In your opinion, what are the three most important roles of the school board and if elected, how would you contribute to those important roles??
The three most important roles of the school board are providing a long-term vision for Conroe ISD, working with the Superintendent to establish goals for the district, and setting budgetary priorities while supporting staff and bringing the district's mission to light.
If elected, I would contribute to these roles by ensuring that the vision for our district is focused on academic excellence, school safety, and preparing our students for the future. I would collaborate with the Superintendent to set clear, measurable goals that align with our community's values and needs. Additionally, I would prioritize the budget to ensure that resources are allocated effectively to support our teachers, enhance student outcomes, and address critical issues like our current budget deficit. My focus will always be on making decisions that benefit our students and uphold the district's mission.
What are the three biggest challenges facing the board and how would you address these challenges if you are elected to the Board??
The three biggest challenges facing the Conroe ISD Board are the budget deficit, the need for board cohesion, and managing the district's growth.
If elected, I would address these challenges by advocating for responsible financial management and seeking additional funding from the state to help close the budget deficit without compromising student outcomes. To foster board cohesion, I would prioritize open communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to putting students first. It's essential that the board works together to make decisions that positively impact our district. Lastly, managing growth is crucial for our district's future. I would work to ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure, resources, and strategic planning in place to accommodate our expanding student population while maintaining high educational standards.
How much access do you believe parents should have to their children's curriculum? classroom? teacher? online?
I believe parents should have 100% access to their children's curriculum, classroom, and teacher. Transparency is key to building trust and ensuring that parents are fully engaged in their children's education. The curriculum is readily available on the Texas Education Agency website for review, and it is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. By providing parents with complete access, we empower them to be active participants in their children's learning and to collaborate with teachers to support student success.
Do you support allowing all students to use bathrooms, showers and locker rooms, as well as participate in sports, based on the gender with which they identify, not the sex they are assigned to at birth?
I do not support allowing all students to use bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms solely based on the gender with which they identify. The decision on bathroom usage should be determined by individual campuses to ensure that the privacy and safety of both the specific student and all other students are protected. Each situation should be handled with care to balance the needs of the student while respecting the rights and privacy of everyone involved.
Would you, individually, take public, overt steps to have pornography removed from LSC classrooms. libraries and campuses?
YES, based on the State Law and Board Policy. I don’t believe school aged students at any campus should have access to pornography. If you are speaking of dual credit courses through Lone Star College held on Lone Star College campuses, as a trustee I don’t have purview over their campuses.
Do you believe a teacher should be required to use a student’s preferred pronoun?
NO, they should not be required to use a student’s preferred pronoun. As a teacher, we address students by their name to focus on the education of that student.
Would you actively pursuit an annual third party financial audit of the ISD?
YES, however this is already performed on an annual basis.
On May 14th, 2024, the CISD Board adopted new bylaws for the School Health Advisory Council(SHAC), consisting of 21 members(2 by each board member & 7 by the superindent) while removing public comment at their meetings. What are your thoughts about this?
The SHAC should comprise of community members from all feeder zones so that everyone is represented in our school district. Also, the SHAC must post their minutes and provide a recording of their meetings on the district website.
What is your position on implementing a gender fluidity policy to remove all gender subject matter books & materials from CISD?
If the question refers to removing books and materials that solicit or encourage children on how to transition, I would support implementing a gender fluidity policy to remove those from CISD. I believe that instructional materials in our schools should focus on academic excellence and be age-appropriate, without promoting any specific ideology. It's important to ensure that parents have a say in the content their children are exposed to, and that our curriculum aligns with the community's values while respecting the diverse perspectives within our district.
Should CISD have LGBTQ+ books in their libraries and classroom libraries? If so, why? If not, why not?
It is important that the content of books aligns with community values and is suitable for the educational environment.
What's your opinion of programs such as Common Core curriculum? Critical Race Theory? Social Emotional Learning? International Bacculaureate?
Opposed
Will you work to remove harmful materials as defined in Texas penal code 43.24 from all school property? Additionally, do you support removing the “educational exemption” from this law?
Yes, I will work to remove harmful materials as defined by Texas penal code 43.24 from all school property with the exclusion of historical facts.
Do you believe that parents should be allowed to monitor classrooms in person or cameras?
I believe that parents should be able to observe their child’s classroom in person. We need to protect the privacy of every student in the classroom in doing so.
Would you pledge to vote against any attempt to authorize any CISD employee salary that would be more than 50% above that of the Texas Governors salary?
Educators are given their salaries based on market comparison.
What role does the Superintendent play at Board meeting?
The Superintendant is the voice of the staff, creates and prepares information to be presented to the board of trustees, and should be available to answer questions from the board of trustees.
Do you support HB1605? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, I support HB1605 because it establishes a review process for educational materials. This bill ensures that the content used in our classrooms is thoroughly vetted and aligns with state standards, providing transparency and accountability in the selection of instructional resources. By implementing a review process, HB1605 helps maintain the quality and appropriateness of the materials that students are exposed to, while upholding educational standards and community values.
How do you think HB1605 screen time policy of 4 hrs/day affects children?
I believe HB1605's screen time policy of 4 hours per day needs to be carefully evaluated, particularly with regard to age appropriateness. While technology is a valuable educational tool, excessive screen time can have negative effects on children, such as disrupting sleep patterns, reducing physical activity, and impacting social interactions. It's important that the policy considers the developmental needs of students at different ages and balances digital learning with other forms of instruction. I support efforts to ensure that screen time is used effectively and responsibly in our schools, promoting both academic success and the well-being of our students.
Would you support a motion to inventory the books contained in classroom libraries & post on website?
Yes, there should be total transparency about what the students have access to in the classroom. It would align with Texas HB 900 expectations.
What is your understanding of the Pico case?
The Pico case (Board of Education v. Pico, 1982) is a Supreme Court decision that ruled school boards cannot remove books from libraries because they disagree with the ideas expressed. The case arose when a New York school board removed books it deemed inappropriate, but students argued this violated their First Amendment rights. The Court held that book removal must be based on legitimate educational reasons, not an attempt to suppress specific viewpoints. The removal of materials for reasons of religious, political, etc is violating a first amendment right based on the constitution.
Would you vote to implement Biden's Title IX changes?
NO.
Has this board done its job in providing a platform of educating students with critical thinking skills instead of critical race theory? Please explain.
This question is very broad, but I believe so, yes.
Do you believe the Bible should be returned to the public school library? How would you implement that?
The Bible is in our public school library.
