Priscilla Harrell
Experience: former PTA chair, president and treasurer of the Lehman High School Dance Booster Club, member of the HCISD Leadership Team
Top priorities: focus on early and higher-level education, investing in and rewarding quality teaching
Why are you running?
I strongly believe in being involved and engaging in our schools. I want to continue working and advocating for the education of all students in our community. I strongly believe that we have amazing teachers and staff working with our students. My efforts as a board member would center on serving all of the students in the community; one student is no more important than another.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district?
Financial resources, supplies and funding. We need the best resources for our teachers to educate our students. Our teachers deserve more compensation. We need the resources to supplement the curriculum and help students gain the educational skills they’ll need to use and manage effectively throughout their lives.
Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?
I believe that I am the most qualified because as a mom, parent, advocate and community leader I have built strong relationships and earned the trust of parents, teachers, students, administrators, community members and leaders. I understand the issues and values of our district, and I will work collaboratively and support our district. I have been involved in supporting public schools for 27-plus years—from elementary and middle school and all the way thru high school. Having the experience and opportunity of volunteering as a PTO/PTA chairperson/classroom mom is where I started my contributions, fundraising for scholarships for our students, volunteering, hosting teacher appreciation & dance banquets, running concession stands, assisting school carnivals, sponsoring with Shattered Dreams Program.
What, specifically, can you do as a trustee to improve learning in Hays CISD classrooms?
To improve our students' learning, I will always be involved and communicate with our students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff and community. I will focus on policies that will help improve our students' achievements and classroom instruction. I believe in recognizing the achievements of students and teachers. This gives students the motivation of learning more every day and coming to school every day instead of skipping or being tardy. It also challenges our students at a higher level of education. I will make sure our students have the correct resources and that our classrooms are accommodating to our students, so that every student gets the best education they deserve.
Esperanza Orosco
Experience: former teacher, past president of Hays Educators Association, various district and community leadership roles
Top priorities: strengthening academic programs, recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, managing the district’s growth
Why are you running?
Not only was I a classroom teacher, I experienced firsthand the consequences of budget cuts like increases in class sizes and the impact these types of changes had on our students. I advocated for retaining reading-intervention teachers, for smaller class sizes and for valuing our district employees with competitive salaries.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district?
We need to work to continue to develop our academic programs, deal with rapid growth, and recruit and retain top-quality educators for the sake of our students. I have had the opportunity to see how the district works from the inside and have worked with our district’s leaders and staff to improve our educators’ working conditions and our students’ learning environment.
Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?
I earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of the Incarnate Word and a masters of elementary education from Texas State University. I served on the Board of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education and numerous district and campus committees, including the district strategic planning committee and the subcommittee on employees, calendar committee, transfer policy committee, campus leadership teams, campus and Region 13 mentor-teacher, team leader, campus dual language co-chair, bilingual vertical team chair, dual language team chair, student council sponsor and staff trainer. I currently serve on the boards of Community Action of Central Texas and the Kyle Library.
What, specifically, can you do as a trustee to improve learning in Hays CISD classrooms?
Having been a classroom teacher and as past president of Hays Educators Association, I have had the opportunity to hear from Hays CISD educators and staff at all levels and understand both our teachers' and students’ needs. This frontline perspective, together with my combination of education and experience, especially with regard to bilingual education, can be useful in the board’s bridging the gap between theory and practice when considering staff recommendations on programs and curriculum to provide the best, most effective learning environment for our students.
