1. What specific issues do you believe our district needs to address? In turn, what solution would you introduce?

• Student safety – a security plan, safe facilities, safety drills and an efficient, effective communication system for emergencies.
• Student discipline -monitor and review discipline referrals on campuses and study ways to create and maintain safer learning environments.
• Student Success- look for measurable academic growth for ALL students.
• More teacher recognition and better pay.
• More frequent communication between students, parents, schools and community.

2. What guidelines should be followed for books containing obscene or explicit materials in school libraries or classroom libraries? What steps should be taken to ensure transparency for parents on this issue?

Review district policy and engage parents, educators and community leaders for input; then determine a transparent plan of action.

3.  Should schools collect data through surveys or questionnaires for programs such as SEL (Social Emotional Learning) to modify curriculum for individual students based on race or socio-economic status?

I would like to review existing surveys and questionnaires to learn more about what, how and why such data is being collected.

4. Do you believe schools should be able to hide gender identity issues from parents?

Schools shouldn’t “hide” anything unless it violates security, confidentiality, PIA (Public Information Act) or FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act).

5. What role should the “school” and the “parents” play when it comes to providing counsel for a child wrestling with their gender or identity?

Each student has a unique “story” and deserves respect. I would hope that the parents and the school would work together to help the child work through whatever was the issue.

6. What are your thoughts on “inclusive” bathrooms and locker rooms?

The safety of our students encompasses each area of public schools from the classrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms and rest rooms. We do not want to intrude in the privacy of a student in the restroom but we must ensure students feel safe in bathrooms and locker rooms. Restrooms/Locker rooms should be male or female designated.

7. Please explain what guidelines for sex and gender should be followed for participation in student athletics.

UIL rules and district policy.

8. Do you support zero tolerance or restorative practice disciplinary policies for our schools?

I’m familiar with zero tolerance, but not restorative practice.  When I researched “restorative practice” I found these 5 principles:

• Relationship.
• Respect.
• Responsibility.
• Repair.
• Reintegration.

I would like to assess our district’s current policies and determine what improvements or changes need to be made after visiting with parents, students, educators and administrators.

9. How do you propose we raise the standards on academics and/or reverse the declining trend?

Providing teachers and their students with the resources that they need to achieve is an important step. I propose that we:

1.  Gather the data and review it.
2.  Identify gaps and areas in need of improvement.
3. Assign resources and specialists to those students who need assistance.
4. Measure again and hold all involved accountable.
5. Ensure that policies and procedures support learning and innovation.

10. Parents cannot view many 3rd party resources because of proprietary laws. Do you support the use of resources to which parents do not have full access?

What are some of these third party resources that parents cannot access?  Parents should have all resources available to them, with the exception of tests and measurement tools and any documentation that violates FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) laws.
Proprietary laws refer to the rights that accompany legal ownership of tangible or intangible property; rights over or in respect of property. There are four types of proprietary products: pharmaceuticals, software, patented and trademarked.

1. What specific issues do you believe our district needs to address? In turn, what solution would you introduce?

• First we must get control of the schools. No more cell phones for students in schools and remove problem students.
• Second, streamline administration. Get rid of useless over paid positions and focus the money towards frontline workers such as teachers and their aids (who make less than $100 a day).
• Thirdly, institute 3 recesses for elementary on down. Some time less is more.
• Fourth, focus more on critical thinking and problem solving.
• Fifth, if we are going to build a new school then it should be done in a normal fashion such as plans and bids versus the blank check approach.

2. What guidelines should be followed for books containing obscene or explicit materials in school libraries or classroom libraries? What steps should be taken to ensure transparency for parents on this issue?

Books should always be age appropriate. And the schools should always be transparent to parents on anything.

3.  Should schools collect data through surveys or questionnaires for programs such as SEL (Social Emotional Learning) to modify curriculum for individual students based on race or socio-economic status?

Schools should target kids based on intellectual level and comprehension, not anything else.

4. Do you believe schools should be able to hide gender identity issues from parents?

No.

5. What role should the “school” and the “parents” play when it comes to providing counsel for a child wrestling with their gender or identity?

None. That should be left between parents and students and medical professionals.

6. What are your thoughts on “inclusive” bathrooms and locker rooms?

Male and female and use what is on their birth certificate.

