Trustees represent districts and have a four-year term of office. A total of four seats are up for reelection, with District 3's incumbent Kevin Foster and District 5's incumbent Lynn Boswell running uncontested.
The remaining contested seats include Southeast Austin's District 2, which is currently represented by Ofelia Zapata as well as position 8, which is an at-large position. LaRessa Quintana and Sarah Ivory are challengers for District 2, while Amy Moore, Dylan "Sky" MacAdams, Fernando Lucas de Urioste, Lindsey Stringer, Nathaniel Hellman and Nick Franke are running for position 8.
Candidates running for the AISD board were asked to email responses to the following questions and keep responses within 50 words and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. Community Impact was unable to reach candidate Nick Franke.
LaRessa Quintana
Experience:
Former AISD student and graduate, policy advocate, community advocate
Occupation:
Former governmental affairs consultant
Candidate Website:
www.laressaforaisd.com
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
As a Title I student who graduated from AISD schools, I know what it looks like when AISD puts their best foot forward. I would like to be a true voice for our often overlooked communities, because I know firsthand how it feels to be left out.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
The district is looking at a large budget deficit. The state continues to put AISD between a rock and a hard place by underfunding our schools and creating costly mandates. I have state appropriations experience and I’m excited to bring my skill set and legislative relationships to the board.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
I want to bring communities into our District 2 schools, where they can develop relationships with their vertical teams. I believe this will help us with our low enrollment rates and provide students the support they need at home to excel at school.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
I have spent my career and free time advocating for our communities. Working with the legislature to help create policies and my nonprofit volunteerism, coupled with my lived experience as a student who grew up on the east side of Austin, I believe I am uniquely qualified for this position.
Sarah Ivory
Experience:
Public school teacher, coach, behavior specialist, administrator and mentor, AISD parent
Occupation:
THRIVE Teacher Mentor
Candidate Website:
www.ivoryforaisd.com
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
I want to bring my education experience to the dais to advocate for equity-based solutions and be part of student-centered growth. As a parent of biracial children, I know students who share in a marginalized experience in underfunded schools are chronically underserved. I am committed to changing that history.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
Our budget shortfall and the distribution of special education services are our two biggest challenges. In D2, we should be leveraging community support to equitable distribute resources, staff all positions, and partner with community organizations to better address dual language needs. We must have more transparent disclosures of our budget.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
1. Ensuring AISD is in a secure place financially; 2. Increasing compensation for staff; 3. Strengthening our SpEd<br>services; 4. Increasing PreK offerings; 5. Prioritizing literacy and streamlining literacy techniques through effective programs that have been data proven.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
I have committed my entire professional career to public education and that service does not stop with an election. I will bring grit and courage to the conversations that matter to AISD families, because futures are at stake with every decision we make.
Amy Moore
Experience:
20-year parent volunteer, 15-year AISD non-profit partner, mom of three AISD graduates, former seventh grade math teacher
Occupation:
Former APIE Program Manager
Candidate Website:
[email protected]
Contact Information:
512-949-9438
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
I would like to bring my skills as an educator, collaborator and problem-solver to guide AISD decisions and policies that extend equity to all parts of the school district. I am passionate about involving all voices as AISD tackles tough issues in the next few years.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the district is balancing our budget. Our budget needs deep community engagement to ensure we are providing the programs and services our community expects our school district to offer. This deep community engagement will also help us remedy the decrease in enrollment over the past decade.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
If I am elected to the at-large position, I would like to focus attention on our middle schools, balance the budget and ensure we are achieving equitable outcomes for all students across the district. All of these goals need the entire community’s involvement and support through meaningful community engagement.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
I have spent my professional career in Austin working alongside teachers and students. I am passionate about equity, talking openly about difficult issues and collaborating with a wide swath of stakeholders to ensure AISD provides a robust educational experience for all of our children.
