HOUSTON
Clear Creek ISD board of trustees District 2
*indicates incumbent
Michelle Davis
Occupation: Retired, worked in mortgage banking for more than 20 years
Experience: Worked in both Clear Creek High School and Clear Brook High School as a textbook clerk, and also served as secretary to assistant principals at Clear Brook
Contact: www.michelledavis4ccisd.com
What is one of the biggest challenges CCISD students are facing in the classroom today, and how would you address it as a board member?
MD: One of the biggest challenges that our students face today is the different levels of instruction. ...I am very thankful to see a lot more career and technology courses being offered at CCISD. These give opportunities to those students who don’t learn easily or who just don’t want to be in the classroom in the first place the ability to earn a good living upon graduation. Equally as important for those advanced or gifted students is the ability to accelerate their learning through dual credit, AP classes or even the early college high school.
How can board members assist in holding district leaders accountable for reforming necessary programs and services?
MD: I believe the CCISD board has been successful in getting the schools and administration to follow the recommendations they have set out. I have worked in a couple of high schools and have seen firsthand when the administration is rolling out any changes that are recommended by the district.
What can board members do to ensure that CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
MD: Davis did not provide a response to this question.
Will Stromeyer
Occupation: Claims examiner
Experience: HOA president, admissions committee member for the Foundation of International Space Education
Contact: [email protected]
What is one of the biggest challenges CCISD students are facing in the classroom today, and how would you address it as a board member?
WS: Working and schooling from home is a challenge many students and parents will face. Even with parents at home, if they are working it makes it very difficult to assist as needed with the education aspect. I understand the purpose of the synchronous learning, but that does add a strain to families that are trying to balance both parts of life. An option to do all of the work without the mandated live times, assuming you can periodically check in with a teacher, would likely have best suited a number of kids.
How can board members assist in holding district leaders accountable for reforming necessary programs and services?
WS: A board member can review what is currently done, talk with the people in charge of the role, and research new ways that a program could improve together. Education is constantly changing and we must change with it.
What can board members do to ensure that CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
WS: Budgeting to provide resources is the best approach the board can make. Many families do not have access to personal devices or even internet service, and it is helpful what has been provided so far. The free internet at the schools does help but still does not solve issues for kids who can't easily get there. The community has responded well to the recent events in our nation and hopefully we continue to make the best judgements for the students.
Win Weber*
Occupation: Attorney
Experience: Several years of service on the CCISD board of trustees, including experience on the executive, finance, policy, legislative, student health advisory, Clear Creek Education Foundation, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and education committees
Contact: www.facebook.com/winwebertrustee
What is one of the biggest challenges CCISD students are facing in the classroom today, and how would you address it as a board member?
WW: Each student has individual needs which must be met for successful learning. This challenge is more visible in the face of COVID-19, news of violence and hurricane threats. The new district strategic plan adopted by the board lets me focus on individual needs in all district planning, resource allocation and decision making. Some examples are ensuring students have basic life-sustaining essentials such as food, shelter and clean clothes; establishing swift and supportive intervention for health struggles including anxiety and depression; academic growth; and crediting technology as an effective tool—but not a substitute—for traditional learning.
How can board members assist in holding district leaders accountable for reforming necessary programs and services?
WW: CCISD offers a wide variety of programs and services to students. Some programs are supportive, such as growing skills to give a student more independence, and some programs lead to career, college or military readiness. Board members must recognize student objectives change to meet the changing world and job market and must continuously monitor the impact of programs and services on student success. In addition to ongoing departmental updates to trustees, programs are audited for relevance, performance and availability to all students. Trustees review each audit to maximize supporting resources.
What can board members do to ensure that CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
WW: Public school is the place for all students to meet and grow together. CCISD believes that “there is a collective moral imperative to invest in each person’s capacity for growth and excellence” and “inclusivity creates unity.” The new CCISD Strategic Plan was built to transform these beliefs into action. Board members use the strategic plan to set annual district targets. Through the year we monitor progress and evaluate district performance. The strategic plan requires opportunities to ensure each student achieves high learning levels; parent education for social and emotional learning; improved communication to parents; and increased inclusivity.
