Nancy Humphrey, vice president of the Plano ISD board of trustees, is running for re-election for Place 3 on the board. Places 1, 2 and 6 will also appear on the May 6 ballot. Before the election, Community Impact Newspaper sent Humphrey a series of questions on her candidacy. Her written responses, edited for publication style, are below. Nancy Humphrey is running for re-election for Plano ISD board of trustees Place 3.[/caption]

Why are you running for re-election?

I intend to continue the work I’ve been doing on the board, representing our community and providing a voice for students, parents and stakeholders, in addition to providing governance to ensure that we have a district that provides an excellent education to each student while maintaining sound use of resources, fiscal and otherwise. Currently, I am working with our board on several initiatives, including our advocacy in the 85th legislative session to advance the district’s legislative priorities. These priorities include promoting transparency in taxation and school finance reform to lower property taxes. The board has charged the administration with guiding principles for the exploration of future academies to provide additional choices and learning opportunities for our students. Subcommittees, which include community members, are currently involved in that work. The board has asked the administration to implement a focused plan to reduce the achievement gap, and we continue to actively monitor its progress. I intend to seek re-election to make certain these initiatives are completed, and my experience on the board will provide continuity to the process in order to achieve the goals in an expeditious manner, because our students don’t stop moving forward.

Why are you qualified for this position?

My qualifications for this position are extensive. I have served for the past seven years—three as vice president and three as president—elected by my peers. While I was president, PISD board of trustees was selected as one of five Honor Boards in Texas. Prior to being considered as a finalist, the board was named the Outstanding Board in Region 10, comprising more than 80 school districts within nine counties in North Texas. I led the Superintendent Search Subcommittee for both searches in 2011 and 2015. Choosing the leader for our district is one of the most important decisions a board can make. As president, I led the charge for our board to move in a fast pace to adopt the resolution for PISD to become a District of Innovation, restoring local control and opportunities to promote innovative ideas regarding instructional methods, community participation and parental involvement. Early in my first term, I furthered transparency in the district by successfully recommending the change in board operating procedures to include public input on non-agenda items at board meetings, permitting the public to make comments on any topic at our meetings. I support the aggressive manner in which our district manages its debt repayment (e.g., going from 25-year to 20-year amortization on buildings), capitalizing on opportunities to refund debt, such as last spring when the district refunded bonds to save over $77 million in future interest. I have served on the Board Audit Committee all seven years as a trustee, reviewing financial statements and meeting with external auditors and our internal auditor, as required. I have served on the Board Legislative Subcommittee to develop our board and district legislative priorities for both 84^th and 85^th legislative sessions. In October 2016, I testified before the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Property Tax Reform and Relief on behalf of the citizens in PISD. I served on the Texas Association of School Boards Legislative Advisory Committee in both 84^th and 85th pre-legislative sessions to develop statewide legislative priorities. I have completed a statewide leadership program through the Texas Association of School Boards, as well as a similar program offered by the Plano Chamber of Commerce. Both programs have helped me develop solid relationships both locally and within the state to improve my ability to serve our district. I have presented research with my team at TASB Summer Leadership Institute for the past two summers and presented a training session about the PISD Community and Student Engagement Assessment System with our board and administrators at the National School Board Association annual conference. I have a master’s degree in accounting with a minor in computer audit, which is invaluable to the work I do on the board; one of our most important duties is to approve the district’s budget and provide oversight of management. I have an extensive knowledge of the very complex system of school finance which gives our board articulate communication with lawmakers on behalf of our community. Recently, I have been speaking in the community to inform taxpayers in more general terms to bring awareness of the lack of transparency in taxation and the need for school finance reform to, in turn, provide property tax relief. I am very involved in the community; I cheerfully attend numerous PISD events to see the great achievements of our students. I attend Plano Chamber of Commerce events representing our board regularly. I’m a member, and previous board member, of Rotary Club of Plano and Paul Harris Fellow. I serve on the executive board of the Hendrick Scholarship Foundation and the executive board of Circle Ten Council Boy Scouts of America, which serves 55,000 youth in north Texas. I am the board's liaison to the city of Richardson and enjoy a great relationship with the Richardson City Council, city leaders and Richardson Chamber of Commerce leaders. I refer to myself as a Lego piece—I connect people to the resources and information they need, and I feel my service to my community is a calling.

If re-elected, what will you focus on?

• Future Industries 9-12 Academy to provide coursework and certificates for high-skill, high-demand occupations in partnership with higher education.
• Full-day pre-K for students in need and advance the implementation of an early childhood academy as demand deems.
• Continued focus on eliminating the achievement gap through focused learner supports, recognizing the growth in demographic diversity in our community.
• Full-scale implementation of the Adult Transition Center for our adult students with special needs utilizing Project Search.
• Work as board liaison with our Plano Council of PTAs.
• Work as board liaison to the city of Richardson.