HOUSTON
Humble ISD trustee Position 5
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Andrea Glazebook
Occupation: teacher at Humble ISD's Disciplinary Alternative Education Program
Experience: I have been in education for over 26 years as a parent and teacher.
What issues do you believe HISD needs to address in its academic program and offers? What changes would you recommend?
AG: ... I see [elementary] students who are not able to read and write appropriately. ... Teachers have too many students in a classroom and are not able to reach all students. In middle schools, I see a need for more social students and science academics. What I see in the schools is teaching to a test rather than teaching for knowledge for critical thinking. ... At the high school level, I think there needs to be more vocational/trade options offered.
What part of the district's budget is overfunded or underfunded? How would you begin to address this?
AG: I am concerned on the funding to renovate so many schools that were renovated in the last 10 years [and that] are being renovated again. I do see the cost efficiency of renovating than new construction, but if we are renovating, every few years, the same campuses, I see a problem with that. I would like to see more of a budget going to trade schools and internships for the high school students and maybe see the introduction starting in middle school.
What changes should be made on the state and local levels regarding public education?
AG: The focus of education and teaching should be on teaching students critical thinking and decision-making skills through acquisition of knowledge based on facts rather than opinion/political agenda. This needs to be addressed in the curriculum used by our district and in teaching methods that focus on real-life application of knowledge rather than on state-mandated testing. ... We need to be taking funds spent on state-mandated testing and putting them toward lowering teacher-to-student ratios and increased instructional materials and experiences.
Martina Lemond Dixon*
Occupation: English Department Chair at Spring ISD
Experience: former HISD Education Foundation Board finance chair and treasurer; former president of parent-teacher association board; former PTA Council Executive Board member; Leadership Lake Houston graduate; former American Community School of Abu Dhabi board member; Harris County Appraisal District board of directors assistant secretary; Lone Star Investment Pool trustee; Leadership Texas Association of School Boards graduate and delegate; National School Boards Association member; HISD board member serving on finance, building and planning, and superintendent evaluation committees
Contact: 832-590-0860; www.voteformartina.com
What issues do you believe HISD needs to address in its academic program and offerings? What changes would you recommend?
MLD: I am extremely proud of the work being done with our newly developed literacy curriculum, the plans to expand Spanish immersion and dual-language, the piloting of a fine arts wheel, and the expansion of the career and technical education programs throughout the district. There are not any specific changes [I would recommend], but I do believe we need to keep ... making sure we prioritize the budget to expeditiously meet the goals set forth by the district stakeholder's vision.
What part of the district's budget is overfunded or underfunded? How would you begin to address this?
MLD: Fiduciary knowledge is one of the most important roles as a school board member. ... HISD has managed the budget and bond funds in a way that works best to fit the district's needs. We have recognized savings which we were able to allocate to other priorities, and when were hit by Hurricane Harvey, we had the funds on hand to get started with remediation. ... [We] have maintained a [Financial Rating System of Texas] superior rating for the last four years.
What changes should be made on the state and local levels regarding public education?
MLD: One of the major challenges facing public education on the state and local level is unfunded mandates. Most school districts are already running on a streamlined budget, so although mandates handed down from the state are beneficial to the educational process, it would be nice if it were accompanied by long-term funding.
