Five of Austin ISD's nine school board seats are up for election this November.
Four of the five races—district 1, 4, 6 and at-large place 9—feature two candidates.
The incumbents for places 6 and 9—Geronimo Rodriguez and Arati Singh, respectively—are both running for re-election, while the other three races are guaranteed to bring in a new representative.
District 7 candidate David Kauffman is running unopposed.
Learn more about the district's council candidates ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Early voting runs from Oct. 24-Nov. 4, and more information about voting in the election can be found through the Travis County clerk's office.
Residents within Austin ISD can find their district here.
Andrew Gonzales
Experience:
I graduated from UT Austin with four degrees in Government, History, International Relations, and Latin American Studies. I then taught in AISD for seven years, winning campus Teacher of the Year at Travis ECHS in 2020.
Occupation:
Inventory Analyst
Candidate Website:
https://www.gonzalesforaisd.com/
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for the AISD School Board?
My run for school board is the result of my experiences as both an AISD graduate and teacher. As a multi-generational educator and Austinite, I believe I can bring a unique expertise that will better serve our community. I left the classroom last year because teachers have been woefully underpaid, mistrusted, and micromanaged. As District 6 Trustee, I intend to improve outcomes for every student and prioritize the well-being of our teachers and staff.
What is the biggest priority for AISD?
Prioritizing the mental health of students and teachers, and ensuring available and accessible support is one of my biggest priorities. Academic outcomes correlate directly to mental health. Our district must develop and support an inclusive model of education, focusing on improving experiences and outcomes for all students–specifically Special Education, multilingual and economically disadvantaged students. The second biggest priority will be the selection of our fourth superintendent in only four years.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
The success of AISD is a personal matter for my family, as we have taught in and called Austin home for generations. This school year, the Board of Trustees will be responsible for the selection of another superintendent. Transparency should be a number one priority for any democratic organization or institution, and as such I am committed to a transparent and community-driven selection process for the district’s new superintendent.
Geronimo Rodriguez
Experience:
I have the experience and leadership that helped navigate AISD during COVID-19 and can help address learning loss of our students and ensure better working conditions for our teachers and staff.
Occupation:
Healthcare
Candidate Website:
https://www.austinisd.org/board/members
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for the AISD School Board?
I am running for re-election for AISD District 6 because I support public education, academic achievement and equity for every student, and because I am the most experienced candidate. I have the experience and leadership that helped navigate AISD during COVID-19 and can help address learning loss of our students and ensure better working conditions for our teachers and staff.
What is the biggest priority for AISD?
In this school year, the biggest priority is taking care of each other. This includes supporting bilingual education and special education policies to help our students have a fair and equal opportunity to get ahead in life. Austin ISD must prioritize staff morale by raising pay and benefits, and schools must become safer in every way. This means passing the 2022 School Bond and investing in mental health services.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
I believe in equal opportunity, equal citizenship and rewarding hard work. I am the son of an immigrant. I grew up working as a migrant farmworker and from the seventh grade on, would work all day and go to night school three times a week for three hours a night. I am the first person in my family to graduate from high school, college cum laude and law school but definitely not the last.
