By Marlo Scafe
news@srpressgazette.com
The votes are in, and Dr. Karen Barber has been voted in as the Santa Rosa County Schools superintendent for the next four years.
Barber received 16,710 votes, or 49% of the vote, to defeat David Godwin and Brenda Stephens in Tuesday’s Republican primary. Godwin received 12,905 votes, or 38% of the vote, and Stephens received 4,328 votes or 12.75% of the vote.
There are no write-in candidate or democrats to challenge Barber in November.
The energy was through the roof Tuesday at the Tanglewood Golf Club as the room of supporters found out about Barber’s victory.
“I’m just thrilled that the voters again have voiced confidence [in me],” Barber said. “Along with 3,700 educators, I’m going to continue to work hard for the success of our students and will just devote myself every day to making decisions that are in their best interest because they deserve the very best.”
Barber said her major focuses in the next four years include the ongoing construction at Soundside High School and providing more students with opportunities at the Space Florida Academy Program.
“We are opening up Soundside High School in the fall of 2026 the Santa Rosa Center for Innovation. We’re now a Florida Space Academy school district, so we’ll be providing lots of opportunities, pre-kindergarten and post-secondary,” Barber said.
Runner-up David Godwin is a geometry teacher at Pace High School who also serves as the elected president of the Santa Rosa Professional Educators. He expressed disappointed in the results but said he’ll be back in the classroom on Wednesday.
“It’s not the result we wanted, but we’ve got to move forward. I’ve got a job to do tomorrow.” Godwin said, “I’ll go to school teach my classes tomorrow, and we’ll start negotiation soon with the district. I still have a job to do and hope to reach a contract settlement in a timely manner with the district.”
Stephens could not be immediately reached for comment.
