I went through RRISD schools, I spent time working for a Member of Congress and a member of the State Legislature, and I now serve as a Policy Director for a state-based education policy organization.
I would want to study which positions in the District have high turnover and then evaluate what methods could be used to fill those gaps (i.e. bonus stipends for hard-to-fill positions, more peer mentoring programs for new educators, etc.). We also need to look creatively at benefits that improve employees’ quality of life (expanding affordable childcare, housing assistance, mental health care).
New construction should be supported by credible enrollment projections and a clear demonstration that existing capacity cannot reasonably meet the need. Closing a neighborhood school can have significant consequences, so it should be considered only after a transparent process. Money needs to be spent wisely; every dollar can go toward teachers, student programs, and classroom support.
I want to strengthen student mental health and suicide prevention, implement more social-emotional learning, expand mentoring and support for students facing major life disruptions, and ensure our teachers and staff have the training to recognize when students need help. I want to make sure the use of digital educational programs is equitable and reduce reliance on standardized testing.
There are non-negotiables to retain funding for: mental health support, diversity & inclusion programs, fine arts, special education and talented and gifted, & teacher pay/healthcare. These topics help improve student outcomes. I wouldn't support additional funding for police in schools, invasive surveillance, or harsh & ineffective disciplinary measures that further the school-to-prison pipeline.
Risk analytics manager focused on complex problems, process improvement and measurable results. MBA, Six Sigma Black Belt, and parent of four.
I would use the district’s climate surveys, but data is only useful if it translates into action. I want to understand why teachers stay or leave, what matters most, and what they want changed. Then act on what we learn and measure whether it improves retention and engagement. I don’t want to just know the numbers. I want to know what we are doing about them and whether it worked.
I would approach facilities as a long-term planning project, not simply a choice between closing or building a school at the moment. I would consider enrollment projections, capacity, finances, impact on student outcomes, and community input. Difficult decisions may be necessary, but the goal should be a sustainable, long-term plan that serves students, families, teachers, and the community.
My priority for improving student outcomes would be to look at the whole picture, connecting the data we already have with experiences behind those numbers. Academic achievement matters, but so do students, family and teachers' experiences. If those stories differ, I want to understand why. Then set priorities and measure whether our decisions improve student outcomes.
A deficit means we have to prioritize. I would protect student learning while questioning every expense for its value and purpose: what problem are we trying to solve? How do we know if it is working? I would avoid across-the-board cuts and look for inefficiencies, duplication, and programs that are not producing intended results. I would not assume something works without measuring it.
I have been a trustee for 8 years, 3 years as President & chaired 5 district committees. I am a certified Master Trustee with a MEd. I believe students must be the center of every decision.
Teachers are irreplaceable and underpaid so we must find ways to get more money into their pockets through paychecks, benefits and/or time off. We must also support them in their daily job so RRISD is a place where talented educators want to come, stay and feel valued every day. I encourage programs that grow staff within RRISD in becoming teachers and also recruiting from various sources.
It is very important to keep a constant pulse on enrollment trends and capacity numbers at each campus. RRISD has been blessed to not have closed any campuses and our enrollment has been steady recently. However, this could change and we must be prepared to adapt. Planning for all scenarios is vital. I do not like the chaos that boundary changes cause, so I would avoid them at all costs.
My top priorities include supporting teachers, making data-driven decisions and focusing on student well-being. I will ensure we look at every student group and work to eliminate disparities because EVERY student matters and should be supported to achieve their highest potential. I will also ensure students feel safe and connected at school so they can focus on academics without distractions.
Balancing the budget is a two pronged exercise- either increase revenue or cut expenses. Additional revenue comes from increasing student enrollment and attendance, maximizing grant funding and increased PK, CTE and virtual school enrollment. For expenses, we can look for efficiencies within the various departments/programs, while protecting the classroom and teacher workloads.
*Family Nurse Practitioner with Psyche background.
*USAR 04 Maj (ret) commanding level 1 medical facilities
*Adjunct Professor Concordia University, and ACC
*Substitute Teacher RRISD 1997-2002
Talk to the experienced teachers, and ask them what their experiences have been, the good and the bad, what has worked and what has not. How have things changed and if you believe you have made a difference. Were you able to understand the changes and did you think they were needed.
Visit the local colleges that train new teachers and ask them what their expectations are and why teach?
Gov Abbott will begin to implement his 5 point plan. Read the last point, which will eliminate property taxes. This will be seismic event, anyone who says otherwise is delusional. We need to get on this NOW. The money is not going anywhere though; it will be available, and the public, not a school board, will decide how it will be spent.
The students and the student's family should be responsible for their outcome. I have seen the RRISD curriculum, there is nothing about it that a dedicated hard-working student could not complete. It is socially irresponsible for an ISD to promote the idea that any student failing is the fault of the school system. Sure, there are exception to this, but they are not the rule.
Charter schools are coming, get ready for this inevitability. the days of not being able to get by on a half a billion per year are over. We will be competing for an ever-shrinking pool of money. Fear not, school choice is not the end of public school only that we need to up our game and the public will decide where to spend their money.
