Story originally posted Aug. 26. Updated Aug. 27 at 12:41 p.m. to reflect that Theresa Bastian has withdrawn from the District 7 race and Sept. 5 to reflect that Joan Brook has withdrawn from the At-Large Place 9 race.
Eighteen candidates filed for a seat on the Austin ISD board of trustees by the filing deadline Aug. 18.
In November, elections will be held for single-member Trustee Districts 1, 4, 6 and 7, and Trustee At-Large Position 9. The school district serves about 85,000 students at 128 schools.
Trustee positions include:
At-Large Place 9 (Read our Q&A with the final candidates here)
Currently held by: Tamala Barksdale, who said she does not plan to run again.
Candidates:
Joan Brook
Brook is a science writer and photographer. She said Sept. 5 that she has withdrawn her application.
Nael Chavez
Chavez has run the nonprofit organization Enlightened Warriors for many years in Austin. He is also a veteran, an AISD parent and has been a child crisis counselor. Facebook: Nael Chavez for AISD At-Large Position 9
Kendall Pace
Pace is a parent of three AISD students and has served as an AISD Advisory Council member, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Education and Talent Development Council member, and management consultant with Smart Flour Foods. A Central Austin resident, she has a corporate finance background, has been involved in AISD community engagement meetings and has more than 20 years of consulting experience, she said. www.kendallpace.com
Kazique Prince
An East Austin resident and Austin ISD parent, Prince has been active in local PTAs. He is the founder of Jelani Consulting, LLC, which provides consultation and coaching focused on cultural competency and communication for individuals, teams, and organizations in business, education, government, healthcare, and for nonprofit groups. www.princeforaustinschools.com
Hillary Procknow
Procknow teaches developmental reading and writing at The University of Texas and serves as Program Coordinator for the Texas Success Initiative, a state-mandated program to provide developmental course work for students who are not deemed "college ready." She supports reduced homework for students through middle school and opposes using high-stakes testing to determine whether students are ready to move to the next grade level or earn a diploma. Facebook: Dr. Hillary Procknow for AISD Trustee Position 9 At-Large
Andy M. Trimino
Trimino, a retired educator, filed for candidacy. He said he brings an advanced Master's degree in Psychology of Education and a doctorate in Educational Administration, as well as a heavy emphasis on languages and cultures, including Spanish and Spanish culture.
District 1 (Read our Q&A with the final candidates here.)
Currently held by: Cheryl Bradley, who has said she does not plan to run.
Edmund T. Gordon
Gordon is an Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Anthropology of the African Diaspora at The University of Texas, as well as the chairman of the university's African and African Diaspora Studies Department.
Stanton Strickland
In addition to working as associate commissioner for the Texas Department of Insurance, Strickland serves as president of the Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods and Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association. "I've got a lot of experience in community service and trying to bring people together and collaborate for a common good. That's at the heart of what it would take to go forward in a positive way and build upon what the school board has already done," he said. He said he plans to establish a campaign website soon.
David "D" Thompson
Born and raised in Austin, Thompson has served as a teacher, school administrator, and community minister and has focused his career on advocating for all children to be able to have access to excellent schools. www.thompsonforaustinkids.com
P. Kevin Bryant
Bryant, a retired educator, filed for candidacy.
District 4 (Read our Q&A with the final candidates here.)
Currently held by: Vincent Torres, who has said he does not plan to run.
Julie Cowan
Cowan ran in 2010 against Tamala Barksdale for At-large Place 9. She worked for two years as the School Improvement Facilitator at Anderson High School, serves as second vice president of the Austin Council of PTAs' executive board, and has been president of the PTAs at Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle and Anderson High schools. She also served on those schools' campus advisory councils. www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Cowan-for-AISD-District-4/
Karen Flanagan
Flanagan is an AISD parent and served on the Community Bond Oversight Committee. She said she plans to establish a campaign website soon.
District 6 (Read our Q&A with the final candidates here.)
Currently held by: Lori Moya, who has said she does not plan to run.
Candidates:
Paul Saldaa
A native Austinite, product of Austin ISD, parent of four sons and husband of an elementary school teacher, Saldaa is also the former Tri-Chair of Austin ISD's Community Committee on Neighborhoods and Schools. www.paulsaldana.com
Monica Sanchez
Sanchez, a native Austinite, served as president of the Austin Council of PTAs for two years. Her campaign theme is "Acting Together For The Future Of All Children," and she plans to host a series of picnics throughout District 6 to give citizens an opportunity to sit down and talk with her about issues.
Kate Mason-Murphy
Mason-Murphy, a former Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders teacher, filed for candidacy.
District 7 (Read our Q&A with the final candidates here.)
Currently held by: Robert Schneider.
Candidates:
Robert Schneider
Schneider announced July 1 that he will seek reelection. He was first elected to the board in 2002 and was reelected in 2006 and in 2010. He retired from full-time work on massively parallel computing systems at The University of Texas after 30 years. Schneider has also served on numerous neighborhood, environmental, and school committees and task forces. www.facebook.com/TrusteeSchneider
Yasmin Wagner
Wagner has served as a PTA board member and on the AISD Boundary Advisory Committee, as well as in leadership roles with nonprofits including the YWCA of Greater Austin, Girls Rock Austin and SafePlace. www.yasminwagner.com
More information will be added to this article as candidates continue to establish campaign websites and inform the community about their background. Details about elections are available at www.austinisd.org.
Theresa Bastian filed for candidacy but has since withdrawn from the race.