About Tim

Click here to read the Monday Profile article from the April 9, 2007 issue of The Ledger

On December 4, 2009 at the 64th Annual Joint Conference of Florida School Boards Association and Florida Association of District School Superintendents the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations presented me with the 2009 STAR School Board Member award for school districts with more than 50,000 students.

The Consortium is the membership organization for Florida’s local K-12 public education foundations with a mission of increasing resources, sharing best practices and advancing the organization capacity of its members.  Click here to view the Consortium's award announcement.

I began my service on the School Board in 2006 and am serving my second year as the Vice Chairman. I am a native of Greenville, SC, moving to Polk County in 1972 to attend college. I hold a BA in Secondary Education and History from Southeastern University (1975) and a Master’s Degree in teaching Social Studies from Rollins College (1978). My wife Linda is a Certification Specialist in the school district's Human Resources division.

Business experience:
I am the Operations Manager and majority owner of Sign PostMan, LLC.  Sign PostMan is a real estate sign installation service.  In addition, I am a partner in the real estate investment firm, The Gaylord Group, LLC.  Currently I serve on the Board of Directors of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, and the Polk County Real Estate Investors Association. Previously I served on the board of Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Education activities:
I taught in Polk County Public Schools from 1975 until 1994.  Afterwards I served as the Contract Administrator in the district's Facilities Division and a Resource Specialist for the Workforce Education Department. From 1998 - 2006 I designed and coordinated annual follow-up surveys of Polk County graduates.

Community involvement:
I am member of the Lakeland Chamber’s Leadership Lakeland Class XXVI.  I am also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.  Currently I serve on the Board of Directors of the Polk Education Foundation, and AMIkids-Polk.

I have experience in dealing with growth issues as a result of many years of residential property management and service on local planning and zoning boards.  I also have experience in both the academic and career (vocational) education arenas
 

Education experience

School Board of Polk County, FL
    District 7 (Nov. 2006 - present)


Teacher Resource Specialist (1998-2006)

  • Designed and conducted annual follow-up surveys of Polk County Public School graduates

  • Established welfare reform initiative, Services for Teen Parents, connecting school-and-work to ensure graduation

  • Developed databases of available grants and a method of tracking grant expenditures 

Contract Administrator (1995-1998)

  • Coordinated relocation of over 150 portable buildings per year; consulted with manufacturers to build new portable buildings and ramps

  • Supervised and scheduled work by subcontractors, which reduced outstanding work orders by 72%

Teacher:

  • Lake Gibson High School (1993-1994):

    • Economics

    • American History

  • Lake Gibson Junior High School (1976-1993):

    • American Government

    • Economics

  • Kathleen Junior High School (1975-1976):

    • American History

    • Civics

  • Area summer and adult schools

Community involvement

Current

  • The Kiwanis Club of Lakeland

  • Lakeland Chamber of Commerce

  • AMIkids-Polk, Chairman of the Board

  • Polk Education Foundation, Board of Directors

Previous

  • Leadership Lakeland Class XXVI

  • Polk County Citizens Academy

  • City of Lakeland:

    • Citizens Police Academy

    • Citizens Academy

    • Planning and Zoning Board

    • Citizen Advisory Committee

    • Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals

  • Northside Sunrise Rotary, Vice President

  • Southeastern University Alumni Association, Executive VP

Business experience

 Current

  • Co-owner of Sign Postman, LLC

  • Co-owner of The Gaylord Group, LLC

  • MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Board of Directors

  • Management of residential investment properties

Previous

  • Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Board of Directors

  • Polk County Real Estate Investors Association, President

  • Credit Union Directors Association, Board of Directors

Personal information

  • Born in Greenville, SC; moved to Polk County in 1972

  • Wife, Linda, is a Certification Specialist with the school district’s Human Resources Division

  • Certification in Administration & Supervision (University of South Florida)

  • MA in Social Studies (Rollins College)

  • BA in Secondary Education and History (Southeastern University)

  • Diploma in Auto Mechanics (Greenville [SC] Tech)

My Strengths Include

  • Experience in policy decision making at the corporate board level

  • Experience in dealing with growth issues as a result of many years of service on local planning and zoning boards

  • Experience in the classroom and in two different divisions at the school district level

  • Experience in both the academic and career (vocational) education arenas, as well as experience dealing with school facilities

Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Tim Harris for School Board, District 7

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