Joseph Ferguson
Joseph Ferguson has been a resident of Tomball since 1986. Ferguson attended Tomball Elementary School and graduated from Tomball High School. Ferguson received a bachelor's degree in education from Texas A&M University where he was also a member of the Corps of Cadets. He also received a master's degree in education from Sam Houston State University. Ferguson served four years in the Army and also spent a combined four years in the Army Reserve and National Guard. In his 10 years as an educator, Ferguson has been both a teacher and assistant principal in Tomball ISD. He now works in the education department at Lone Star College–Montgomery.
Why did you decide to run for a school board position?
While serving as an assistant principal, it was my job to enforce district policy with students and staff. It was not my place to question any of those policies, even if I felt I had a better solution. I always trusted the decisions made by the trustees and central office administrators, but over the years I began to think I could make great contributions to making policy instead of just ensuring compliance. I began contemplating a future run for Tomball ISD Board of Trustees while serving as an assistant principal, but could not do so at the time without giving up my employment in the district.
Last spring, I was presented with an opportunity to become a college instructor beginning this fall semester. Accepting that position was an easy choice, but at the same time, leaving my hometown school district that has given me so much was a very difficult one. After a lot of thought, I realized that in addition to the amazing new experience of teaching at a college, this move would also provide me with the chance to be a candidate for Tomball ISD school board in the near future.
My initial plan was that I would run for a trustee position after my 3-year-old son enrolled as a Tomball ISD kindergarten student in 2016. My plan changed though, when in June of this year, it was determined that my son would begin his journey as a student in Tomball ISD earlier than we thought when he qualified for enrollment in the preschool program for children with disabilities at Rosehill Elementary School. This led to my decision to run for a trustee position in 2014 rather than in 2016 as I had previously planned.
What makes you a qualified candidate for the TISD school board?
If elected, I will be the only trustee who has worked as a classroom teacher or campus administrator. I will also be the only trustee with a master's degree in education. Our current school board of trustees is an incredibly successful group of men and women who have an impressive diversity of skill sets that are vital to the successful governing of the school district, but not one of the board members has ever walked a mile in the shoes of our teachers. I believe there should be at least one member of the Tomball ISD school board who has had to plan a lesson, gather materials, manage behavior in a classroom, administer a state mandated test, grade mountains of assignments on nights and weekends and everything else our teachers do. I have done all of these things and I feel qualified to speak to the effects that proposed board decisions would have on students and teachers in the classroom.
If elected, what would your top priorities be as a member of the TISD school board?
The highest priority would be to build on the previous academic successes the district has already had thanks to the tireless efforts of our teachers in concert with the involvement and dedication of our parents. Without taking away any of these measures that have contributed to this success, we should implement additional programs that focus on math and science achievement in some of our subpopulation groups such as the economically disadvantaged and special education students. Different students with different situations have different needs and varied learning styles, and addressing this will lead to an even greater amount of student achievement than we currently enjoy.
How would you help plan for future enrollment growth in the district if elected?
One of the top things to focus on would be both the hiring and retention of the most highly qualified professionals to be the bedrock of our growing district. We can build state-of-the-art facilities and pack them with the latest technology (and we should), but without the right people, we can't expect the same successes we've had in the past.
Another priority is to make sure that we don't get so big that we forget who we are. When my family first came to Tomball almost 30 years ago, we were welcomed to "A Hometown with a Heart." I am glad that we are growing, and I do agree that some things need to change with time, but the core of what is Tomball ISD needs to weather these changes and be a constant beacon to us to keep us on course.
What are some of the major issues facing the school district, and how do you plan to address these issues if elected?
The good news is that Tomball ISD is not a district in distress. Our students are successful and the district is financially stable. For it to remain this way, we need to keep our eyes on the ball, though.
One area of concern I have for the long-term future of the district is the issue of the pay beginning teachers get compared to our veteran teachers. On the one hand, the district is doing the right thing by trying to remain competitive and hiring new teachers at a starting salary of $50,000 a year, which I believe is an important move to make sure to bring in the best and brightest of the new teachers, and something I also see as an important investment in the future of our district. At the same time, we can't ignore that according to the most recent available data from the Texas Education Agency's Texas Performance Reporting System, the average salary of a Tomball ISD teacher with 10 years of experience is $50,378. What message does this send to our longest serving teachers if we keep this up? What message does it send to the new teachers who are deciding whether or not to make Tomball ISD their longtime home? I am worried that without altering this course, we will begin losing our best teachers and the students will be the ones who suffer for it.
The same data shows that the average teacher salary in Tomball ISD is $3,316 higher than the Texas average, which is positive, but it's hard to ignore that the data also states that the average salary of a Tomball ISD central office administrator is $22,568 higher than the Texas average. This may be the first place we need to look for a solution to paying our veteran teachers more than the rookies that they are mentoring.
