HOUSTON
Alvin ISD board of trustees Position 7
Vivian Scheibel
Occupation: Solution engineer in enterprise software sales
Experience: I have long been an engaged and active volunteer in Alvin ISD and have served as a trustee since 2014. In the past, I have served as Alvin ISD Board Secretary and I currently serve as Board Vice President.
What is one of the biggest challenges Alvin ISD students are facing in the classroom today, and what would you prioritize to counter this challenge if re-elected?
VS: COVID-19 has exacerbated student challenges and it has altered face-to-face learning, as well as necessitated the introduction of our Alvin Virtual Learning program. I believe our district is appropriately focused on assessing and bridging the social and academic gaps of our students caused by the lockdown last spring, providing rigorous and engaging learning for each student, assisting with technology needs, mitigating health risks for our students and staff and supporting our students from a behavioral and mental health standpoint. I will continue to support the district’s efforts to serve our students and staff through these challenging times.
How has COVID-19 changed the district's goals and priorities, and how would you respond to these changes as a board member?
VS: Because of long-term economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19, Alvin ISD must remain especially fiscally prudent. Our usual focus on safety has been dramatically augmented, as we have implemented new sanitization and social distancing protocols. We must continue to be creative and flexible with addressing student needs, such as technology, nutrition, and school supplies. Finally, we are extremely focused on identifying and assessing academic and social/emotional gaps that have occurred for our students so that we can address and bridge those gaps. I will remain supportive of these efforts if re-elected.
What can board members do to ensure Alvin ISD students and families from all backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
VS: We have multiple programs that target this important issue. Examples include our full day Pre-K program that we are phasing in, our AVID program, outreach and literacy emphasis with the Book Bus and our READy program, digital learning resources, parent workshops, and mentoring. We provide the funding and opportunity for our secondary students to take the SAT and we offer flexible secondary programs, such as Rise Academy and the Options program. If re-elected, I will continue to support creative, effective, and practical ideas that our administrators and teachers propose to reduce student challenges and improve student achievement outcomes.
Floyd Hodges Jr.
Occupation: Manager in electrical engineering
Experience: The majority of my experience has been from my career as an engineer; however, my hope is to bring some out of the box and fresh ideas to the district.
Contact: www.hodgesforalvin.com
What is one of the biggest challenges Alvin ISD students are facing in the classroom today, and what would you prioritize to counter this challenge if re-elected?
FH: The major challenge that the district faces right now is the continued response to the COVID-19 crisis. The main priority should be making sure that the families that have decided to participate in virtual learning are receiving the same quality of education as those that are participating in the face to face environment.
How has COVID-19 changed the district's goals and priorities, and how would you respond to these changes as a board member?
FH: Again, I think the goal for this year in particular is to assure that children are receiving equitable access to the same quality of education. Virtual learning can offer many challenges to families that are at a disadvantage economically. We must ensure that the needs for electronic devices and even access to the internet are being met district wide.
What can board members do to ensure Alvin ISD students and families from all backgrounds have equitable access to the resources they need for success?
FH: I believe that the membership of the board should be reflective of the diverse student population that the district serves. While being a voice for all students, I will be able to offer the board a perspective that is currently lacking.
