Focused on Students. Supportive of Staff. Strategic for the Future.
Judi New is running for Polk County School Board – District 3 because she believes every child deserves a future filled with opportunity, and that future begins with strong public schools. As a longtime pastor and community advocate, Judi has spent her life lifting others up — now she’s ready to bring that same spirit of service, accountability, and strategic leadership to our school board.
This isn’t politics as usual. This is about purpose. It’s about ensuring our schools are places where students thrive, teachers feel valued, and families feel confident.
Judi’s Priorities
Judi is committed to preparing students not just for tests, but for life. She will champion academic innovation, career readiness, and programs that foster creativity, curiosity, and confidence in every child.
Teachers and school personnel are the backbone of our educational system. Judi will advocate for competitive pay, improved working conditions, and policies that prioritize educator well-being and retention.
From families to faculty to civic leaders, Judi knows the best outcomes come when we work together. She will promote strategic thinking, fiscal responsibility, and solutions rooted in community wisdom and educational research.
Meet Judi
A lifelong servant-leader, Rev. Judi New brings decades of experience in community engagement, nonprofit leadership & ministry. As the Florida United Methodist Archivist and a United Methodist clergywoman, she’s spent her career helping others discover purpose, navigate change, and build community. Judi is a Polk County mom, a dedicated advocate, and someone who knows how to listen deeply and act boldly.
As a graduate of Lakeland High School, Florida Southern College (BA), Duke University (MDiv), and Louisiana State University (MLIS/CARST), she understands the importance of a strong education.
She’s driven over 20,000 miles across Polk County meeting voters and listening to their concerns — and she’s just getting started.
Why This Race Matters
The School Board isn’t just about buildings and budgets — it’s about shaping the future of our children and our communities. This race matters because our kids matter.
We need school board members who don’t see education as a political battleground, but as a sacred trust. Judi brings heart, clarity, and courage to the table — the kind of leadership our schools and families deserve.
Help Us Build the Future — Together
Judi isn’t funded by special interests. This campaign is powered by people like you — neighbors, parents, grandparents, educators, and advocates who believe in strong public schools and bold servant leadership.
Your contribution helps us:
🎯 Print materials to reach voters across the district
🎯 Host listening sessions
🎯 Share Judi’s message online and in our communities
📣 No contribution is too small; each one brings us closer to the future our students deserve.