Blueford-Daniels for HISD District II seat
Activist aims to represent community’s voice
The Texas Education Agency waited until after Election Day to officially announce what was a foregone conclusion: it would seize control of the Houston Independent School District.
At the heart of the takeover is Phillis Wheatley High School. The school consistently fell short of state standards, triggering a 2015 law that left the TEA with two options, either close the school or intervene. The state chose the latter.
But the takeover is not a failure by Wheatley students, it’s a failure by the community that let down those students, Kathy Blueford-Daniels told the editorial board.
Blueford-Daniels is running to represent District II on the HISD board. She is our choice in the runoff election against candidate John Curtis Gibbs, currently the outreach coordinator for City Councilman Michael Kubosh.
The 62-year-old former postal worker and community activist is a graduate of Wheatley and understands the opportunities a quality education provides. She also understands the perils that come when kids fall through the cracks.
Her community activism and desire to make a difference in the lives of Houston’s children were forged by the pain of her son’s death in 2006.
“The person who killed my son was a dropout,” she said. “He was on drugs; he saw no way out. We can’t let our kids go that way.”
If elected, BluefordDaniels said she will do what’s right for students and make sure the community’s voice is represented on the board of trustees. If the state appoints a board of managers — a move that will strip the board of trustees’ of its authority — she said she will use her elected position to advocate for students and the community before the board of managers.
Just as she believes that the responsibility for Wheatley’s struggles is shared, so is the opportunity to make things right. Parents, teachers and district administration must do the hard work together and commit to put in the time. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she said.
It’s difficult for schools to compete with all the distractions students face today, Blueford-Daniels said, but consistency, structure and programs that serve students — whether they’re collegebound or looking for vocational training — should be priorities.
Kathy Blueford-Daniels would be a strong advocate for students on the board of trustees. We urge District II voters to support her.