In what ways do you see yourself as an advocate for who you will represent if elected?
One advantage my background as a former assistant principal in Tomball ISD is that in the execution of my duties, I spoke to at least five parents a day every day school was in session. Issues ranged from discipline concerns, academic issues, attendance matters, problems students were having with bullying, special education planning and numerous other issues on parents' minds. I'd estimate that over the years, I've made personal contact with parents close to 4,000 times. This gives me a deeper understanding of the feelings of our community members than any other candidate. I've internalized all those conversations and feel that I am the best person in this race to be able to represent not just my own feelings and ideas, but those of all our stakeholders.
Additionally, during my years as an assistant principal in Tomball ISD, I was able to establish strong, trust-filled relationships with staff members including custodians, paraprofessional staff, teachers and administrators at numerous campuses and departments across the district. Because of this, I am confident that my professional relationships in the district will continue to allow me to have my finger on the pulse of the sentiments of district staff, who know they can continue to speak to me about concerns without fear of any negative consequences. This will ensure that I not only represent the students and parents in board meetings, but also the district's staff, who are all working toward the same goal of student success.
Kathy Handler
Incumbent Kathy Handler has served on the Tomball ISD school board since 2010. Handler received a bachelor's degree in history from The University of Texas at Austin and began her career in the media relations department of the Southwest Conference and also worked with the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. In 1998, Handler and her husband, David, relocated with their three children to Tomball. Her two eldest children are graduates of Tomball High School, and her youngest is a junior at Tomball Memorial High School. Since 2003, Handler and her husband have owned and operated Success Handler, LLC, an executive coaching firm.
Why are you seeking re-election to the TISD school board?
I attended public schools and our children have been students in TISD throughout the past 16 years. I believe in public school education. With the hiring in 2013 of new superintendent Huey Kinchen to solidify the foundation created by the previous administration, the district is moving toward excellence. I want to continue to be part of the cohesive team that is guiding TISD to provide all of the district's children a quality education and the opportunity to reach their potential.
What makes you a qualified candidate for TISD school board?
I have served as a TISD trustee the past four years and understand the key issues the district faces, including the tremendous growth in the area and maintaining strong financial responsibility and superior classroom instruction. I have served on the board's insurance, finance, policy and audit committees. I have attended four Texas Association of School Boards conventions and earned the required hours of continuing education. I have been a parent volunteer for many areas at all school levels, and prior to my election to the board in 2010, I was a member of the facility study for the 2007 bond and the district's calendar committee.
What accomplishments are you most proud of in your time on the school board?
I am proud we have a district that truly cares about our students' education and that our test results are consistently higher than the state average and place TISD among the top districts in the area. I am proud of TISD's financial stability and that we adapted to the large student influx without raising our tax rate during my time on the board. We led the campaign to pass a bond election last year that provided needed maintenance and upgrades of existing facilities along with funding for four new schools. It was an honor to serve on the board when Tomball Memorial High School opened in the fall of 2011 and to hand diplomas to members of the first graduating class last June.
The TISD board of trustees only has direct hiring impact on the superintendent. In 2013 the board conducted a broad search, and I am proud we unanimously agreed that Huey Kinchen was the right person to lead TISD. After his hiring the board requested a curriculum and technology audit to identify areas for improvement. The board is currently working with the district community on strategic planning to determine TISD's vision and mission for the future.
If re-elected, what would your top priorities be as a member of the TISD school board?
I would work to provide an education to meet every child's needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Also, complete strategic planning that guides the district into the future. I would develop partnerships with businesses to increase opportunities for students to have real-life work experiences and to continue to recruit and retain the best and most effective teachers, administrators and staff as well as provide them with quality professional development.
How would you help plan for future enrollment growth in the district if re-elected?
The strategic plan we are developing will be the guiding light to accommodate enrollment growth in TISD. Once the framework is created, we will implement the necessary actions to meet the district's growing population.
What are some of the major issues facing the school district, and how do you plan to address these issues if re-elected?
The top three issues are: fast growth of student enrollment numbers, strong financial discipline and continuing to raise the quality of instruction for all students so every child can be successful in school. Working side by side with my fellow board members, l will continue to focus district administration and staff on these priorities.
In what ways do you see yourself as an advocate for who you will represent if re-elected?
As the mother of three children who have advanced through TISD schools, I have experienced the district in many ways. I met and communicated with teachers about the academic needs of our children throughout their education. I used the district's special services for our two children who needed speech therapy. As a volunteer for classrooms, libraries, concession stands, booster clubs, PTOs and other areas, I have worked with and listened closely to parents and children who participate in all levels of classroom and extracurricular activities. My four years as a trustee on the board have helped me better understand the needs of the students in our community and increased my desire to ensure that all of our children be in schools full of learning and opportunities.
