Additional Information

Ran unsuccessfully for the same SBOE District 1 seat in 2022. 

Endorsed in the 2022 general election by the Texas Home School Coalition, which supports using public funds for private and home-schools, giving private and home-schooled students greater access to public education services, and limiting state oversight of private and home schools. 

Endorsed by the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News in the 2022 Republican primary election. 

Candidate Survey Responses

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RESPONSES TO THE 2024 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

1. If elected, what do you believe your primary role and responsibility as a State Board of Education (SBOE) member should be?

If elected, I believe that my primary role and responsibility on the State Board of Education will be to advocate for the learning needs of the students in my district.

2. In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing public education in Texas?

The most pressing issue facing public education in Texas today is the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities among students. Not every student has access to quality educational resources, such as textbooks, technology, and experienced teachers. Additionally, many schools across Texas lack adequate funding, which can lead to overcrowded classrooms, outdated facilities, and a lack of extracurricular activities. This can result in a significant achievement gap between students.

3. What role should educators and educator groups such as ATPE play in policy decisions made by the SBOE?

Educators and educator groups should have a crucial role when it comes to policy decisions made by the SBOE. Educators are experts when it comes to what is going on in the classroom and the SBOE should treat them as such. Prior to making policy decisions, the SBOE should seek out the expert opinion of educators, to determine how those proposed changes would play out in the classroom. The decisions made by the SBOE directly impact educators, so it is plausible that educators would play a major role in those decisions.

4. How much weight should the SBOE give to educators’ input when it comes to developing curriculum standards (known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or “TEKS”) and approving instructional materials?

The SBOE should give significant weight to educators' input, when it comes to developing curriculum standards. Educators are on the frontlines of our schools and have a firsthand account of the effectiveness of the TEKS. This makes them invaluable to providing input on proposed curriculum changes.

5. In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1605, which requires the SBOE to review and approve instructional materials that may be used by school districts. What is the right balance between the SBOE and local school districts when it comes to selecting and approving instructional materials?

The balance between the SBOE and local school districts, lies within the content standards specified by the SBOE. When evaluating instructional materials of school districts, the SBOE should start and stop with the TEKS and standards they have set.

6. Do you believe our state’s public education system, including current regulations on testing and accountability, graduation requirements, and curriculum standards, enables students to receive a well-rounded education throughout all grade levels? Would you recommend any changes?

No, I don't believe that our state's public education system enables students to receive a well rounded education. Our current system provides a cookie-cutter approach to education that focuses more on higher STAAR scores, than it does on actual student success. I recommend that we change our approach to one that gives students the necessary skills to master the TEKS, ultimately preparing them for the next grade level. At the high school level, all students should have access to graduation pathways that would enable them to pursue their goals after graduation. Our public education system should prepare students to enter the workforce, enroll in a technical school, join the military, or enroll in a college/university program.

7. What role, if any, should charter schools have in the Texas public education system?

Charter schools are a viable option for parents, when the local public school is not meeting the learning needs of their children. There are multiple reasons, many of which are unfortunately out of the control of local ISD's, that a traditional public school may not be the place for a particular student. In these cases, charter schools provide parents with an alternative means of their child receiving a free, quality public education.

8. What role should the SBOE play in overseeing charter schools, such as approving or denying new charter applications and expansion requests for existing charters?

The SBOE should continue in their current role in reviewing charter school applications and expansion requests. Charter schools should be held to the same high standards required of all public schools in traditional ISD's. Any school that does not meet those requirements, should not receive SBOE approval as a public charter school.

9. Do you believe the SBOE should continue to have the authority to review and potentially veto any rulemaking actions taken by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)?

Yes, I believe that the SBOE should continue to have the ability to veto actions taken by SBEC. Members of the SBOE are elected by the constituents in their district, whereas the SBEC members are appointed. Being in an elected seat puts SBOE members in a position to represent the needs of their constituency. As representatives of the students, parents and educators of their districts, the SBOE should be able to veto impacting education decisions made by appointees.
 

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BELOW ARE THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSES TO THE 2022 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

1. If elected, what do you believe your primary role and responsibility as a state board member should be?

If elected, my primary role would be to serve as a relevant advocate for teachers in regards to curriculum, instruction, teaching practices and how they are evaluated.

2. In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing public education in Texas?

The lack of classroom teacher representation on the SBOE, is the most pressing issue facing public education in Texas. Curriculum, funding, classroom management, attendance and all of the other issues that need to be addressed in our current education system, can best be done by individuals who understand how those issues impact teachers and students.

3. What role should educators and educator groups such as ATPE play in policy decisions made by the State Board of Education (SBOE)?

I feel that educators and educator groups such as ATPE should have a voice in policy decisions made by the SBOE. Since all decisions made by the SBOE directly impact teachers, it only makes sense that teachers should be heard by the SBOE, so they can voice their support, or concern over a potential decision.

4. How much weight should the SBOE give to educators’ input when it comes to setting curriculum standards (known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or “TEKS”) and evaluating instructional materials?

Since teachers are the ones who have to implement and assess curriculum standards they should provide the most input when it comes to setting the TEKS.

5. Do you believe our state’s public education system, including current regulations on testing and accountability, graduation requirements, and curriculum standards, enables students to receive a well-rounded education throughout all grade levels? Would you recommend any changes?

I do not believe that our current public education system enables students to receive a well-rounded education throughout all grade levels. In many cases, schools are forced to pass students along, so they can meet state required attendance and passing rates, in order to maintain full funding. Changing how schools are funded, will take the pressure off of Title 1 schools to push students through and enable these schools to take the time needed to help every student master grade level content material.

6. What role, if any, should charter schools have in the Texas public education system?

As an advocate of school choice, I feel that charter schools should continue to grow and expand in the Texas public education system.

7. What role should the SBOE play in overseeing charter schools, such as approving or denying new charter applications and expansion requests of existing charters?

I feel that the SBOE should continue to oversee charter schools, to ensure that the standards of these schools align to that of their public counterparts.

8. Do you believe the SBOE should continue to have the authority to review and potentially veto any rulemaking actions taken by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)?

Yes, I do believe that the SBOE should continue to have the authority to review and potentially veto any rulemaking actions taken by SBEC. In order to certify that certification standards are aligned to teaching expectations established by the SBOE, these two entities need to work in unison. 

Additional Comments from Candidate on Survey

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No additional comments