My Priorities for Conroe ISD
Rebuild trust through transparent governance
Over the past several years, Conroe ISD has been repeatedly pulled into controversy, leadership turnover, and public conflict. Many parents and taxpayers have voiced frustration at board meetings over a lack of transparency, inconsistent decision making, and the appearance of personal or political agendas driving district governance.
These issues have had real consequences, including the loss of experienced administrators and educators, growing staffing gaps, rising legal costs, and decisions made without meaningful community or teacher input. When governance becomes chaotic, students, teachers, and taxpayers pay the price.
As a Trustee, I will:
- Focus on restoring trust by returning the board to its proper role of oversight, accountability, and public transparency.
- Restore accountability by ensuring executive sessions are used only when legally required and that the public has access to all information they are entitled to as taxpayers.
- Require committee review and public input for major curriculum adoptions, so parents, educators, and community members always have a seat at the table.
- Lead a comprehensive review of board policies to remove political and ideological language and restore a balanced, nonpartisan governance approach.
- Review the district's legal representation to reduce costs, eliminate conflicts, and ensure legal services are focused solely on the best interests of the district and taxpayers.
- Evaluate major external contracts to ensure the district receives professional, effective services with full transparency and accountability.
- Recommit to fiscal conservatism by consistently adopting a parity or lower tax rate whenever possible, so taxpayers do not pay more than necessary to operate our schools effectively.
Prioritize student safety, well-being, and belonging
Our students face increasing pressures, and their physical safety and mental well-being must remain a top priority. Student safety is complex and goes beyond facilities and procedures. It includes mental health, emotional development, a sense of belonging, and strong connections with families and the school community.
Equally as important, student discipline remains one of the most difficult challenges facing educators today and is a leading reason teachers leave the profession. Classrooms must be safe, orderly, and focused on learning. This requires balancing accountability with compassion, while fully respecting students' legal rights and individual needs.
Supporting students means removing political ideology from the classroom and focusing instead on research, data, and proven practices. Our responsibility is to create environments where students feel secure, supported, and prepared to learn.
As Trustee, I will:
- Approach student safety and well-being through data, research, and broad community input, including parents, educators, and mental health professionals. I will continue active engagement with the CISD School Health Advisory Council, where I currently serve as Parent Co-Chair.
- Prioritize improvements to student behavior and discipline practices by setting clear expectations and ensuring consistent, fair enforcement, so teachers can teach and students can learn in a positive school environment.
- Explore and support policies that address the impact of excessive screen time on student learning and well-being, while improving communication with families about the effects of social media and technology on child development.
Support educators and respect classroom expertise
Teachers and staff are the foundation of successful schools. For too long, educators have been asked to do more with less, navigating overcrowded classrooms, insufficient support staffing, and policies that often add burdens without improving student outcomes. While many of these challenges stem from inadequate state funding, local leadership plays a critical role in how support is delivered and how educators are treated.
As a Trustee, I will:
- Work to ensure educators have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their classrooms and daily work, and that district policies support teaching and learning rather than working against them.
- Advocate for Conroe ISD at the local and state level to improve per-student funding, educator compensation, and support for paraprofessionals, while ensuring district leadership clearly communicates how funding decisions affect classrooms.
- Listen directly to teachers and staff about the challenges they face and elevate those concerns through open dialogue with district administration and the board. Every communication sent to me from district personnel will receive a timely and substantive response.
- Promote clear, consistent communication from administration to staff regarding policy changes, expectations, and opportunities for feedback, so educators are informed, respected, and heard.
Prepare students for a changing, technology-driven world
Technology can expand learning opportunities, but only when it is implemented thoughtfully, safely, and effectively. Too often, district technology decisions have lacked comprehensive review, leaving students and staff without the tools they need and exposing them to unnecessary online risks.
As a Trustee, I will:
- Use my extensive background in information technology to ensure that tech in CISD classrooms enhances learning, protects students, and prepares them for the modern workforce.
- Review and improve district policies for technology adoption, prioritizing cost-effective, secure solutions that truly benefit students and classrooms.
- Strengthen school cybersecurity, protecting both district systems and the personal data of our students from malicious apps and online threats.
- Advocate for the adoption of technologies and programs that have proven positive impacts on student learning, including funding for devices, applications, and instructional tools that enhance classroom outcomes.
- Support the growth of CTE and technology-focused programs, including AI and digital skills courses, to prepare students for careers in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Restore focused, professional board governance
Over the past several years, CISD board meetings have grown longer and more complicated, often spending hours on issues that could be handled outside of public meetings. This takes time away from what matters most: reviewing student outcomes, tracking district goals, and supporting teachers and classrooms.
Board meetings should be efficient, transparent, and focused on the success of our students. In short, board meetings should be boring again.
As Trustee, I will:
- Ensure board meetings prioritize student outcomes and district goals, with clear progress updates at every regular meeting.
- Eliminate unnecessary micromanagement, allowing qualified administrators and staff to do their jobs effectively.
- Improve the process for reviewing book challenges so it is efficient, policy-driven, and consistent, focusing on systemic improvements rather than individual titles.
- Keep the community informed by sharing clear updates about board decisions, policies, and district priorities.