What knowledge, skills and experiences have prepared you to serve as an Pearland ISD Board Trustee?
I am a lifelong educator, having retired as a full professor from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston after 24 years of service. I continue to teach as an Affiliate Clinical Professor with the Texas A&M University College of Medicine. My leadership experience includes serving as President of the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department, Commander of the 147th Medical Group of the Texas Air National Guard, and California State Air Surgeon. In addition to service on several other local, national and international voluntary organizations, and committees, I have five years of experience on Pearland ISD’s Districtwide Education Improvement Council, where I have worked closely with educators to analyze district challenges and develop thoughtful, student-centered solutions.
As a candidate for the school board, how will you ensure every student feels included, respected, represented, and protected—regardless of religion, sex, or disability—and how will you keep classroom instruction focused on academic learning and critical thinking rather than religious instruction?
A School Board Trustee’s central responsibility is to monitor the performance of the superintendent and senior leadership. That includes ensuring the district follows the law, protects every student’s rights, and keeps instruction aligned with the state-approved curriculum. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination, and trustees must ensure those protections are upheld. We must also ensure that instruction follows the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are secular academic standards focused on literacy, math, science, history, and critical thinking. My role is to ensure classrooms remain anchored to these standards and that instruction stays academic—not religious or ideological.
Schools face competing pressures — retaining teachers, sustaining extracurricular programs (athletics and the arts), educational excellence, and keeping class sizes manageable — all within constrained budgets. As a school board candidate, what specific approach would you take to balance these priorities so students receive high quality instruction and teachers are supported and retained?
One of a trustee’s main tasks is responsible fiscal stewardship. That means actively seeking additional grant funding while continuously evaluating district programs and services. We must regularly assess what is working, what needs improvement, and what may no longer be adding value. Programs that support student success and teacher retention should be strengthened, while areas that are not meeting their goals should be reassessed. Thoughtful, data-driven evaluation is essential to maintaining high-quality instruction and supporting our educators.
Recently, several books have been challenged or removed in our district and elsewhere. Parents already have the ability to opt their child out of individual books. As a school board candidate, what is your view on which types of books should be subject to removal from school libraries, and under what circumstances — if any — should the board override a library review committee decision to remove a title for all students? Titles often cited include: The Catcher in the Rye; Brave New World; Lonesome Dove; 1984; The Color Purple; To Kill a Mockingbird; Of Mice and Men; Beloved; The Bluest Eye; The Handmaid’s Tale; The Kite Runner; Maus; All Boys Aren’t Blue.
I support a strong, diverse library collection. Our trained librarians and review committees are responsible for evaluating materials according to state law and district policy, and they are the best equipped professionals to do so. It is not the board’s role to ban books or inject politics into library decisions. Instead, the board must ensure the process is fair, transparent, and consistent with the law. Students should have access to literature that reflects many cultures and viewpoints. Current Pearland ISD policy requires the board to hear appeals of challenge-committee decisions for books already in the library and to approve all donations or proposed new materials. Outside of those defined responsibilities, the board should not override committee decisions.
Artificial intelligence tools are becoming more common in education, offering potential benefits and raising new concerns. As a school board candidate, what do you see as the productive uses of AI in our schools, and what risks or limits should the district address as the technology becomes more prevalent?
Artificial intelligence is the next major leap in technological innovation, and it is already transforming many industries. Our responsibility is to prepare students to use AI effectively and responsibly. The greatest risks include over-reliance on AI for writing and failure to recognize inaccuracies in AI-generated content. As in higher education, AI should be acknowledged and often allowed, but students should be required to document how they used it. For example, I will disclose that in responding to these questions, I drafted the answers myself, used Microsoft Copilot to help clarify language, and then reviewed and edited the output to ensure the final wording and meaning were my own.
Many students plan to enter the workforce directly after high school. Do you believe the district should expand vocational and career technical opportunities—including practical areas like personal finance—so students can graduate with strong, job ready skills? What role should the school board play in ensuring these pathways are accessible to all students?
Yes. Many students enter the workforce directly after high school, and there is strong demand for well-prepared graduates in technical and trade careers. Pearland ISD has made significant progress through Turner High School and other programs, and these pathways should continue to grow. Career preparation should include both technical training and essential life skills such as personal finance. The board’s role is to set priorities, approve programs and curriculum, and ensure adequate funding so these opportunities are accessible to all students.
What do you feel are the top priorities for the Pearland ISD School Board within the next 3 years?
Pearland ISD is one of the top-performing districts in the state and maintaining that excellence must remain a priority. Recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers and paraprofessionals is essential. We must also ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their highest potential. Areas needing focused improvement include special education, economically disadvantaged students, and Emergent Bilingual/English Learners. The board must work closely with district leadership to raise academic performance in these groups. Finally, campus safety and preparedness must remain at the forefront. As a first responder, emergency physician, and disaster manager, I look forward to contributing my expertise in this critical area.
