A Parent and Grandparent
My four children graduated from Texas public schools and universities. Eleven of my fourteen grandchildren are currently enrolled in Texas public schools. I have a vested interest in making sure our schools are preparing them and all our children for success in school, college, the work force and life.
As I visit with parents and grandparents, I hear their concerns. Concerns that echo my own.
Concerns regarding the high-stakes testing environment draining the fun from classrooms.
I hear parents and their children, including those in my own family, stress over the new STAAR test. I hear them discuss the negative impact of a high-stakes testing environment when teachers feel pressured to teach to the test.
I see more and more parents resorting to home school and private school.
I've heard their Want Lists. I have a Want List too.
I want to hear from all parents, grandparents, and other community members.
I want to join those board members attempting to pull down recently erected barriers that divide and demoralize our children and teachers.
I want to join those board members trying to restore public trust in our Texas public education system.
I want my grandchildren and all Texas children to attend the best schools in the nation.
I want them to be taught by expert teachers, teachers who are free to learn and grow and implement their learning in professional decisions based on the needs of the children they teach.
The State Board of Education must move out of the way and leave educational decisions to local teachers, administrators, parents, and school boards. Our children have lost and continue to lose many great teachers because of the pressures associated with teaching and testing.
Many of those barriers can be removed, and I intend to work with District 8 constituents, professional educators, and other SBOE members to do exactly that.