Board Members

Dr. William Allen - District 1

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.

His term expires in November 2024.

Lori Cunningham - District 2

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

Lori Cunningham is serving her fifth term on the School Board. Cunningham received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Florida in 1985. She owns and operates Applied Images, Inc., an apparel decorating company serving the Central Florida area.

Cunningham is active in the community and serves as a trustee for The Vanguard School. She is a member of the Haines City and Lake Wales chambers of commerce, serving on the Haines City Economic Development Council and the Haines City Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. She served as a member of the School Advisory Council at Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary School for six years and is a current member of the Harrison School for the Arts PTO and Davenport School of the Arts PTO.

In addition, Cunningham is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales, where she has served on the Board of the Women of the Church, the Children’s Council, and the Stewardship & Finance Committee.

Her term expires in November 2024.

Rick Nolte - District 3

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

Rick Nolte was born and raised in Brockport, N.Y., where he graduated high school in 1974 with a partial scholarship to play golf at Florida Southern College.

In 1978, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Florida Southern. He continued his education with a full scholarship to Rollins College graduate school, where he earned his master’s degree in administration-supervision in 1980.

From 1979 until his retirement in 2015, Nolte taught in Orange, Polk and Hillsborough counties. Nolte also owns a small custom golf club business in Lakeland.

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

His term expires in November 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.

Her term expires in November 2024.

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.

On January 14, 2019, Mrs. Fields hosted “An Evening of Listening — A Town Hall for Educators” at Kathleen Senior High. Review key points shared, questions asked and responses from district staff.

On Feb. 19, 2019, Mrs. Fields hosted “An Evening of Listening” at Sleepy Hill Middle School. Review key points shared, questions asked and responses from staff.

Her term expires in November 2026.

Justin Sharpless - District 6

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 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 masters in Public Administration from Barry University. Miller is broker/owner of MillShire Realty in Lakeland. After her son Michael was born with a significant developmental delay, she began working to improve the lives of all children with disabilities. For the last decade, she has worked to build advocacy networks at the local and state levels.

Miller has chaired the Polk County ESE Advisory Committee and 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 in 2012 by Gov. Rick Scott. Her most recent gubernatorial appointment was to the Florida Developmental Disability Council in 2018. Locally, she worked with the City of Lakeland to form the Alliance on Accessibility and hire its first full-time ADA coordinator. Miller is a member of the Polk Transportation Planning Organization.

Miller believes creating access for all students by building learning communities and encouraging community partnerships will increase student performance and create positive outcomes.

Miller is married to Bob, her husband of 22 years. They reside in North Lakeland with their two children.

Her term expires in November 2026.