7. Please explain what guidelines for sex and gender should be followed for participation in student athletics.

Same as #6.

8. Do you support zero tolerance or restorative practice disciplinary policies for our schools?

Yes, absolutely.

9. How do you propose we raise the standards on academics and/or reverse the declining trend?

We must start thinking outside the box. Tinkering around the edges of what’s not working isn’t doing anything. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! We need to teach critical thinking skills and problem solving starting at Pre-K and kindergarten levels.

10. Parents cannot view many 3rd party resources because of proprietary laws. Do you support the use of resources to which parents do not have full access?

I think everything should be open to parents with full disclosure except thing protected by HIPPA laws. The parents are the ultimate bosses of the school system.

No response provided.

1. What specific issues do you believe our district needs to address? In turn, what solution would you introduce?

• Raising our academic rating as a district from a B. This starts by supporting teachers when disciplinary action is required. Ensuring that all students are in the appropriate academic setting to ensure their success is extremely important.
• Restore disciple in the classroom with a three strikes policy.
• Communication – become proactive and transparent when sharing information with constituents. This starts with the leadership and their messaging

2. What guidelines should be followed for books containing obscene or explicit materials in school libraries or classroom libraries? What steps should be taken to ensure transparency for parents on this issue?

Anything with mature content even for academic purposes should be approved by parents as well as the school board. A controlled register of approved books should be kept with BISD administration, and disciplinary action must be taken against any staff or student member that brings unapproved books on campus. Although, parents should also assume responsibility for teaching their children what is and is not appropriate.

3.  Should schools collect data through surveys or questionnaires for programs such as SEL (Social Emotional Learning) to modify curriculum for individual students based on race or socio-economic status?

No.

4. Do you believe schools should be able to hide gender identity issues from parents?

No.

5. What role should the “school” and the “parents” play when it comes to providing counsel for a child wrestling with their gender or identity?

The counselor needs to notify the parent immediately. Once they have done so, it is the parent’s responsibility to handle it in the manner they choose.

6. What are your thoughts on “inclusive” bathrooms and locker rooms?

There should only be two types of bathrooms. Male and female.

7. Please explain what guidelines for sex and gender should be followed for participation in student athletics.

Boys should play on boys teams and girls on girls teams.

8. Do you support zero tolerance or restorative practice disciplinary policies for our schools?

Neither, disciplinary action needs to be handled and assessed on a case-by-case basis. The use of an alternative educational plan or behavior intervention plan should be created when trying to address repeat infractions. Removing a student from their home campus should be considered as a permanent solution when applicable.

9. How do you propose we raise the standards on academics and/or reverse the declining trend?

• Remove all technology not issued by the district upon entering the classroom.
• Teaching reading, writing, math, history, and science with everything included and nothing omitted. Leaving all other issues up to the parents.
• Supporting teachers in disciplinary action.
• Once an assignment is graded the grade is final.

10. Parents cannot view many 3rd party resources because of proprietary laws. Do you support the use of resources to which parents do not have full access?

No. I do not support the use of anything that parents will not have access to.

No response provided.

1. What specific issues do you believe our district needs to address? In turn, what solution would you introduce?

I believe maintenance is a big issue. From walking different campuses it appears they are reactive and a lot gets missed and left to get worse. We need to proactive with repairs and upkeep. I also want to take a look at the spending and the school budget. Having been in construction, I’ve learned to manage budgets and save money on projects. I would like to see if there are places where we can save money or cut back in some places and put money to use where it’s needed more.

2. What guidelines should be followed for books containing obscene or explicit materials in school libraries or classroom libraries? What steps should be taken to ensure transparency for parents on this issue?

I don’t like the idea of limiting or removing books. However, obscene and explicit material in books should be treated the same as it is on TV and movies. You must be a certain age in order to view them, or have parents approval to view them. Anything considered to be explicit or obscene should be age appropriate and a full reading list should be given to, and available for parents. 

3.  Should schools collect data through surveys or questionnaires for programs such as SEL (Social Emotional Learning) to modify curriculum for individual students based on race or socio-economic status?

No. Categorizing students by race or status sounds like racism to me. We should absolutely not be doing that.

4. Do you believe schools should be able to hide gender identity issues from parents?

No. I do not believe Brenham ISD currently does this which is a good thing, I do not believe information like this should ever be hidden from parents.

