Q&A: Get to know the candidates running for Harris County Dept. of Education Place 7

Why are you running for this position?

I am running for reelection because I have seen firsthand how much the Harris County Department of Education does for children and families, particularly those whose needs may not be fully met elsewhere. During my time as a trustee, I have worked to protect and strengthen programs that provide early ...

What would be your top priorities, if elected?

My top priority is continuing to strengthen the services HCDE provides directly to children, families, educators, and school districts throughout Harris County. That includes protecting and expanding access to early childhood education through Head Start and Early Head Start, supporting students with disabilities through our specialized schools and therapy services ...

What are the biggest challenges public school districts are facing?

Public school districts are being asked to do more with increasingly strained resources. Schools are addressing teacher recruitment and retention, student mental health and behavioral needs, special education services, school safety, learning loss, and the growing needs of families, all while facing significant financial pressure.

Those challenges are not equally ...

How will you work to balance the needs of educators and students?

I do not believe the needs of educators and students are competing interests. Students are best served when the adults responsible for educating and supporting them have the resources, training, and working conditions they need to succeed.

As a trustee, I want HCDE to continue listening to educators and the ...

What changes, if any, would you like to see to HCDE’s current service offerings?

HCDE already provides an extraordinary range of services, so my focus is less on fundamentally changing what we do and more on expanding access and making sure more families and school districts know these resources exist.

I would particularly like to continue growing our early childhood and after-school programming, strengthening ...

Why are you running for this position?

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

What would be your top priorities, if elected?

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

What are the biggest challenges public school districts are facing?

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

How will you work to balance the needs of educators and students?

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

What changes, if any, would you like to see to HCDE’s current service offerings?

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.