For Place 4, incumbent Anna Smith will face Brandi Burkman and Zach Zayner.
Candidates were asked to answer the questions provided in 50 words or less and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
*indicates incumbent
Brandi Burkman
Experience:
I work in network management and have served in roles with PTA, boosters, and Destination Imagination.
Candidate Website:
https://www.brandiforlisd.com
Why are you running for this position?
I am a mother of three that have experienced the LISD system. My oldest two children had the opportunity to experience LISD when it was a destination district. I’d like to restore our district to this status by shifting the focus to academic excellence.
What are your major areas of concern for the district?
I am concerned with the decline in academics, teacher turnover, and financial state of the district, specifically non-educational spend, and salary growth that indicates funds are not being prioritized for schools and teachers.
If elected, what is your number one priority to address?
MAP assessments show children perform better at the beginning of year compared to the end of year. This must be reversed. Software spending increased 237% while textbook spending dropped 74%. With over 10,000 Texas kids on charter waitlists, to be competitive and reverse academic decline, we need to move back to textbooks.
What changes would you like to see addressed at the state level regarding public education?
I believe we can restore education locally, by electing common sense candidates, not scared to ask the hard questions. We don’t further legislation to fix the problem.
Anna Smith*
Experience:
Leander ISD parent; school board trustee/vice president; Community Recruiter for Girl Scouts; school volunteer
Candidate Website:
https://www.annaforlisd.com
Why are you running for this position?
I am passionate about advocating for public education and love serving my community. Since 2015, I’ve been actively involved in all aspects of LISD. My commitment to showing up, engaging with the community, and my knowledge of the district make me the right choice to continue serving as a trustee.
What are your major areas of concern for the district?
My main concerns are teacher retention, budget constraints from outdated state funding formulas, and the need for stronger early intervention programs. Tackling these issues is key to retaining quality educators and ensuring all students, especially those at risk, receive the support needed for success.
If elected, what is your number one priority to address?
My top priorities include working with state legislators to secure adequate funding for the district, fostering an environment that enhances student performance and operational efficiency, and creating opportunities that provide meaningful, high-quality learning experiences for all students and educators.
What changes would you like to see addressed at the state level regarding public education?
We need to raise the basic and special education allotment, stop burdening districts with unfunded mandates, and support our educators. It's time to stop playing politics with public education and focus on giving our schools the resources they need to succeed.
Zach Zayner
Experience:
Program manager, teacher, department head, curriculum writer in Baltimore. Founder of Baltimore VEX Robotics League
Candidate Website:
https://www.zaynerforlisd.com
Why are you running for this position?
I believe that Leander ISD deserves a board of trustees that is willing to listen and work with all of the community, regardless of affiliation. I’m running to build community, foster open dialogue with integrity, and ensure transparency for everyone in LISD.
What are your major areas of concern for the district?
Our STAAR test scores are not meeting our goals by almost all metrics, our teachers are leaving the district, which means classrooms are not filled, and students and families are leaving LISD in greater numbers because their needs are not being met.
If elected, what is your number one priority to address?
Good teachers are LISD's most valuable asset. We need to reduce their meeting time and increase their planning time. We need to find creative ways to reward amazing teachers. We need better mentorship for teachers that are struggling. We need to pay our teachers the maximum that we can afford.
What changes would you like to see addressed at the state level regarding public education?
The state needs to do a better job of updating the funding for schools so that it better reflects inflation and the cost of living. Many districts are experiencing massive recapture when they can barely afford to educate their students.
