Trustee hopefuls point to flaws in board
Takeover by state, recent successes among talking points
Five seats on the Houston ISD Board of Education will be decided Nov. 2, potentially altering the shape of the nine-member board as the district finds a sense of stability with its first permanent superintendent in years but remains under threat of a state takeover.
Sixteen individuals, including the incumbents, are vying for the seats representing Districts 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9.
Several candidates pointed to the potential state takeover and previous board dysfunction as reasons that prompted them to seek office. Meanwhile, several incumbents noted recent progress and momentum with Superintendent Millard House II, who started in July and is working on a strategic plan for the district, as reason they wished to remain in their roles.
The board has changed in the two years since its infighting was laid bare by a video of a meeting for training on how to govern. Within the last five months, for instance, current trustees have unanimously hired House, expressed support for his decision to implement a mask mandate in defiance of a gubernatorial executive order, and approved a bigger-than-expected pay raise for teachers.
District 1
Incumbent Trustee Elizabeth Santos, a former teacher, said she wants to expand the opportunities students have in wealthy areas to the rest of the city, and to ensure students, parents and educators’ perspectives are considered in decision-making to strengthen communities.
Matias Kopinsky, a 25-year-old petroleum engineer at Chevron who attended HISD schools, said he wants to provide every student in the district the opportunity to learn, grow and play as they work toward becoming active members of society. The Texas Education Agency’s attempt to takeover the district, in part, prompted him to run, he said.
“HISD has been in the news for scandal after scandal,” he said, “and I want to see it in the news for achievements.”
Janette Garza Lindner, a management consultant whose two kids attend HISD elementary schools, said she is running because she wants to address disparities between schools and student outcomes across the district. All kids should have access to a high-quality education, she said.
While she had not considered running for office, she attributed the decision to a combination of seeing students’ needs and encouragement from others.
“I decided that it was time to do something a little scary,” she said.
District 1 stretches from the Heights to northwest and north Houston.
District 5
Trustee Sue Deigaard has two challengers in District 5, which serves an area from the Arabic Immersion Magnet School in Montrose to Meyerland.
Deigaard, who served as board president last year, said she would like to build on the foundation she has helped lay in her two years on the board by increasing financial accountability, prioritizing children’s learning needs and, most recently, hiring House.
Caroline Walter, a 39year-old self-described stayat-home mom, identified her biggest priorities as examining the district’s budget, increasing teacher’s salaries and enhancing the board’s relationship with the community. If elected, she would like to create a system to hear feedback from from students, principals and parents “in a timely manner,” she said.
“We need a change on the board,” she said.
Maria Benzon, who has taught in public schools and universities for 21 years, said she wants to address inequities experienced by students in communities of color and a widening learning gap. She also wants to support teachers and recast focus more on applicable skills than multiple-choice skills that help students pass standardized tests.
District 6
Trustee Holly Flynn Vilaseca’s challengers in District 6, which covers west Houston, are Greg Degeyter, a disability attorney, and Kendall Baker, a pastor and small business owner who previously ran for city office.
Baker said he wants to improve the district’s failing schools and special education services while expanding career and tech education. He also would like to empower parents and students, and hear their concerns.
“It seems like they have been taken out of the equation,” he said.
Degeyter said students suffering from previous board infighting inspired him to run. One idea he is pushing is a refinancing of the district’s 2012 bonds at lower interest rates.
Vilaseca identified her priorities as expanding early childhood education, decreasing the number of schools in historically undeserved communities that have been under-performing and keeping a focus on equity.
“Number one priority is this COVID recovery,” she said.
District 7
Four candidates are vying for the seat representing District 7, which stretches from Briarmeadow to River Oaks and as far north as Timbergrove.
Incumbent Anne Sung said she would like to continue growth in students’ college and career readiness, expand early childhood education, and build up parent leaders in every school to advocate for their children. She also supports House’s plan for a bond referendum, she said.
Lee “Mac” Walker said the district must address a decrease in enrollment, boost teacher morale to keep teachers in HISD classrooms and improve student outcomes. The district took responsibility last week for failing to include Walker’s nickname when it entered his name in a county elections office portal.
“I truly believe that HISD is in crisis,” he said.
If elected, Bridget Wade, who has served as president of Briargrove Elementary PTO, said she hopes to encourage families to have more of a say in their children’s education and restore pride in the board and public education.
Dwight Jefferson, former state district judge, said he is running because he believes parents and kids should should have experienced leadership on the school board and he offers experience in government.
District 9
In District 9, community activist Gerry Monroe and Joshua Ryan Rosales, who works in corporate marketing and communications, are running to unseat Trustee Myrna Guidry, who was appointed to the seat last December.
Monroe, who sued the district after being banned from HISD premises, said he wants to give kids a quality education so they have a foundation to build on when they leave school, and fix the district’s special education services.
“Kids are not learning, schools are not safe and, yet, we keep putting the same people in office. The same corrupt individuals are in office,” he said. “It is time to take the politics out of the board room and put education first.”
Rosales said he would like to improve schools and provide kids with a world-class education that will prepare them to excel in the knowledge economy. He would advocate for the building of new schools and try to make the district’s spending more efficient, he said.
“As the saying goes, if you want to see change, you have to get involved,” Rosales said. “And that is exactly what I am doing.”
Guidry did not return a call seeking comment, and does not appear to have a campaign website.
Early voting runs through Oct. 29.