See what candidates for Position 5 Lorena Dueñas, a small business owner, and incumbent KP George, a financial planner, had to say. Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Question 1: Why are you running for trustee?
Lorena Dueñas: My passion is student learning and achievement and in my over 20 years in the field of public school education, I have successfully led schools to success through innovative instructional programs that target the needs of all students. As a daughter of immigrant parents, I want to ensure all students have an equal shot at the American dream!
KP George: I am running for re-election. I want to continue all the good works this board and superintendent started.
Question 2: What is FBISD’s biggest challenge right now and what do you think of the current school board’s response to that challenge?
LD: The biggest challenge facing FBISD presently is tackling the District of Innovation initiative. If I am honored to serve on the FBISD school board, I will pave the way for the District of Innovation plans by holding district administrators accountable to reduce the bureaucracy that burdens teachers, lower student-teacher ratios in order to increase more personalized learning for students. and increase funding for more before- and after-school tutorial intervention programs which are proven to be effective in increasing student achievement.
KG: Exponential growth and the socioeconomic disparity are the top challenges in my opinion. Both issues are discussed and numerous programs are in place to address these issues.
Question 3: How would you describe the level of board support for teachers in FBISD and would you do anything differently, if elected?
LD: [The] FBISD school board has taken positive steps towards supporting teachers by increasing pay in recent years
Lorena Dueñas[/caption]but more still needs to be done. FBISD teachers must have uninterrupted planning time on a daily basis in order to provide the quality instruction for our students. Teachers also need to be provided much needed supplies such as paper, pencils and crayons, but too many times they are forced to use their own funds to provide these basic items for their students.
We need to also develop a teacher development system that is separate from the new teacher appraisal system called Teacher Evaluation and Support System, or T-TESS. We must support and build up our teachers and not create a negative campus environment.
KG: Last time my number one goal was to improve teacher morale. Teacher support and morale improved substantially in Fort Bend ISD under the new administration and current board. I will do anything possible to support our educators. I will work to provide more resources to our teachers.
KP George[/caption]Question 4: How would you describe the level of equitable access and class offerings for all FBISD students? Do you think it could or needs to be improved?
LD: As a parent of one FBISD graduate and one high school student that attended two different FBISD high schools, I observed disparities as to the quality of resources offered in our older high schools compared to our newly built high schools. From dilapidated school auditoriums to unsafe bleachers, we must level the playing field for all of our students, so that all students reach their potential in any area of interest.
Although we have a districtwide course selection catalogue, counselors may not give consistent information about ensuring that our students are college and career-ready. We need to provide comprehensive counselor training and reduce the amount of students that counselors are assigned so that more personalized attention can be given.
KG: [The] last few years Fort Bend ISD implemented a number of programs and provided resourses to support the students in the socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. I will continue to support and work with my colleagues on the board and administration to improve those programs and monitor the results.
