Q&A: Meet the candidates for Leander ISD Place 1

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Brittany Anderson

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Published August 28, 2026 at 4:37 p.m. CT

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Leander ISD Place 1

Serenity Coats and Gerald Prater are on the ballot for Place 1. (Serenity Coats/Community Impact)

Two candidates will be on the ballot for the Leander ISD board of trustees Place 1 seat.

Serenity Coats and Gerald Prater are running for Place 6. Incumbent Trish Bode did not seek reelection.

What you need to know

Candidates were asked to answer the questions provided, limit their answers to 50 words and not attack other opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to these guidelines or for style and clarity. Candidates were informed that "questionnaire not returned by deadline" would be published if Community Impact did not receive the candidate information and answers by the deadline provided.

Voter deadline registration is Oct. 5. Early voting will be held Oct. 19-30, and election day is Nov. 3.

LISD trustees are elected at-large, meaning all registered voters living within LISD boundaries can vote for each place.

Candidate Q&A

Serenity Coats

Accredited Financial Counselor® with 20 years of experience in education, military family, and community advocacy

Website:: https://www.serenity4lisd.com

What motivated you to run for this position?

I want to use my experience to advocate for all students, support teachers, increase operational efficiency, and strengthen family and community engagement across the district. I am committed to policies that promote college, career, and military readiness, strong student intervention systems, and postsecondary readiness opportunities for every LISD student.

If elected, what will be your top priorities to address district challenges?

<br>I'll engage with legislators to secure adequate state funding for the district. I’ll prioritize operational and fiscal efficiency, while balancing the utilization of campuses, so resources reach classrooms. I'll also focus on enhancing campus safety and security measures and increasing the enrollment and attendance rate to improve student learning.

If elected, what new district projects or policies would you like to see implemented?

I'd like LISD to expand its academic programs and course offerings and incorporate career exploration as part of the financial education curriculum across all campuses. I support data-driven efficiency reviews and expanded listening sessions to guide decisions. I want to grow community partnerships that promote military and career readiness.