What knowledge, skills and experiences have prepared you to serve as an Pearland ISD Board Trustee?
Prior to serving on the board, I was a regular volunteer in PISD schools for fourteen years, serving through the PTA health and safety committee chair, volunteering in the library at Roger’s for four years, reading to my children’s classes on a weekly basis, and copying and assembling hundreds of readers for the newly opened Massey Ranch. In 2019, I served on the district’s strategic planning committee. Since then, I have served as a board member for six years. In that time, we have hired a new superintendent, balanced the budget, and ran successful VATRE and bond campaigns.
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?
These have been my goals from day one. The state and the SBOE are not making it easy. Last year, our board completed advocacy training through Raise Your Hand Texas, where we learned to effectively advocate at the state level for our students. We are very lucky to have our superintendent, who, whenever possible makes the choice (and recommendation to the board) that favors inclusivity and respect for our diverse district. We have voted not to employ chaplains in the schools, not to have a designated prayer period, and the district continues its celebrations of black history, women’s history, etc.
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?
We have yet to face a funding issue that has required us to cut programs, thankfully. With declining enrollment, charter schools being built in Pearland, and the voucher debacle, that may be on the horizon. We are actively engaging with legislators and advocating for funding, but we are always looking to new ideas.
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 am 100% opposed to pulling books that have been carefully selected by our librarians without a challenge from a community member. In the case of the recent challenge, I was the lone vote to retain the book in our collection. My reason for doing so was that the challenge has already gone through the committee, and the committee voted to retain it. I trust the professionals. As a side note, yesterday I was awarded the Intellectual Freedom Award by the Texas Library Association. Access to books is a huge passion of mine.
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?
As I’m not in the classroom, I’m not familiar with the advantages of the use of AI in instruction, therefore I cannot make a judgement. I am well aware of the risks, however, and will continue to support the district’s programs promoting responsible use of AI.
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?
I support personal finance instruction for the entire student body! As to our CTE offerings, I would love to see them widen even further. The challenge to that is twofold-budget, obviously, and finding the instructors. PISD is always looking to increase community partnerships, and I will always vote to support expansion of CTE.
What do you feel are the top priorities for the Pearland ISD School Board within the next 3 years?
1. Our community is built out. Our property values are rising to the point that younger families cannot afford to move here. Despite high property values, the district’s taxing ability is compressed-we cannot increase our rate ever again unless the law changes. We will be facing budget shortfalls.
2. The state’s absolute lack of support for public education is made even more real by the voucher issues.
Luckily, I believe the district’s reputation is such that we will not lose many students as a result of vouchers. But the increasing rhetoric from politicians demonizing teachers and public education in general results in laws made that harm our students.
