Julie Lawrence has filed for Place 5 on the GCISD board of trustees. Julie Lawrence has filed for Place 5 on the GCISD board of trustees.[/caption] Julie Lawrence, an industrial engineer, is running for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Place 5 for the May 6 election.
Place 5 is currently held by Jesse G. Rodriguez, whose term ends in May. Rodriguez will be running against Lawrence in the election. Community Impact Newspaper sent Lawrence a series of questions. Her written responses, edited for publication style, are below. 1. Why are you running? My husband, Mark, and I have lived in GCISD for 22 years. Our three children have all attended Grapevine-Colleyville [ISD] schools. They are the faces of No Child Left Behind. Education is at a tipping point. In order for our community to remain strong our schools must continue to provide strong academics, and we need our GCISD families to want to keep their students in GCISD schools. I want to take all I have learned from the last 10 years of researching and advocating using Texas education codes to serve my community and its students for a stronger future while upholding our proud past. I am accessible and responsive to community concerns. The ultimate responsibility for our schools starts at the local ballot box. Please help me give a voice to all parents and community members on May 6 by casting your vote for me for GCISD school board, Place 5. 2. What makes you qualified for the position? I have two degrees in industrial engineering from Texas A&M [University]. My focus is always efficiency and effectiveness. I’ve been involved with my children’s schools as a volunteer and an advocate. For 10 years I have listened, acted and collaboratively petitioned the district in the best interest of all students, especially those who are overlooked.  Advocating for all students means bringing stronger programs that would benefit specific populations of children without taking away from others. Some changes have been very visible: GCISD now provides dyslexia instruction for struggling readers. Other changes you would only know about if you asked me for help. 3. If elected, what will you focus on?
  1. Direct instruction: GCISD hires good teachers. They deserve to feel free to provide direct instruction in essential reading, writing, math, fact-based history and proven science principles before becoming learning facilitators in their classrooms. Technology is important; it should not replace a teacher’s experience providing specific techniques to master basic skills that are measured when testing.
  2. Fiscal accountability: No parent should hear our district “does not have money” for expansion of instruction while the budget grows, even as districtwide enrollment has fallen. The "Robin Hood" plan will continue; we can no longer wait around for the law to be rewritten. GCISD needs to justify every dollar of budget for potential efficiencies and look for funds that can be repurposed to stronger instruction.
  3. [The district has] over 100 years of reputation for pursuing excellence and graduating students ready to be good citizens. I am seeking to preserve that history of academic excellence, tradition and independence.
Election day is May 6, and the polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Early voting will run April 24-29 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 1-2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.