Dylan "Sky" MacAdams
Experience:
Chairman of The Coalition Austin, Organized in support of reproductive rights across district schools
Occupation:
Community Organizer
Candidate Website:
www.skyforaisd.com
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
It is our civic duty to get involved when we believe there are problems to be fixed. I want to be a<br>voice for the voiceless and create positive change in our community, and I believe I can be<br>someone that students look up to, and see themselves reflected in.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
The biggest problems our district is facing are declining enrollment and increased attacks on<br>educational institutions by the right. I believe to counter both these issues we must boost<br>services for students while launching media campaigns to boost the perception of our schools<br>so that they are immune to attack.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
My first priority is guaranteeing lunch to every child in the entire school district. We already have<br>the funds to accomplish such a goal, and if we were successful we would meaningfully improve<br>the life of every parent and student in the district at a minimal cost.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
At the end of the day all that I care about voters knowing about me is that I am someone who<br>will fight for everyone in our community. I want voters to know that I have no biases or goals<br>outside of helping as many people as I possibly can.
Fernando Lucas de Urioste
Experience:
Nine years teaching in AISD, 10 years in Education Advocacy
Occupation:
Education Advocate & Director of Advocate Services at the Cirkiel Law Group
Candidate Website:
www.fernandoforaisd.com
Contact Information:
512-775-6927
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
I believe that public education has the power to better the lives of students and I’ve spent over two decades fighting to help teachers and schools deliver that power to every student. I’m running to bring that fight as a trustee to empower AISD to support students and staff holistically.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge is addressing the State’s unwillingness to appropriately and equitably fund schools. I will help AISD navigate budget impacts and appropriately utilize available resources with transparency in a manner that gives agency to the families, staff and community stakeholders, creating consensus and allowing students and staff to thrive.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
My overarching goal is to improve and achieve excellence in the retention and satisfaction among students, teachers and hourly staff of AISD. I will achieve this by repairing community trust through transparency and advocating for what families and staff feel they need, including increased staffing, pay and student services.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
As VP of Texas Organization of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates, I have gained state-level regulatory experience through parent outreach/training and legislative advocacy like fighting against school privatization through vouchers and for school transparency. As trustee, I bring a blend of advocacy, policy and special education expertise to the board.
Lindsey Stringer
Experience:
19 years of multifaceted, public education experience; seven years organizational leadership; AISD graduate, parent, volunteer
Occupation:
Vice President of Technology and Business Operations for the National Math and Science Initiative
Candidate Website:
www.lindseyforaisd.com
Contact Information:
512-522-9562
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
I’m running to ensure that AISD actually lives out its mission to prepare every student with the knowledge and skills to thrive in college, career and life; that we are improving our financial stability; and that our teachers are paid competitively for the amazing work they do.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address<br>it?
We aren’t solving our biggest challenges in a systematic way and the district needs to operate more strategically. We are facing significant financial problems driven in part by inadequate state funding, but there are many actions we can take now to address declining enrollment, disparate student achievement and low salaries.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as trustee?
My goals are to see an increase in the percentage of families choosing AISD due to better parent and community engagement; a significant improvement in achievement for all kids, especially our economically disadvantaged and special education students; and more competitive salaries for our teachers.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
Systems thinking and problem solving along with my deep understanding of what happens in classrooms, at the district and state levels, and policy making level are key strengths I would bring to the board.
Nathaniel Hellman
Experience:
Austin Community College District Police Officer and Texas real estate agent
Occupation:
Valedictorian, Bachelor’s Degree, real estate agent, Austin Community College District Police Officer, American Federation Teachers
Candidate Website:
www.hellmanvote.com
Contact Information:
512-993-7431
Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?
We need to provide basic needs to AISD students and staff such as access to showers and food for those who are homeless. We need to creatively utilize or rent AISD land, buildings and technology. We need to develop student leaders by inspiring, educating, loving, empowering and meeting their needs.
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?
Challenges face AISD [including] securing long-term future funding, access to resources, access to advanced technology, developing student leaders and meeting the basic needs of students and AISD teachers/staff. A task force should be created to solve each specific AISD issue. If AISD serves the community, AISD will never fail.
If elected, what goals would you aim to achieve as a trustee?
AISD students and staff will have a shower program and food pantry if they face housing challenges. We will rent AISD land, use advanced technology, fight for AISD resources and improve communication and feedback between the school board and community engagement. We will develop student leaders and AISD staff leaders.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
Campaign Manager wanted. I’m 38, married 15 years, a UT graduate who graduated both valedictorian from Skyline High School and my police academy. I’m a real estate agent, Austin Community College District (ACC) Police Officer, Member of the ACC American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and ACC Classified Employee Association President.
