I am requesting the endorsement because we share a commitment to putting students first, protecting mental health, and ensuring young people have a meaningful voice in their education. Schools must be safe and inclusive spaces where every student—especially LGBTQ+ students and those from historically marginalized communities—feels supported and valued.

I believe curriculum should be historically accurate, inclusive of all voices, and focused on critical thinking—not political agendas. Teachers deserve trust and support to do their jobs, and classrooms should remain places of learning, not political battlegrounds.

I am committed to collaborative leadership that brings everyone to the table and ensures decision-making spaces are diverse in gender, age, race, and lived experience. Hays County is personal to me: I lived here for five years, served in local education and nonprofit spaces, and my son is a Buda Johnson graduate who now lives and attends college in Hays County.

I bring more than 25 years of experience in Texas public education, community leadership, and strategic communication. I earned my Bachelor of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University with a focus on special education and communication, which shaped my commitment to inclusive learning and clear, responsible public engagement.

I began my teaching career in the Crosby Independent School District and later worked in the Austin, Pflugerville, and Bastrop Independent School Districts. I served as a classroom educator teaching speech, drama, ESL, and career readiness, and later as a career counselor, community relations director, and administrator. I also partnered with teachers to write and support a curriculum aligned to student needs.

As a school administrator, I managed multi-million-dollar school budgets and worked closely with educators and families to ensure resources supported student success. I later led two school district education foundations, building partnerships and raising funds to help teachers and expand opportunities for students.

Today, I help Texas school districts plan and communicate bond and capital campaigns built on transparency, accuracy, and trust—ensuring communities have the information they need to make informed decisions for their schools.

Goal 1: Put students first by protecting inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environments.

My priority is ensuring every student—regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or background—can learn in schools that support their mental health, safety, and well-being. I will use my role on the Texas State Board of Education to advocate for standards and instructional materials that reflect inclusion, accuracy, and respect for all students. I will listen directly to students, families, and educators, elevate their voices in Board discussions, and work collaboratively with fellow board members to ensure policies support learning—not harm it.

Goal 2: Ensure curriculum is historically accurate, inclusive, and focused on critical thinking—not ideology.

Texas students deserve an honest education that prepares them for college, careers, and civic life. I will closely review curriculum standards and instructional materials to ensure they are fact-based, inclusive of diverse perspectives, and developmentally appropriate. I will oppose efforts to politicize curriculum and instead promote standards that encourage critical thinking, media literacy, and real-world problem solving. I will also support transparent review processes that include educators, historians, parents, and community members.

Goal 3: Support and trust educators while strengthening transparency and collaboration.

Teachers are professionals and should be trusted to do their jobs. I will work to ensure SBOE decisions respect educator expertise and reduce unnecessary political interference in classrooms. I will advocate for diverse representation on committees and advisory groups so decisions reflect Texas communities across race, age, geography, and lived experience. I will also prioritize clear communication with the public, so families understand SBOE decisions and how they affect local classrooms.

Together, these goals reflect my commitment to student-first leadership, collaborative governance, and strong public schools that serve every Texas child.

AI thought about this question a lot because music is essential to me—it grounds me, energizes me, and reminds me why I do this work.

I considered Rise Up by Andra Day, which speaks to quiet strength, resilience, and standing up for others. I also thought about I'm Still Standing by Elton John—a reminder that we’ve been challenged as a community, but we haven’t quit. Video by India Arie reflects knowing who you are and serving with purpose, while And About Damn Time by Lizzo captures the feeling that we’ve been through a lot and it’s time to move forward and create change.

Ultimately, I chose Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine. It’s energetic and joyful—a moment of release that signals breaking free, moving forward, and getting things done. That’s where I am right now, and that’s the energy I bring to this work.

I do not support the current state of immigration enforcement when it creates fear, trauma, and instability in our communities—especially when families and children are impacted. Actions like those reported in Dripping Springs have caused real harm and have deeply shaken trust between families, schools, and public institutions.

As an education advocate, my primary concern is the safety and well-being of students, educators, and families. When parents are afraid to send their children to school because of immigration enforcement, learning suffers. School districts across Texas are already seeing the impact of lower attendance, increased anxiety, and students carrying fear into classrooms where they should feel safe and supported. Schools must remain places of learning, not fear.

I strongly support school districts managing their campuses in ways that protect students, teachers, and families, regardless of immigration status. We must find humane, lawful, and community-centered approaches that prioritize safety without targeting or traumatizing children and families.

I have consistently spoken out in support of inclusive, welcoming schools and communities and will continue to stand up for all community members. Leadership means listening, showing up, and advocating for policies that keep families together and communities safe. I will continue to use my voice to oppose actions that undermine trust, harm students, and destabilize.

I do not support the current use of ALPRs or AI-driven policing technologies in Hays County as they are currently implemented. While I understand the intent behind these tools—such as locating a missing child, an older adult, or someone with a disability—that is not how they are being broadly used. Instead, these systems are increasingly deployed in ways that raise serious concerns about privacy, data misuse, profiling, and the criminalization of everyday life.

The widespread collection and retention of location data puts communities at risk, especially immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color. These technologies can be abused, lack meaningful oversight, and erode public trust. We should be using tools to respond to real, serious crimes—not to create suspicion, monitor movement, or turn ordinary people into potential targets.

As an education and community advocate, I am especially concerned about the chilling effect this kind of surveillance has on families and young people. When communities feel watched or targeted, trust breaks down—and that fear carries into our schools, harming students’ sense of safety and belonging.

Any use of technology in public safety must be narrowly defined, transparent, and accountable, with strong protections for civil liberties. I have consistently supported policies and leadership approaches that prioritize community safety without sacrificing privacy, dignity, or due process. I will continue to speak out against surveillance practices that endanger trust and advocate for approaches that truly keep our communities safe.

I do not support the development of AI data centers in Hays County when they are proposed without meaningful environmental protections, infrastructure planning, or community collaboration. While I understand that these projects can bring some jobs and tax revenue for cities and school districts, those benefits cannot come at the expense of our water supply, electrical grid, environmental safety, or quality of life.

AI data centers require enormous amounts of water and electricity, placing significant strain on local utilities and natural resources. In a fast-growing county like Hays—already facing water scarcity and infrastructure challenges—this level of impact is not sustainable. Communities should not be asked to shoulder long-term environmental risk without transparency, accountability, and clear mitigation plans.

AI and emerging technology are part of our future, but progress must be responsible and community-centered. Development should only move forward when companies are willing to work openly with residents, invest in infrastructure, use sustainable practices, and demonstrate real environmental stewardship. That includes water conservation, renewable energy use, and binding agreements that protect local resources.

I support proactive planning that brings community members, local leaders, environmental experts, and developers to the table to find more innovative, safer solutions. Innovation should strengthen communities—not exploit them. I will continue to stand with residents who are asking for transparency, environmental responsibility, and development that puts public safety and sustainability first.

I believe what is happening to Palestinian civilians—especially children—is a humanitarian crisis, and credible human rights organizations have raised serious concerns that cannot be ignored. Regardless of terminology, the scale of suffering, displacement, and loss of life is unacceptable.

My focus, especially as an education leader, is on protecting children and ensuring that schools remain safe, inclusive spaces for all students. No child—Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, or otherwise—should feel unsafe, targeted, or silenced in our classrooms because of global conflict.

I support calls for a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and a commitment to human rights and international law. I believe leaders must speak with compassion, reject dehumanization, and center peace—because children everywhere deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to learn without fear.