Darcy Mingoia, Position 3, [email protected]
Q. What inspired you to run for this position?
A. I have had a long record of service to CFISD and the community since my two children started school. Beginning with the PTO and booster activities, graduating to district-wide boundaries and bond committees, and finally to working with CFISD as the president of the Cy–Fair Chamber, I have always thought public education was a critical asset of our community. Those sentiments haven't changed in the 34 years my husband and I have lived here. As I observe the continuing quality of CFISD despite financial constraints and changing demographics, I am compelled to run for the board.
Q. If elected, what are some of the challenges facing CFISD you plan to address?
A. Working as a team of eight with the other six trustees and the superintendent, I want to first fight for more state funding. In addition, I would like to continue to build on our academic practices to ensure that each of our graduates is college or career ready. P-16, dual credit, early college and many other interesting initiatives are worthy of further exploration and implementation. CFISD has consistently produced high-level graduates despite financial constraints and fast growth. We must work to correct inequities in school funding.
Q. How has your background prepared you for this race?
A. I believe my unique business skills, strategic thinking ability and the wide variety of roles I have experienced as a CFISD parent and community volunteer and nonprofit executive will serve the school board and district well.
Q. What are your thoughts on the state's education accountability system and high-stakes testing?
A. While I appreciate the need for standardized testing to ascertain our students' progress, I also believe the development of critical thinking skills and a wide variety of educational experiences are necessary for college- and career-ready graduates. Some of the standards established by the Texas Education Agency and the No Child Left Behind initiative may not be realistic for the time frame established. CFISD and other districts are expected to meet these standards at the exact time when funding has been slashed by the state.
Lilian Wanjagi, Position 3, [email protected]
Q. What inspired you to run for this position?
A. My third grade daughter is my inspiration and motivation to run for this position. She has nine more years of education left in CFISD, and the direction of the school district is of critical importance to me. Effective and good teams depend upon diverse opinions and different perspectives, therefore it is very important to have a voice from the most ordinary of CFISD citizens—a mom who works outside of the home, like many CFISD parents.
Q. If elected, what are some of the challenges facing CFISD you plan to address?
A. The district has done a good job managing the very limited resources. Exponential growth causes significant challenges, like overcrowded campuses, increased class size and increased teacher–student ratio. The district needs to re-evaluate current allocation of the current limited resources and increase efficiency with the highest priority to student and teacher needs. The current allocation of the budget toward gifted and talented education is far below our peers, and this issue should be revisited and resources allocated appropriately.
Q. How has your background prepared you for this race?
A. I have served as PTO vice president, and that experience allowed me the privilege of representing parents' concerns to the school administration. This position made me aware of varying educational needs experienced by families. In addition, I have worked in education for more than 16 years. I am a higher education professional who works in an education system dealing with the same economic issues affecting CFISD. I also have the academic background to understand both pedagogy and education policy and the impact of CFISD. I will soon be graduating with a doctorate degree in education leadership.
Q. What are your thoughts on the state's education accountability system and high-stakes testing?
A. The impact of the current Texas high-stakes testing is an issue not just for CFISD but [also] for the nation. Testing in of itself is not a problem because there must be an objective way to assess learning outcomes. The major issue with current testing is that it asks students to restate and recall facts rather than to analyze and interpret them.
Bill Morris, Position 3, [email protected]
Q. What have been your top priorities as a board member with CFISD?
A. One of my top priorities has always been to get the most bang for our buck. We want to be careful on what we spend our money on–it has been one of the biggest challenges. We must take a hard look at how our tax dollars are being spent. As a trustee, I work with other board members to make sure that every tax dollar is spent in the best interest of the children of CFISD and our taxpayers.
Q. Having lived in the district for several years, what challenges have you seen?
A. Exponential growth and the lack of revenues that accompanies our growth is the number one challenge facing our district today. In order to hand control back to our parents and taxpayers, we must control spending and continue to work with our state senators and representatives to correct the unfair educational funding distributed by the state government. Basically, when you have an economy like we have right now, you have to be conservative with how you spend your money. At some point in time, we're going to be unsustainable. For instance, we are not in a position to give raises, while [faculty] may deserve it. I hate to see layoffs and program cuts. You try to get something done even though [the district] has this shortfall. Lack of equitable financing system, growth, teacher vs. administrator pay and the need for encouragement of parental involvement are the [challenges] facing the public school system in Texas today.
