Additional Information

Running for Texas House District 149 in the 2026 Democratic primary election.

Candidate Survey Responses

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RESPONSES TO THE 2026 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

1. If elected, what are your top priorities for Texas public education?

Please describe any specific goals or legislative initiatives you would pursue to strengthen the state’s public education system.

As a lifelong educator and Board President of Alief Independent School District, I support raising per-pupil funding and moving Texas from attendance-based to enrollment-based funding to ensure stability for districts like Alief, where high proportions of economically disadvantaged students and English learners make attendance-based funding inequitable. I oppose ESA vouchers and would redirect those funds back into public schools. I support indexing teacher pay to inflation to protect purchasing power, expanding Career and Technical Education through partnerships with Texas State Technical College and industry to provide workforce-ready training, and strengthening alternative postsecondary pathways such as community college, apprenticeships, and certifications. I also support educator mental health days and expanding access to African American, Mexican American, and Asian American Studies so students across Texas have meaningful opportunities to engage in inclusive, culturally relevant curriculum.

2. Public Education Funding:

The 89th Legislature passed an $8 billion school funding bill, HB 2. However, despite years of unanswered “inflationary challenges, a large majority of that funding was earmarked to specific programs and did not supply districts with significant flexible funding, leaving the majority of Texas students in districts with deficit budgets and other significant funding challenges. Do you believe Texas public schools should receive additional funding? If so, how should the state pay for it, and should that funding be earmarked at the state level or provide districts with flexible dollars?

Yes, Texas public schools need additional funding, and it must include meaningful, flexible dollars that districts can direct to their greatest needs, not just state earmarked programs. Despite the passage of HB 2 in the 89th Legislature, many districts remain in deficit budgets because funding has not kept pace with inflation or operational costs. The state can responsibly fund public education by drawing from the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund), which sits at over $20 billion, through the appropriations process and the House Public Education Committee. We can work with Chairman Buckley to advocate for such alternative mechanisms, redirecting ESA voucher expenditures back into neighborhood public schools, and exploring the dedication of a portion of oil and gas revenue beyond the Permanent School Fund’s current draw to support annual operating budgets.

3. ESA Vouchers:

Education savings accounts (ESAs) redirect public funds to private or home schools. How do you believe Texas should fund public schools, traditional and charter, alongside ESA vouchers? How should ESA spending be held accountable to taxpayers?

Texas has a constitutional responsibility to fully fund public education first before diverting public dollars to private entities. Public schools are accountable to taxpayers through elected boards, open meetings, financial audits, academic accountability ratings, standardized assessments, and civil rights protections. ESA programs do not operate under those same guardrails. If public funds are used for ESAs, they must meet the same transparency, testing, financial reporting, and nondiscrimination standards required of public schools. Taxpayer dollars should come with taxpayer accountability.

4. Teacher Recruitment and Retention:

Under HB 2, passed in 2025, all educators in core content courses (math, English, science, and social studies) must be certified by 2030. While this is a good start, more can and should be done to ensure high-quality teachers continue to enter the classroom. What are your suggestions to improve the quality of the new teacher pipeline?

Requiring certification in core content areas by 2030 is a strong baseline, but strengthening the pipeline requires intentional, practical innovation. First, Texas should expand and fully fund paid teacher residency programs that pair candidates with master teachers for a full year while earning a stipend, removing the financial barrier that prevents many high-quality candidates from entering the profession. Second, we should grow the “grow-your-own” pipelines by partnering districts with local universities and community colleges to recruit paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and high school students into the profession with tuition support and guaranteed job placement. Third, the state should provide targeted loan repayment or service scholarships for teachers committing to high-need campuses and shortage areas earlier, so that teachers are not sitting on so much debt right after graduating. Finally, we must invest in strong mentoring for the first two years of teaching, with reduced course loads and dedicated coaching, to improve retention. Retention is what stabilizes the profession.

5. Educator Pay and Benefits:

The 89th Legislature passed legislation creating a new mechanism to provide only classroom teachers with tiered raises based on early years of service and their district’s student enrollment. While the raises were significant, they did not apply to all campus educators, and the program created a significant negative funding stream at the district level due to unfunded increased costs for non-salary compensation tied to payroll, such as TRS retirement contributions. Do you support a state-funded across-the-board pay raise for all Texas educators? How would you ensure that compensation keeps pace with inflation and remains competitive with other professions?

