The current state representative for House District 135, Betsy Fogle, represents the northeast quadrant of Springfield, Missouri. Now in her fifth year, Fogle was reelected to her third term this past November. She is especially proud of the work she and her team have accomplished in public education. “We have done things like raise base teacher salary,” she says. This year, she is serving as a ranking member on the budget committee, giving her a greater say in how tax dollars are spent. Fogle advocates for fully funding the foundation formula, funding student transportation and ensuring kids have what they need to succeed. “I believe education is the most important pathway out of poverty for families,” she says.  

“Betsy is not just a policymaker—she is a changemaker,” Brandy Harris, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, said in her nomination. 

Looking ahead to the next 10 years, Fogle hopes Springfield continues to grow, remains one of the best places to raise a family and continues building strong schools and economic opportunities.

Saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities is what brought Fogle to this position. “Almost all of the best things in my life have happened outside of the plan I had for myself,” Fogle says. “That’s when the good part of life happens.”