Q. How do you describe your responsibility as a board member?
A. I have a responsibility to the children of the district and a responsibility to the taxpayers. Working in an education-related industry, I know that parent-supported education is the key to our children's success in today's world, and I believe that the [board] should work to bring parents into the education process.
Q. What are your thoughts on the state's education accountability system and high-stakes testing?
A. We haven't had a chance to see where our kids are. I don't know if the testing that we are giving them right now puts them on top. It's important to see these indicators...it's a reflection on the teachers. These are issues we look at in the day-to-day.
Kevin Hoffman, Position 4, [email protected]
Q. What inspired you to run for this position?
A. Many people in public education helped me when I was growing up, and I've always felt that it is important to give back. There are over 100,000 students in CFISD working hard for a bright future and they deserve a quality education. I want to help [the district's] efforts to support and encourage their academic achievement.
Q. If elected, what are some of the challenges facing CFISD you plan to address?
A. CFISD has proven that it has the ability to do more with less, but we must continue working with the state to provide equitable funding. Comprehensive strategic planning is also necessary to manage the district's rapid growth. We must constantly work with the community and staff to ensure CFISD maintains high academic standards for our students. Positive trustee relations play a critical role in affecting student success.
Q. How has your background prepared you for this race?
A. I have over 20 years of experience in public administration and spent eight years serving on the Houston ISD Board of Trustees. I understand the challenges facing public education and the importance of working with the board, staff and community in a collaborative manner to keep our school district moving forward for the benefit of our children. I also have a conservative approach to fiscal management that is responsible and student centered. Ultimately, I want to provide quality public education with a conservative fiscal approach that allows adequate resources for all students to succeed and protects the interests of the taxpayers.
Q. What are your thoughts on the state's education accountability system and high-stakes testing?
A. I've been fortunate to talk with many board members, state representatives, teachers and parents who are questioning the effectiveness of the current system. They recognize that students learn at different paces and have different talents and interests. I believe teachers and students are put under an enormous amount of pressure concerning high-stakes testing. Our focus should be on the abilities of students who are planning on going to college or entering into the work-force—not just their ability to take tests.
Angela Wesley, Position 4, [email protected]
Q. What inspired you to run for this position?
A. The CFISD community deserves a board that can function as a team and strive to fulfill the mission and vision statement. I am a parent and a taxpayer, and I am tired of being lied to. I have the best in heart and want education to take place. I don't know everything, but I am willing to learn and educate myself so I can make good decisions. I am willing to investigate and challenge when needed.
Q. If elected, what are some of the challenges facing CFISD you plan to address?
A. Lack of teachers [and] educators, lack of motivation. Parents are wanting educated children, and some parents have requested hard books—so education material will be a challenge. Outdated and run down school facilities will be a challenge—how do we update, keep costs low, but maintain the update?
Q. How has your background prepared you for this race?
A. My military background brings honesty and ethical standards. My parental background brings community and family involvement and advocacy. My educational background brings education—what I needed to succeed and be proud to hold a degree. My employment background brings teamwork and commitment to the table. I am a communicator, a listener and a solver. Let's look at the big picture, not just the small focus. I am a consensus builder and a community participant, skills and traits learned and being actively involved with my family and church. I make decisions after looking and evaluating all aspects, and if I made a bad decision I will own up to it and see how to correct or improve upon it. Most importantly, I am a leader and team player. Without these two great skills, all you have is a pencil pusher and bobble head.
Q. What are your thoughts on the state's education accountability system and high-stakes testing?
A. I am bothered by the schools and the district on pushing teachers to teach by the test. Now there are district sanctions where there are four accreditation labels, but this should not be the reason to push the district to have 52 schools to be accredited. Let's visit the schools, let's visit the surrounding home communities, and let's be involved in school functions.