Yes, I support a state-funded across-the-board pay raise for all educators, not just classroom teachers. Schools function as teams, and paraprofessionals, counselors, librarians, nurses, and support staff are essential to student success. Any compensation plan must also account for increased TRS contributions so districts are not penalized with unfunded mandates. To ensure pay keeps pace with inflation, the state should tie base funding increases to an inflationary index and conduct regular market comparisons so educator salaries remain competitive with other professions requiring similar education and responsibility.

6. Educator Health Care:

The high cost of health insurance for active and retired educators continues to reduce take-home pay, with educators shouldering the vast majority of their ever-increasing heath care costs. How would you address the affordability and sustainability of educator health care, particularly the TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care programs?

TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care are placing unsustainable financial pressure on educators. The state must increase its contribution to both programs to reduce premium costs and protect take-home pay. We should explore risk-pool adjustments, greater state cost-sharing, and long-term stabilization strategies so active and retired educators are not forced to choose between health care and household expenses.

7. Retirement Security:

Do you believe the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) should remain a defined-benefit pension plan for all current and future members? If not, what is your plan to provide a secure retirement for Texas educators, particularly considering that state law has been set up such that most districts do not participate in Social Security?

Yes, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas should remain a defined-benefit pension plan. As mentioned, most districts do not participate in Social Security, so TRS is the primary retirement security for teachers. Moving away from a defined-benefit model would destabilize the profession and undermine recruitment. The state must maintain actuarial soundness and ensure consistent contributions to protect long-term sustainability.

8. Accountability and Assessment Reform:

The Legislature has passed a new “through-year” multi-test model under HB 8. What role should standardized testing play in evaluating students, teachers, and schools? Should test results continue to determine A–F accountability ratings or teacher pay?

Absolutely not. Standardized testing should be one data point, not the driving force when evaluating students, teachers, and schools. Overreliance on high-stakes testing narrows curriculum and increases stress without fully capturing student growth. Test results should inform instruction and support, but they should not be the sole determinant of A–F ratings or teacher compensation. Accountability must reflect multiple measures, including growth, workforce readiness, and campus climate. I was a part of the Raise Your Hand Texas Measure What Matters study and spent time in Austin advocating for this exact perspective.

9. Parental Rights and Community Voice:

Recent legislative debates have focused on “parental rights” in education. In your view, what is the appropriate balance between accommodating the often conflicting wishes of individual parents while maintaining policies that reflect the broader community’s educational priorities and still providing consistency and an appropriate level of professional deference to educators?

Parents are essential partners in education, and their voices deserve respect. At the same time, public schools serve entire communities, not individual preferences. Policy decisions must balance parental input with the broader educational mission, state standards, and professional expertise of educators. As a school board member, I believe that local boards that are elected by the community are the appropriate forum for navigating that balance while maintaining consistency and fairness.

10. School Safety:

HB 3 (2023) imposed new school safety requirements but did not fully fund them. Although the 89th Legislature increased the School Safety Allotment, many districts continue to face substantial unfunded staffing and facility costs associated with school safety laws. How would you make schools safer and ensure the state provides adequate funding to meet safety mandates?

If the state mandates school safety requirements, it must fully fund them. Districts should not be forced to divert instructional dollars to cover unfunded mandates. The state should increase the School Safety Allotment to reflect actual staffing and facility costs, while also investing in mental health services, threat assessment training, and prevention strategies. Safety is both physical security and proactive student support.

11. Curriculum and Local Control:

What do you believe is the proper role of the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, and local school districts in setting curriculum standards and selecting instructional materials?

The State Board of Education should set clear academic standards, and the Texas Education Agency should provide oversight and guidance. However, local districts should retain authority to select instructional materials and implement curriculum in ways that reflect community values and student needs. Strong public education requires both statewide consistency and meaningful local control.

12. Educator Rights and Professional Associations:

State law allows educators and other public employees to voluntarily join professional associations such as ATPE and have membership dues deducted from their paychecks at no cost to taxpayers. Do you support or oppose allowing public employees to continue exercising this right? Why or why not?

Yes, I support educators’ right to voluntarily join professional associations and have dues deducted from their paychecks at no cost to taxpayers. Educators deserve professional representation and access to resources that support their practice. This is a matter of professional freedom and should remain a voluntary choice.

Additional Comments from Candidate on Survey

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COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE 2026 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

As a lifelong educator and current Board President, I bring classroom, campus, and governance experience to these issues. I have worked directly with students, supported teachers, and made complex budget decisions at the board table. I am running for State Representative because Texas needs leaders who understand how policy translates into practice. My experience positions me to advocate for fiscally responsible, student-centered policies that strengthen public education and respect the professionals who make it work.