Candidate responses may have been edited for length, style and clarity. Incumbents are identified with an asterisk (*).
Katherine Sells*
Occupation: community volunteer
Residence: lives in Lewisville and within the district for 32 years
Contact: [email protected]
Staci L. Barker
Occupation: analyst
Residence: lives in Flower Mound and within the district for two years
Contact: [email protected]
Why are you running for office?
Sells: From the day my son entered kindergarten, I have almost 20 years of service to Lewisville ISD – as a parent, then school and PTA volunteer, and now board trustee. I have seen and served LISD through many changes, including through the continuing challenges of the pandemic. Today, we are one month into the tenure of a brand-new superintendent and will need to hire a new CFO soon. My depth and breadth of service and leadership is needed right now, and I believe that LISD voters and constituents can trust my calm, steady approach in uncertain times.
Barker: School boards across the state of Texas have become places where politics have overtaken what is best for students and staff. As an educational consultant with school, district and regional leadership experience and as a mom with a middle schooler in Lewisville ISD, I understand the challenges facing children, parents, and teachers. I decided to run to stand up for those in school communities who need our support.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district?
Sells: Although LISD was honored to recently be recognized by Forbes Magazine as a great workplace, we are still vulnerable to the same hiring and retention challenges that are happening nationwide as a result of COVID-driven workforce exodus. It’s a hard time to be an educator, and I want to provide continuity for the teachers and staff who have. We also are beginning to tackle how to overcome the learning lag that was created by months of pandemic learning. And, soon we will be headed into a new session of the Texas Legislature, where LISD will be represented by three brand-new House members, and two new state Senators. My experience as an advocate in Austin can be valuable as LISD requests support in recapture relief plus additional funding for virtual learning.
Barker: I’m listening to parents, students, staff and community members. I’m hearing their frustrations with COVID protocols, responses to safety threats, disparities across the district in terms of funding and course offerings, lack of adequate support for certain groups of students, among other challenges. I stand as an advocate for these concerns. On a larger scale, outside influences have worked to politicize school boards; divisive distractions are undermining public education. I hope to bring the focus back to what students and teachers need to be successful.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
Sells: Our first priority needs to be how to increase mental health support for our students, since we know that this is an urgent need across the state. I want to provide all the support and guidance I can to Dr. [Lori] Rapp, our new superintendent, and other transitioning employees in district leadership, including the new trustee that will be joining the board to fill the seat of my colleague Angie Cox, who is retiring after many years of outstanding service. I am focused on increasing opportunity for teacher and staff engagement to ensure our personnel know they are valued and supported. We need to continue to prioritize financial responsibility and stewardship, as a board—to protect the district’s fiscal health as well as our taxpayer investment.
Barker: My top priorities are: Protecting the health and wellbeing of students and staff; Supporting relevant and rigorous instruction for all students; and Equipping staff to support all student needs.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the district to explore?
Sells: Part of the efforts to improve our student mental health support, as well as compensating for the learning gap created by COVID, must be that we look for effective ways to meet students and families where they are. LISD is a district that is diverse not just geographically and culturally, but socioeconomically; we must find ways to support children at their level of aptitude to improve academic and educational outcomes. To this end, I would like to see LISD explore the targeted implementation of Leadership Academies on our Title I campuses. I would also like to explore the feasibility of an online tutoring resource for incremental assessment and remediation of students who have fallen behind through no fault of their own.
Barker: We have seen the benefits of counseling for students—we should consider having readily available counseling and mental health support for staff, whether that is provided through benefits, through an on-staff role, or outside resources (apps, local programs, etc.). In addition, the data for the LISD board goals recognizes lagging progress for [English learners], special education students, economically disadvantaged students, and African American students. I firmly believe in proactive vs. reactive measures as much as possible. The best proactive measure is providing teachers with the knowledge and skill they need to support specific student groups. Training, coaching, and resources regarding culturally responsive instruction, asset-focused mindsets, language acquisition, and accommodations and modifications needs to be made a priority.
