(This story will be updated as results are available.)
Lee County voters will decide Tuesday whether to give incumbent Jada Langford-Fleming another term on the school board or elect newcomer India Palencia to represent District 6 for the next four years.
Because the District 6 seat is elected at-large, the District 6 school board member’s jurisdiction covers the entire school district. All Lee County voters could vote for this race in the primary election, regardless of party affiliation.
Four seats — District 1, 4, 5 and 6 — on the seven-member Lee County School Board were on the ballot this year.
School board candidates campaigned on platforms of fiscal transparency, teacher retention and parental rights as the district navigates a $92.4 million budget deficit and “strategic budget realignment” that has already resulted in notices for 457 staff contract non-renewals.
The School District of Lee County is home to more than 100,000 students at its 118 schools. It is the eighth-largest school district in Florida and the 27th-largest in the nation, according to the district’s 2024-25 impact report.
Meet the Lee County School Board District 6 candidates
About Jada Langford-Fleming
Age: 49
Hometown: Lives in Fort Myers and is from LaBelle
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida Gulf Coast University
Experience: Lee County School Board member since 2022, former teacher of 20 years, fitness training business owner and longtime coach and mentor
Campaign priorities: Keeping academics at the forefront and removing political distractions, fiscal responsibility, school safety through the Guardian Program and ensuring families have a voice in district policy
Motivation for running: Experiences as a mother and educator led her to stand with families who felt ignored by district leadership and wants to ensure a safe, disciplined learning environment
About India Palencia
Age: 42
Hometown: Fort Myers
Education: Degree in Theater from the University of Ozarks
Experience: Community advocate and activist, substitute teacher and mom of three kids in public schools
Campaign priorities: Quality education for every child, full forensic audit to redirect funds to classrooms, enhancing student safety and mental health resources and fair pay for all educators
Motivation for running: She says she noticed disturbing trends in board financial decisions and believes the board should reflect the heart of the community and that every decision must put students, educators and families first
The general election is Nov. 3, and polling locations in Lee and Collier counties will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation is Oct. 5.
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
Follow The News-Press & Naples Daily News throughout the Election 2026 campaign season, including Q&As with candidates running in key Southwest Florida races coming soon.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Who won Lee County School Board District 6? Here’s the 2026 results
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
