Candidate responses may have been edited for length, style and clarity.
Alex Sexton
Experience:
As a member of the CISD Strategic Planning Committee and Learning and Development Action Team, I have unique insight into how to best support our teachers, administration, parents and students. I have 23 yearsu2019 experience leading and managing large, geographically separate, cross-functional teams. I have significant experience managing multi-billion-dollar services contracts, writing technical requirements, pricing,and negotiating with suppliers. Additionally, I served on the City of Southlake Zoning Board of Adjustments, making tough decisions regarding property owner rights versus literal interpretations of laws/ordinances. If elected, I will leverage my experience to serve all Dragons with honesty, transparency and sound judgment.
Occupation:
I currently work as a business developer in the U.S. government services market for a large, multinational firm. I have 23 years of demonstrated success developing and managing multiple, technically complex projects for U.S. and international customers. I am directly responsible for more than $13.6B in successful new business development across multiple industries including transportation, manufacturing, food services, facilities management, construction, and administrative and support services. My diverse business background will enable me to offer a different perspective on a wide array of daily operational issues affecting CISD.
Candidate Website:
www.alexsexton4cisd.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office to make sure we get back to the basics of education. As a member of the Carroll ISD Strategic Planning Committee and Learning and Development Action Team, I am the most qualified to support our teachers, administration, parents and students. As a father of three Dragons, I know parents want a voice in their children’s education, and I am committed to preserving our rights. We must provide our children with an educational system that challenges and inspires students to think logically, be resilient, communicate effectively, and be well-prepared leaders.
What are the biggest challenges facing the families and staff in Carroll ISD?
The biggest challenges facing CISD are the negative impacts of “Robin Hood” and stressors placed on all Dragons by outside media forces projecting a false narrative about the citizens of this community. We must systematically tackle these issues while maintaining a balanced budget, continuing to improve morale, and retaining and growing our best teachers. We must simultaneously continue to improve our educational programs, offerings and pathways so every Dragon has the opportunity to achieve lifelong success.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
1. Focus on teaching the fundamentals (reading, writing, arithmetic). 2. Encourage creation of innovative programs, academies, clubs, pathways and course offerings. 3. Partner with CISD administration to create more efficient and controlled processes fostering increased transparency and accountability. 4. Properly invest, resource and establish processes for Special Education programs. 5. Work with current CISD board and administration to increase revenue and lower operating costs ensuring CISD taxpayers obtain value for investment in our community.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the Carroll ISD board of trustees to explore?
1. Work with our government representatives to reduce the negative impact on CISD due to “Robin Hood.” 2. Explore the creation of integrated academic pathways and academies (such as business and legal academies). 3. Create applied learning opportunities for all Dragons by adding technical courses. 4. Explore new partnerships with local businesses to drive additional revenue to CISD and generate experiential learning opportunities and/or internships for CISD students. 5. Revise our GPA calculation method to enable dragons to pursue a fulfilling and well-rounded education rather than focus solely on class rank or GPA.
Laura Durant
Experience:
I'm currently completing a fellowship with Leadership ISD, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting public education. My family refers to me as a professional volunteer. I have served on multiple PTOs in Carroll, been a class mom, chaperoned many field trips, worked in our libraries, and headed the Student Activities Committee at Carroll Elementary. I am a recognized Volunteer of Excellence with the Girl Scouts of America and have a B.A. in English Writing and Rhetoric. In addition, I am an experienced public speaker, have given many speeches at school board meetings, and have been a featured guest with LGBTQ+ SAVES.
Occupation:
I wear many hats, but my main occupation is as a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. I am the founder of Love Every Dragon, LLC, a visible ally network for our LGBTQ+ students. I also serve on the leadership circle at Dignity for All Texas Students, a community that champions efforts to celebrate and advocate for diversity and inclusion in Southlake Carroll ISD schools and our community to prepare students for successful futures.
Candidate Website:
www.lauraforcisd.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for office?
I am running for school board because I believe in the power and necessity of public education. I will use my voice to advocate for the people at the heart of our excellent schools—students and teachers. It is time to treat educators like heroes instead of suspects. We need to uplift marginalized students and stop silencing the voices of those who have the bravery to speak up about problems in the hopes of finding a solution. CISD needs a trustee who will champion empathy, accountability and integrity, and I will do that while building relationships within our diverse community.
What are the biggest challenges facing the families and staff in Carroll ISD?
Carroll’s biggest challenge is the lack of open, honest communication. As a result, many Dragon parents and staff have lost faith in our administration. Qualified applicants have been shut out of committees, denied meetings and ignored in favor of PAC members. Diversity of thought is essential to maintaining our tradition of excellence, and CISD is running off good educators and silencing students when we should be protecting them. We can remedy this, but we must work together. It’s going to require bravery, a willingness to admit our mistakes, and a drive to make CISD a more welcoming place for everyone.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
My priority as a board member would be to begin repairing relationships within our community. Some readers may know that CISD was under a temporary restraining order from November 2020 to December 2021 that prohibited any discussion of a diversity and inclusion program. When I spoke to students and teachers about this, the consensus was that they felt let down and disappointed. We can do better. I would also study our budget to find cost-effective ways to serve our district. Finally, as a lifelong reader and writer, I will fight to end book bans.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the Carroll ISD board of trustees to explore?
We needed a diversity and inclusion plan yesterday. Almost every Fortune 500 company and college has one, and we owe it to our students to prepare them for life outside the bubble of Southlake. I would love to see more attention given to trade studies. Our CMA program is impressive, but we should expand to offer technical academies. I would also like to implement instructional coaching for teachers, which would attract top-tier educators to our district. I would also suggest hiring a mediator/outside consultant to oversee D&I programs and focus groups.
