Northwest Austin resident and former teacher Ann Teich plans to run for the District 3 seat on the Austin ISD board in the November election.
District 3 incumbent Christine Brister has been on the AISD board of trustees since 2008. Brister did not return a request for comment.
Teich was a teacher for 27 years and has lived in the Quail Creek neighborhood for the same length of time. She said her extensive involvement in the community as vice president of the North Austin Civic Association would help her in the trustee role.
"I am very community-oriented, and I believe public schools can benefit from having a community involved," she said.
Teich is a graduate of Lanier High School and received her bachelor's degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown. She attended graduate school at The University of Texas.
She is involved with AISD's Lanier Vertical Team, which includes Lanier High School, Burnet Middle School and 10 elementary schools in the North and North Central Austin area. About 8,500 students attend those schools.
Teich said the schools are in an area that is often overlooked by the school board, as many do not realize it has as many needs as those in East Austin. She said many families in the area are renters or are not in permanent housing, and she said has contacts with organizations that can help those families become more stable.
"I think I have an accurate picture of what's going on," she said.
Teich said both the community and students thrive when each is involved with the other.
"If a student feels that a community cares what he or she is doing, it really helps," Teich said.
Teich has been an active NACA member for seven years and has participated in the North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods and the North Austin Community/School Alliance.
Three districts—2, 5 and 8—are up for election in November in addition to District 3. Trustees serve four-year terms.
Correction: Ann Teich went to graduate school at The University of Texas, but did not receive a master's degree, as was originally reported.