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Incumbent Aggie Gambino and candidate Ryan Tsamouris are the two candidates up for election for Conroe ISD position 1 on Nov. 3.
What you need to know
Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. Election Day is Nov. 3, and polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Montgomery County locals have until Oct 5 to register to vote early. Voters can visit elections.mctx.org for more information.
Why are you running for this position?
My wife taught in Conroe ISD for 12 years. I watched strong educators leave and families lose confidence while the board chased political agendas instead of governing. I am running to restore transparency, support teachers, and refocus the board on student outcomes and responsible budgets.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Trust, focus, and money. Major decisions happen with little teacher or community input. The board rarely reviews student outcome data publicly. Meanwhile, flat enrollment, an underfunded state formula, and staff retention problems are colliding. Rebuilding confidence has to come first; the rest follows.
Do you have any thoughts on how Conroe ISD can address the growing special ed student population?
Special education is now roughly 17 percent of enrollment and growing far faster than the district overall. We need transparent reporting on caseloads and evaluation timelines, clean coding to capture HB 2's new intensity-based funding, and enough diagnosticians and paraprofessionals to serve every student on time and in compliance.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas education in the next 5 years?<br>
Funding structure. The basic allotment has not kept pace with inflation, and Texas still funds districts on attendance rather than enrollment. Add vouchers and charter expansion, and public schools lose ground. I will advocate in Austin in 2027 for enrollment-based funding and an indexed allotment.
What can the district improve on when it comes to supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom?
Give teachers a real voice before decisions are made, not after. Protect planning time, cut busywork, and take student discipline seriously, since it drives many out. Outside the classroom: competitive pay, including a VATRE where the math works, and honest communication from district leadership.
What steps can Conroe ISD take to prevent budget shortfalls in the future?
Forecast enrollment conservatively and report variances publicly. Stop funding recurring costs with one-time money. Review legal spend and major contracts against stated outcomes. Capture every dollar HB-2 provides through clean coding. Long-term, rebuilding enrollment through trust and academic quality is the real fix.<br>
Why are you running for this position?
I'm running to continue building platforms that bring parents' voices to the front of the room, and to serve every child, especially our most vulnerable students. I want to use my expertise in driving change and transformation to help the district evolve, while keeping our kids safe.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Three stand out: unfunded state and federal mandates straining our budget, ensuring new curriculum is implemented well so reading and math scores improve, and rebuilding trust with staff and families through a major leadership and systems transition.
Do you have any thoughts on how Conroe ISD can address the growing special ed student population?
The best way to address these growing needs is to ensure we're prepared to support them: working with the legislature to remove the disability penalty reducing our basic allotment and using SEPAC to identify gaps and opportunities that drive real improvement in how we serve our children.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas education in the next 5 years?
Funding will remain the top challenge, especially as enrollment declines across the state while mandates keep growing. Districts must plan conservatively, advocate at the legislature for funding that reflects reality, and prioritize classroom instruction over administrative growth.
What can the district improve on when it comes to supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom?
The district can do more to provide real training, mentorship, and resources during major changes like new curriculum rollouts, not just materials. Outside the classroom, competitive pay and manageable workloads matter too, so teachers feel supported, not just directed.
What steps can Conroe ISD take to prevent budget shortfalls in the future?
Conduct annual third-party financial audits, use conservative and honest enrollment and appraisal forecasting rather than best-case assumptions, and apply tighter scrutiny before approving new debt so future budgets aren't built on numbers that don't materialize.
