- October 31, 2024
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Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Derek Barrs to the Flagler County School Board on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Barrs will replace Sally Hunt, who resigned her seat on Sept. 20, and complete the final two years of her term.
Barrs ran for the School Board's District 3 seat this year and lost in a tight race to Janie Ruddy, a former Flagler Schools teacher. Ruddy received 12,551 votes to Barrs' 12,261 votes in the Aug. 20 Primary Election. Because there were just two candidates in the race, a runoff was not necessary.
Barrs is an associate vice president for HNTB Corporation, a firm that designs and advances transportation infrastructure. He is a former Florida Highway Patrol chief and previously served as a deputy sheriff in Madison County. Barrs earned an associate degree in criminal justice from North Florida College in Madison and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Flagler College in St. Augustine.
While Barrs lives in Flagler County's District 3 zone, he replaces Hunt, who was the board's District 1 representative.
In a Flagler Schools press release, Superintendent LaShakia Moore noted that Barrs' background in public service aligns with the district's priorities.
"We’re looking forward to the experience Mr. Barrs will bring to the board," Moore said. "His commitment to next generation learning environments and student success is a strong fit with our mission here in Flagler."
In a statement that Barrs posted on Facebook, he said, "I am truly humbled by the governor's appointment and confidence in me to serve in this capacity. My priorities will be to keep schools safe, ensure high-quality education for all, support teachers and staff and foster community partnerships. I look forward to working together with the board and our superintendent to reach our full potential and to provide a world class education for our students in Flagler County."
Barrs, Ruddy and District 5 representative Lauren Ramirez will be installed as new School Board members at the Nov. 19 School Board business meeting. They join current board members Will Furry and Christy Chong.
