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ELGIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES DISTRICT 6
How old are you and what do you do?
I am 61 and a program/project manager for the federal government. My husband and I also foster dogs in need for the local animal shelter, are mad for home improvement projects. Our current project is putting up a greenhouse so we can lengthen our growing season. In our spare time we like to take our travel trailer and whatever dogs are currently in the residence on weekend trips to area lakes or the coast.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I have 20 plus years of management experience, including 13 years of running my own company. Additionally, I am well versed in dealing with large budgets. I have a wide variety of skills – business administration, finance, IT, marketing, management, leading people, etc. – backed by education and/or experience. Finally, I am passionate about the need for public servants to be good stewards of “we the people’s” resources.
If elected, what will be your main priority?
• Outreach to Spanish speaking families. Encourage them to participate in English Immersion experience at school and home.
• Expand CTE learning tracks to include more skilled trades
• Accountability for everyone including students, faculty, staff and administration. Corrective action is a good thing if done consistently.
• Transparency and honesty at all levels and in all things.
What is the biggest issue facing Elgin/Elgin ISD at the moment?
The fact that our schools are rated in the bottom 10% of all Texas school. I think that is in part due to how the administration handles Spanish only speaking children. They should be assimilated into English only classes by a certain grade and that is not happening, instead they are using bilingual teaching, which does not allow any child to reach their full potential. English immersion module should be used, and for that to be as effective as possible, we need to conduct community outreach programs to the parents to get them to want to learn English quickly too.
Why are you running?
A few reasons: I was asked to run by a community group.
Our kids deserve so much better than schools ranked in the bottom 10% of all Texas schools. School digger ranks Elgin ISD schools in the bottom 6% and Texas education department has given our schools a “C” grade for years.
Good schools are a driver of positive growth and because the area is growing and changing, we absolutely must manage and direct the type of growth we have.
Since so much of our property taxes are school related, we need to ensure we get more bang for our bucks than we are currently getting.
Why should people vote for you?
I hate to be unkind or point fingers, so I am just going to say, if you vote for the same person or people who have been at the helm for many years and our responsible for the state the schools are in now, then you are going to get the same results. On the other hand, I will bring new ideas and pragmatic solutions to the challenges our schools face. I will also be more hands on if possible as I plan to visit each school Quarterly, walk the halls and see things for myself.
Why should voters trust you?
The sayings, “Say what you mean, mean what you say and always do what you say you are going to do,” along with, “Don’t promise more than you can deliver,” have long been the mottos I strive to live by. Additionally, I will always tell the truth and call it as I see it. No games or empty words and promises.
