Betty Barnard

On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, Betty J. Barnard was elected to the City of South Bay City Commission. Barnard holds commission seat 4 and was installed on March 20, 2018 for the 2018-2020 term. She is a first time city commissioner.
Betty Barnard was born on breezy spring day in the month of March in Belle Glade, Florida. Born to Maggie and Eddie Lee Adams and raised in South Bay, Florida–Betty is the third youngest sibling. She is the proud parent of two children: her daughter Chinnita who obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida; and her son Samori, who is a business administration graduate from Flagler University in Tallahassee, Florida. The joy of her life revolves around assisting in raising and instilling family virtues in her grandsons Ra’Shadd and Kylur.
Throughout her early years, Betty grew up in Western Palm Beach County. Her elementary education was spent in the first through sixth grades attending Rosenwald Elementary School. She then attended grades seventh through eleventh at Lake Shore Jr.-Sr. High School; her last year of high school, 1971, she graduated from Glades Central High School. Betty received her associate of arts degree from Palm Beach Community, a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and a Master of Art in Education and Certification in Gifted Education for Nova Southeastern University, a Certification in Gifted Education from Saint Leo College, a Certification in Early Childhood Education from Nova Southeastern University, and an Educational Leadership All Levels from Florida Atlantic University. Betty is also an active and engaged member the Glades Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Betty is a dedicated professional with 40 years of experience as an educator for Palm Beach County School District. She also has 30 years of experience as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Community College–teaching educational credit courses. Barnard taught child care classes at West Technical Service Center as well. She had the
opportunity to be a migrant tutorial assistant, instructional assistant, and a substitute teacher for the same school district. Her hierarchy in education included being a reading resource teacher, learning team facilitator, and reading coach. She also spent her last three years an assistant principal.
Barnard decided to run for city commissioner because she wanted to actively engage citizens through transparency, communication, education, advocacy and breaking barriers. She decided to go beyond her comfort zone and do the important work for the residents and community. Her greatest efforts revolve around serving the city through building movements not monuments.
Her dedication to the community to do great work means that she will do the best job representing the City of South Bay on local, county, state, and national levels.
Demonstrating leadership throughout her 40 years as an educator for the School District of Palm Beach County has prepared her to step into the forefront of leadership. As City Commissioner, her plans are to offer more town hall meetings for resident dialogue, as well as an open ear and mind. She seeks to address problems and matters brought forth. Barnard is known for stating “I want to encourage the residents to focus on what counts in the city, by breaking barriers and building a better future for change and progress. “
Since, she knows many of the residents personally from her participation in the local community; she has faith in her ability to be effective when undertaking issues. Why? It requires great communication and organization skills, with the focal components of doing civic engagement, citizen service, and city production.
Betty Barnard is working to make sure that residents know what is going on in the City of South Bay, when and where it is happening, and how it affects them. It is her intention to represent South Bay with HONESTY, INTEGRITY, DEDICATION, and EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. As well as listen closely to citizen concerns and serve as a GOOD liaison.
She is also a member of the Palm Beach League of Cities, Palm Beach League of Cities Transportation Committee.