I am requesting the endorsement of the Hays County Young Democrats because young people are already feeling the impact of state education decisions and we’ll be living with the consequences the longest. What the State Board of Education decides shapes curriculum, school funding, and whether classrooms reflect the real world or political agendas.

Hays County is home to Texas State University and San Marcos; a vibrant college town where young people organize, advocate, and shape civic life. I’ve worked alongside young organizers and students, and I know how deeply education policy affects college access, teacher pipelines, and community stability in fast-growing places like this.

I’m a former public school teacher running to bring educator experience, transparency, and community voice to the State Board. I see the Hays County Young Democrats as essential partners in building inclusive, future-focused public schools rooted in our communities from the classroom to the river.

I’m a former bilingual special education teacher and parent support specialist who served students and families in Eagle Pass and Austin ISD. I’m a proud product of Texas public schools and a University of Texas graduate, with deep experience working directly with families and educators. I serve on the City of Austin’s Community Development Commission and chair its Housing Committee, collaborating with community members, nonprofit partners, and city staff to advance equitable housing and neighborhood stability. Through my outreach work with the Workers Defense Project, I’ve advocated alongside families facing ICE deportation, wage theft, and unsafe working conditions—helping connect people to resources and defend their rights. I’m currently a graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, strengthening the policy and governance skills needed to serve effectively on the State Board of Education.

1. Practice collaborative, data-informed governance.

My first goal is to ensure State Board decisions are grounded in classroom realities, community input, and reliable data. I will establish regular feedback loops with educators, parents, and students through surveys, listening sessions, and advisory groups across District 5. I will work to strengthen the Board’s use of public data, research, and outcome evaluations, and advocate for standing advisory committees that reflect Texas’ regional, linguistic, and cultural diversity. Decisions should be transparent, evidence-based, and responsive to the people most affected.

2. Advance an honest, inclusive curriculum.

I will work to ensure Texas curriculum tells the full story of our state and country by recognizing the contributions of women, communities of color, and local and regional histories. This means defending academically sound standards, supporting high-quality instructional materials, and resisting efforts to politicize or erase history. Students deserve an education rooted in truth, context, and critical thinking.

3. Support modern instruction that prepares students for today’s world.

I will advocate for responsible, ethical integration of technology and AI in classrooms. This includes training for teachers and students, clear guidelines, and investments in instructional resources that enhance, not replace, human learning and educator expertise.

I’d choose We Got the Power by the Gorillaz because it’s great energy and collective. It captures the idea that the change comes from people coming together and building power as a community.

I do not support the current state of ICE as it operates today, particularly enforcement practices that rely on fear, lack due process, and entangle local law enforcement in immigration actions that erode community trust.

In Central Texas, I have actively opposed local collaboration with ICE. Through my advocacy with community and nonprofit partners, I have spoken at the Travis County Commissioners Court urging local sheriffs not to cooperate with ICE enforcement and to reject policies that criminalize immigrant families. I have also participated in public outreach at Austin City Hall, where we collected over 10,000 signatures calling for protections for immigrant communities.

Additionally, I have engaged in weekly tabling at the Mexican Consulate in Austin and canvassed throughout the summer to connect families with resources, share know-your-rights information, and build community awareness. I have been public and consistent in opposing 287(g)-style cooperation and believe local governments should protect families, uphold civil liberties, and keep communities safe by remaining independent from federal immigration enforcement.

I do not support the use of ALPRs or AI-driven policing technologies as they are currently deployed. These tools raise serious concerns around privacy, abuse of location data, racial profiling, and the expansion of surveillance without meaningful public oversight or consent.

In Central Texas, I have publicly opposed the expansion of surveillance technologies through my work with community and nonprofit partners. Through my role at the Workers Defense Project, I’ve helped share policy updates and educate members during meetings about the risks of ALPRs and AI policing—particularly how these tools can be used to target immigrant communities and communities of color or share data with federal agencies like ICE.

I do not support the unchecked development of AI data centers in Hays County, particularly when projects move forward without strong environmental review, public input, or protections for local water, energy, and infrastructure. These facilities place heavy demands on utilities, increase carbon emissions, and threaten the long-term sustainability of fast-growing communities.

Through my community advocacy and public service work, I have raised concerns about large-scale developments that strain shared resources and bypass meaningful community engagement. I’ve participated in public meetings, shared policy updates with community members, and supported organizing efforts that call for transparency, environmental safeguards, and accountability from developers and local officials.

Yes. Based on what we are seeing in Gaza including mass civilian death, widespread displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure, I believe Palestinians are facing atrocities that meet the threshold many human rights experts describe as genocidal.

I support an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, and accountability under international law for all violations. I also condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia without exception, and I believe our community can stand for human rights and safety for all people.