Read the Q&A's with each candidate below. Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the question provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Samit J. Patel
Experience:
CISD iLead; Coppell Chamber of Commerce Leadership Coppell; CISD Committees: District Education Improvement Committee (serving third three-year term), DEIC Calendar Committee, 2022-2023 CISD Bond Steering Committee, Community Based Accountability System Advisory Committee, Long Range Facilities Planning Committee; Coppell Education Foundation board member: Fundraising Committee, Grants Committee, Executive Committee - at-large, Executive Committee - stewardship; Coppell Chamber of Commerce: Education Committee, New Teacher Breakfast sponsor, Student of the Month/Teacher of the Month sponsor, CCDF Scholarship sponsor
Occupation:
Landscape architect
Candidate Website:
https://SamitPatelPlace4.com
Why are you running for office?
It’s pretty simple: I want to serve you. I want to serve our entire Coppell ISD community. I have served our community since before moving here in 2014. I have continued to serve our community since then. I chose Coppell ISD, as we all did: because of the exceptional school district and wonderful community. I want to do my part to make sure that we maintain it and are able to pass it on.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district?
The biggest challenge is teacher retention. There is a constant attack on our teachers. Our teachers selflessly bear the burden of educating and helping raise our children. We need to make every effort to support them — socially, emotionally, their health, and financially. CISD should be known as the place that takes care of our teachers. We take care of our teachers, we take care of our kids. And the best teachers want to come.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
Advance academics: support choice programs, maintain high academic standards, support multiple pathways for learners to find their own success. Support our teachers: continue to promote efforts and programs for our community to help through volunteering, events, and celebrations, find ways to incentivize teachers to stay and the best teachers to want to come to CISD, address physical, emotional and social well-being. Set a long-term vision for CISD to better guide short-term actions.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like CISD to explore?
I think we should more aggressively explore expanding and advertising choice programs to allow opportunities for learners from other districts to come to CISD. We need to create dedicated spaces designed for the programs so that they represent the "ideal" environment for that program.
Jonathan Powers
Experience:
From 2020 to 2021, I served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert Schroeder III, United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. I currently volunteer as a soccer coach for the Coppell Youth Soccer Association.
Occupation:
Attorney
Candidate Website:
https://www.powers4cisd.com
Why are you running for office?
I’m running for school board to help make sure Coppell ISD continues to thrive as one of the best school districts in Texas. Right now public education is under attack, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to provide the quality education that our kids deserve. I have the time, the energy, and the commitment to take on these challenges and to help ensure Coppell ISD’s future is as bright as its past.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district?
Due to rising home prices, the demographics of Coppell are shifting. Fewer families with young children are moving to the area, which the district projects will soon cause flat or declining enrollment numbers. As a result of these projected changes, the district's considering various options, including opening enrollment in CISD to neighboring areas or potentially closing one of the district's elementary schools.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
My top three priorities would be to support our teachers both financially and with training and advancement opportunities, develop a long-term vision for the district's elementary schools in light of potentially declining enrollment, and responsibly manage taxpayer dollars and be more transparent with the district's finances.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like CISD to explore?
I believe the district should look to expand the IB program to include the Middle Years program for at least one of the Coppell middle schools. As it stands, the district offers IB for elementary learners and our high schoolers, but there is a gap at the middle school level. I believe the district should work to close that gap for our families and learners that are interested in IB.
Ranna Raval
Experience:
Accomplished Montessori educator with 15 years of experience in teaching and administration; 14 years of volunteering at five schools: Valley Ranch Elementary PTO (event coordinator, webmaster), CMSEast PTO (Social Committee), CMSWest PTO (webmaster, secretary, PTO president), CHS9 PTSO (membership coordinator), CHS PTSO (membership coordinator 2023-2024), committee member (CEF - since 2022, Bond Steering Committee 2022-2023, Community Visioning Committee 2021, CISD SEL Research Team 2021, CISD iLead 1 & 2 participant, Scouts - ASM, MB counselor)
Occupation:
Educator, educational advocate
Candidate Website:
https://www.rannaraval4cisd.com
Contact Information:
469-799-2500
Why are you running for office?
My passion for high-quality public education that serves and benefits the entire student population. My expertise and experience as an educator, administrator and an involved community member would bring value to the current board. My inspiration is my experiences in CISD. We have built something good here, I want to contribute and further this high-quality education in CISD for future generations. I see some challenges and acknowledge those as opportunities for improvement.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district?
Teacher recruitment and retention, school safety and security, mental health for students and teachers and learning loss—post-COVID-19 effect.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
School safety: security measures, mental health - programs to educate and de-stigmatize the issues, accessible resources. Comprehensive education policies: recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff, success is measured with quantitative and qualitative data, robust support for groups like special ed, CTE, fine arts, and athletics. Financial stewardship: a budget that aligns with the core values of CISD, cost-effective strategies, monitoring and evaluation. Community collaboration: teachers’ insights, parent workshops, two-way communication, volunteering opportunities, partnering with businesses
What are some new ideas or programs you would like CISD to explore?
Promoting a Whole Child learning approach in educational and budgeting policies, learning that goes above and beyond the school years. Innovative ideas to recruit and retain skilled educators: understand root causes through evidence-based data from exit and stay interviews, competitive pay, resources, and considering factors that impact the quality of life for our teachers. Mental health and campus safety: community partnership in combating these issues, outreach programs to address and include all the stakeholders.