Clear Creek ISD board of trustees District 3
Jason Clark
Occupation: Assistant principal in Pasadena ISD
Experience: 17 combined years of teaching and administration experience in public schools, ranging from elementary to high school level
What is one of the biggest challenges CCISD students are facing in the classroom today, and how would you address it as a board member?
JC: The biggest challenge CCISD students will face when returning to the classroom is adjusting to new procedures and guidelines that focus on safety. School will look and operate differently for our students than what they are accustomed to. It is imperative CCISD schools maintain high expectations each day for implementing the COVID-19 ... guidelines. CCISD has developed an excellent back-to-school phase-plan. As a board member, I would work collectively with the other board members and the superintendent to evaluate the guidelines and make adjustments as needed.
How can board members assist in holding district leaders accountable for reforming necessary programs and services?
JC: School board members have the responsibility of ensuring that the goals of a program or service are aligned to the goals of the district’s strategic plan. Beyond that, board members need to evaluate the effectiveness of the program’s or service’s goals to determine if progress toward the goals is being achieved. In the case that progress is not being achieved, board members need to request an improvement plan from the superintendent outlining how the goals will be met.
What can board members do to ensure that CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
JC: Board members need to operate with the mindset of ensuring success for all students academically and socially. This includes access to technology-driven curriculum. Board members must listen intently to the points of view expressed from students, parents, and staff to make decisions that are inclusive of everyone when making decisions that affect the district. Board members need to stay current with research and social trends when making decisions on policy and the district collectively. It is important for CCISD to adopt and maintain a culture of excellence that focuses on families of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Arturo Sanchez*
Occupation: Director of external relations office at NASA Johnson Space Center
Experience: Almost 20-year professional career working at NASA and Texas Instruments leading teams, strategic initiatives, public engagement and university collaboration in support of science, technology, engineering and math; trustee since May 2017 with experience on the board’s policy and planning, legislative and facilities advisory committees and experience on the 2025 strategic planning team
Contact: www.electarturosanchez.com
What is one of the biggest challenges CCISD students are facing in the classroom today, and how would you address it as a board member?
AS: Students in CCISD represent more than 42,000 hopes, dreams, and aspirations. COVID-19 has challenged our thinking, mindset and delivery of instruction while pushing us to be flexible and responsive to our students’ varied needs. Whether students elected in-school or online instruction, we must provide a learning environment that supports social and emotional development. Helping students acquire and effectively apply the attitudes and skills necessary to explore, understand and manage their emotions is vital to their lifelong success. As a trustee, it is my responsibility to adopt goals, priorities, and policies that ultimately guide the district’s long-term focus on student achievement.
How can board members assist in holding district leaders accountable for reforming necessary programs and services?
AS: As a trustee, my preference has been to support and attend many of our CCISD school activities, performances, competitions, games and events. The experiences and conversations with students, parents, teachers and administration provide a valuable lens as I participate in monthly board meetings and workshops and committee meetings. Board members hold district leaders accountable through regular program audits, scheduled policy review, community-based accountability and through intentional focus on measurable outcomes. The focus on reforming specific programs and services is a shared responsibility between the board and the superintendent and is most effective when student achievement is at the forefront.
What can board members do to ensure that CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
AS: As a board member, I actively participate, review and help shape the district’s policies, superintendent targets, and strategic plan to ensure CCISD students and families from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to the resources needed to succeed. Soliciting feedback from the greater CCISD community helps reveal areas that may need attention and ensures student success remains at the center of decision making. I support efforts to expand professional learning on diversity and cultural understanding across the district and will continue to support critical partnerships with community-based organizations who help meet the different needs of students across CCISD.
