Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more information about voting in Montgomery County, visit https://elections.mctx.org.
John Sellars
Experience:
experience with more than 80 school districts across the state as financial auditor and accounting consultant; Conroe High School, Class of 1998, BS, Texas A&M University, Class of 2002; Graduate Certificate, Advanced Technical Certificate in Professional Accounting (CPA Program), Lone Star College 2010; Leadership Montgomery County, Class of 2019; current director, Montgomery County Historical Commission; former director, Conroe Noon Lions Club; former director, Montgomery County Community Foundation; founding director and member, Montgomery County Pachyderm Club
Occupation:
chief financial officer for a development company
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082639284737
Contact Information:
936-537-5713
Why are you running for election?
Willis ISD is a massive part of my life. My wife serves as a kindergarten teacher and our three children are elementary students in the district. I’m prepared to work for our students, their parents, our talented teachers, staff and administrators, as well as the often-forgotten taxpayer. With abundant experience consulting and working on more than 80 Texas school districts' financial audits, I’d like to put my financial skills to work for you.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
My top priority is putting families first in Willis ISD. That means considering the impact on our families with every decision made by the school board. There seems to be some misplaced trust in our community between families and the school district. I want to reassure families that I’m here to serve them. I’d also like to see Willis ISD hire more frontline teachers and fewer administrators. Let’s get back to the basics.
WISD received a C accountability rating for the 2021-22 school year. If elected, how will you work to improve the ratings within the district?
I fear Willis ISD administrators have been too focused on their general strategy to improve our academic rating, rather than the implementation of that strategy and how it translates to actual instruction. I’d like to see teachers spending more time teaching and less time entering data for administrators to analyze. I’d also like to see better student to teacher ratios in all grade levels, not just those that are taking the STAAR test.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Willis ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
Another 600-home development coming to Willis ISD was made public this past week. We’ve been growing, and we’ll continue to grow through the next decade. Building facilities quickly enough to accommodate our growth will be a challenge. I believe my work experience as a professional in development, construction and finance will allow our students, teachers and taxpayers to get the best possible value on future construction projects.
Scott Carson
Experience:
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
Why are you running for election?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
WISD received a C accountability rating for the 2021-22 school year. If elected, how will you work to improve the ratings within the district?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Willis ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
Gentry Scott
Experience:
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
Why are you running for election?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
WISD received a C accountability rating for the 2021-22 school year. If elected, how will you work to improve the ratings within the district?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Willis ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
Candidate did not respond by time of publication.
