 2026.

Lisa Miller - District 7

P.O. Box 391, Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 863-698-6240
[email protected]

Lisa Miller is currently serving her second term on the Polk County School Board. She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications/public relations from the University of South Florida and her master’s in public administration from Barry University.

Lisa started her career in marketing and advertising. In 2014 she opened a real estate brokerage and was the managing broker for six locations throughout Florida. After her son Michael was born with a significant developmental delay, Lisa began working to improve the lives of all children with disabilities. For the last two decades, she has worked to build advocacy networks at the local and state levels.

Lisa is a proud member of Leadership Polk Class XVII and currently a member of Leadership Florida Education Class IX. Lisa has represented Polk County as a member of Florida’s State Advisory Committee on Exceptional Student Education with the Florida Department of Education. She was appointed to chair the Family Care Council for Area 14 and to the Florida Developmental Disability Council.

Locally, Lisa worked with the City of Lakeland to form the Alliance on Accessibility and hire its first, full-time ADA coordinator.

In her first term as an elected official, she worked with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd to create an elopement plan for students with disabilities that go missing during the school day. She is most passionate about the safety of students and building equitable programs that ensure all students have a pathway to gainful employment after graduation.

Lisa is a proud member of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club. She is a Polk native who is proud to have seen the growth in education and industry within her county.

She has been married 25 years to Bob Miller. They have two children and enjoy creating new adventures while traveling as a family.

Mrs. Miller was elected in 2018. Her term expires in November 2026.