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Central Texas voters in the March 3 primary election will decide who will be the Democratic candidate in the State Board of Education District 5 race in November.
Six candidates have filed to run in the Democratic primary. Mica Arellano is running unopposed in the Republican primary to be a candidate in the November election.
Democratic District 5 incumbent Rebecca Bell-Metereau is not seeking re-election.
The setup
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Visit Community Impact’s voter guide to view more election coverage.
nonprofit leader, former educator, experienced board member, city of Austin official
Why are you running for this position?
I am running to ensure every Texas child has access to a high-quality public education, no matter their zip code, the language they speak at home, or the supports they need to learn. Education is an equalizer, and our students, teachers and families deserve more.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
Public school funding. Chronic underfunding impacts student supports, educator retention, class sizes and access to high-quality instructional materials, making it harder for schools to meet the needs of all Texas students.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
Students experiencing poverty are going to and completing post-secondary credentials at a substantially lower rate than their middle-income peers. Targeted resources are necessary to address this challenge. SBOE must ensure rigorous curriculum standards while providing essential instructional supports so every student receives a high-quality public education.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
Curriculum standards must be clear, rigorous and developmentally appropriate so all students have post-secondary opportunities and thrive. Curriculum should be historically accurate, not revised to fit a political or religious agenda. I’d ensure standards focused on critical thinking, reduced unnecessary testing pressure and were shaped by educators and experts.
public education professional with 25-plus years as teacher, career counselor, administrator, nonprofit leader and advocate
Why are you running for this position?
I am running because Texas students deserve an education focused on learning, not politics. The State Board of Education should be student-focused, transparent and grounded in facts. I will bring student-first leadership and trust teachers as the professionals they are to do their jobs.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
The biggest challenge is keeping the State Board of Education focused on students rather than politics. As pressures increase, the board must respect educators’ expertise, support student well-being and make decisions grounded in facts so classrooms can stay focused on learning and long-term student success.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
District 5 faces rapid growth and increasing pressure on public schools. Key issues include ensuring accountability for charter schools and protecting public education from policies that divert resources without oversight. I would advocate transparent standards, responsible governance and student-focused policies reflecting the needs of all communities, not political agendas.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
I support curriculum standards that are accurate, inclusive, age-appropriate and grounded in facts—not ideology. TEKS should be developed with educator input, reflect current scholarship and promote critical thinking. Strong, unbiased standards are essential to equipping students for success in college, careers and civic life.
Civic education program coordinator, career public school educator, curriculum expert
Why are you running for this position?
We need education experts making critical decisions about curriculum and standards for our Texas schools. The board has adopted ineffective curricula and is more focused on ideology than substance. I am running to make well-informed and research-backed decisions that will benefit schools in my district and across Texas.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
Our biggest challenge will be overcoming test-focused instruction and the widening learning gap of our most at-risk learners. School ratings are based largely on standardized test scores. We need to move away from test-focused instruction and focus on the needs of all students.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
Thirty percent of the population in District 5 speak a language other than English. Our public schools need to be adequately prepared to instruct students whose primary language is not English. I will focus on adopting instructional materials that support teachers and their English language learners.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
I would advocate standards that teach civic discourse and tolerance. Students need to learn the best ways to communicate disagreements and have productive conversations, as well as respect the differences of others. These skills are necessary to help students navigate our diverse world.
educational diagnostician (dyslexia), career public-school educator, union advocate, M.Ed./MPA, parent of two AISD students
Why are you running for this position?
I’m running to stop Christian nationalist influence in curriculum, oppose privatization and bring educator experience back to the SBOE. Only five of 15 members are career educators. I work in public schools every day and will fight book bans, attacks on DEI and efforts to defund public education.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
Chronic underfunding is driving educators out and stabilizing classrooms. At the same time, political censorship is distorting curriculum through book bans and rewritten social studies standards. Privatization efforts, including vouchers and unchecked charter expansion, threaten neighborhood schools and widen inequality across Texas.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
District 5 needs strong TEKS, honest instructional materials and real oversight of charter growth. I will push for educators and subject experts, not ideologues, to shape standards and materials. Texas already has 188 charter operators and nearly 1,000 campuses. New approvals must be rare and highly accountable.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
I will defend academically honest TEKS, especially in social studies and reading. I oppose efforts to insert religion into required instruction or erase the contributions of minorities from Texas history. Students deserve accurate, inclusive standards that build literacy, civic understanding and critical thinking.
former bilingual special education teacher; community organizer; public policy graduate student
Why are you running for this position?
I’m running to bring classroom experience, collaborative governance and transparency to the State Board of Education. As a former bilingual special education teacher, I’ve seen how funding gaps, unfair assessments, teacher turnover and school closures affect families. I want policy shaped by data, community input and open public dialogue.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
The biggest challenge is the erosion of local control through TEA takeovers, combined with outdated funding formulas and punitive STAAR-based accountability. These pressures drive school closures and teacher shortages. Texas must shift from punishment to support, modernize funding and assessments, and invest in educators as learning and technology evolve.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
District 5 faces declining enrollment, school closures, and high teacher turnover driven by underfunding, STAAR overreliance, and state intervention. I would use community-informed governance, support TEKS-aligned, teacher-created lesson plans, strengthen mentoring and training, and work with local nonprofits to stabilize families and retain educators.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
Yes. I support curriculum standards that are academically rigorous, historically honest and inclusive of women, communities of color and local history. I would also support media literacy and responsible, age-appropriate uses of technology and AI, while giving educators flexibility to meet local student needs.
Associate professor of STEM education, educator with deep experience in teaching, research and curriculum design
Why are you running for this position?
I’m running to bring educational expertise, research-based decision making and a focus on learning to the State Board of Education. Texas students and teachers deserve policies grounded in what actually works, not politics, compliance or ideology.
What is the biggest challenge you see for Texas education in the coming years?
The biggest challenge is the growing gap between education policy and what research shows students need. Overemphasis on testing, privatization and compliance undermines deep learning, teacher expertise and student engagement.
What are the biggest issues District 5 is facing, and how would you address them?
District 5 faces underfunding, overtesting and policies that limit local voice and educator autonomy. I would advocate for stronger public investment, standards that support meaningful learning, and school accountability systems that focus on growth, opportunity and student support.
Are there specific changes to the state curriculum standards that you would advocate for, and why?
Yes. Texas standards should be fewer, deeper and focused on critical thinking and disciplinary practices rather than memorization. Standards should be written by educators and grounded in learning science so they support meaningful instruction and student engagement.
