Kate Wallace
FL · Polk County School Board Member, District 3
Kate Wallace serves on the Polk County School Board and has worked in education policy and government affairs. She emphasizes student achievement, teacher retention, and family involvement.
Where Kate Wallace stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Efficiency (1 record), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 record), Public Education Quality (5 records)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (2 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Voted to hire the accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram to do the district's internal audit work. It passed 5-2.
September 8, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 support · 2 oppose
Voted to adopt the school district's final 2026-27 budget and a total school tax rate of 5.258 mills. Each vote passed 7-0.
September 8, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted against adding rehired teachers to the union's pay grievance for newly hired teachers. The board added them anyway, 4-3.
September 8, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted with a 6-1 School Board majority to uphold a teachers' union grievance, making newly hired teachers eligible for higher pay.
July 28, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: yahoo.com
Voted against buying the Lake Marion site, land meant for new schools in fast-growing northeast Polk County. The purchase failed 2-4.
April 28, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Voted to keep two challenged books, "Check & Mate" and "Thirteen Reasons Why," in school libraries. The votes were 5-2 and 7-0.
August 25, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 5 support
Voted to approve the 2026-27 deal with the teachers' union on how state money for teacher raises is divided. It passed 7-0.
September 8, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted with a 6-1 School Board majority to uphold a teachers' union grievance, making newly hired teachers eligible for higher pay.
July 28, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: yahoo.com
Made the motion to approve BridgePrep Academy's application for a new charter middle and high school in Polk County. It passed 7-0.
May 5, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted to approve the 2025-26 contract settlement with the Polk Education Association, the teachers' union. It passed 7-0.
February 24, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted to approve McKeel Academy's application to open a high-performing charter school in Mulberry. It passed 7-0.
January 27, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Received endorsements for her 2026 School Board race from State Board of Education Chair Ryan Petty, Sheriff Grady Judd, and all four Polk County state House members.
October 9, 2026
Source: yahoo.com
Voted for new attendance boundaries for all of Polk County's public high schools. The board approved the plan 7-0.
January 27, 2026
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Worked for ExcelinEd, the education policy group founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush, starting in 2012. In 2019 she became executive director of the Lakeland Leads education nonprofit.
December 15, 2025
Source: lkldnow.com
On 2025-11-18, Polk County Public Schools reported that Kate Wallace was sworn in to serve District 3 after appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis.
November 18, 2025
Source: polkschoolsfl.com
Served on Polk County Public Schools' Charter Review Team, the IDEA Public Schools Florida board, and a United Way of Central Florida funding team, the governor's office reported.
November 7, 2025
Source: flgov.com
Past races Kate Wallace ran in:
- Polk County School Board Member, District 3 · November 3, 2026 · Polk County School District, Florida · incumbent
- Polk County School Board Member, District 3 · August 18, 2026 · Polk County School District, Florida · incumbent