5. What role should the “school” and the “parents” play when it comes to providing counsel for a child wrestling with their gender or identity?

I believe our school counselors do an amazing job helping our students. When it comes to something like gender identity, I believe the school counselor should notify the parents right away and they should be referred to a professional therapist that can see them regularly and provide guidance to the student.

6. What are your thoughts on “inclusive” bathrooms and locker rooms?

If this is referring to mixed gender bathrooms and locker rooms, then my answer is simple. Biological boys should only be allowed in the boys locker room and bathroom, and biological girls should only be allowed in the girls locker room and bathroom. 

7. Please explain what guidelines for sex and gender should be followed for participation in student athletics.

Same guidelines we have always had. Biological boys participate in boys athletics and biological girls participate girls athletics.

8. Do you support zero tolerance or restorative practice disciplinary policies for our schools?

I believe both can be used. It depends on what the student does. Everyone deserves a second chance in most situations, however in some instances where laws are broken, than zero tolerance is most likely needed.

9. How do you propose we raise the standards on academics and/or reverse the declining trend?

I believe this is a problem at the legislative level. We need to leave the teachers alone and let them do their job. We have excellent teachers, and if we allow them to teach, I believe they will do an excellent job. Getting government out of the way in my opinion will solve a lot of problems.  I also believe we need to attract and retain high caliber teachers. Allowing them to leave to other districts for better pay is not in our best interest. 

10. Parents cannot view many 3rd party resources because of proprietary laws. Do you support the use of resources to which parents do not have full access?

I don’t know what this is asking, but if this is a law, then this is a legislative issue not a school board issue. I support full transparency for mandated curriculum being taught or better yet I support teachers being allowed to write their own curriculum the way they see fit to teach as long as they are transparent as well. 

No response provided.

1. What specific issues do you believe our district needs to address? In turn, what solution would you introduce?

1. Student safety and learning 

   1. Keep our kids safe at school so they are not afraid to go to school.

   2. Create discipline policies that correct inappropriate behavior and allow students to not only learn, but excel; preparing them to be better future employees and citizens.

   3. Identify, implement, and maintain quality, proven curriculum (removing controversial items such as common core, CRT, SEL, etc).

2. Parent empowerment and community involvement

   1. Create strong partnerships with parents and community members.

   2. Maintain rights and responsibilities of parents.

   3. Provide bi-directional lines of communication that are clear and transparent.
      

3. Quality teacher identification and retention

   1. Identify key concerns to teaching in BISD today and address them

   2. Create effective discipline policies that allow teachers to actually teach their students instead of police them

4. Facility planning and management

   1. Identify deficiencies in our schools and facilities.

   2. Create reasonable and financially prudent solutions.

2. What guidelines should be followed for books containing obscene or explicit materials in school libraries or classroom libraries? What steps should be taken to ensure transparency for parents on this issue?

It’s impossible to be the book police and come up with a definitive guide that will allow someone to decide YES/NO on every single book that is considered. That’s like Potter Stewart saying “I know it when I see it,” regarding obscene materials. However, basic guidelines should be implemented to restrict/prevent/remove obscene and explicit materials at all of the campuses, since that is not part of the educational curriculum. The librarians and teachers should be instructed and then held accountable for following that policy.

3.  Should schools collect data through surveys or questionnaires for programs such as SEL (Social Emotional Learning) to modify curriculum for individual students based on race or socio-economic status?

We need to be aware of individual needs and learning styles, but do not need to be collecting data for SEL.

4. Do you believe schools should be able to hide gender identity issues from parents?

No.

5. What role should the “school” and the “parents” play when it comes to providing counsel for a child wrestling with their gender or identity?

Parents need to provide counseling, with suggestions / preferences for counselors that can help encourage them to maintain their birth gender / identity.

6. What are your thoughts on “inclusive” bathrooms and locker rooms?

Bathrooms and locker rooms are for people of the same birth gender.

7. Please explain what guidelines for sex and gender should be followed for participation in student athletics.

Student athletics are for people based on the same birth gender.

8. Do you support zero tolerance or restorative practice disciplinary policies for our schools?

Zero-tolerance disciplinary policies, with common sense adjustments when necessary.

9. How do you propose we raise the standards on academics and/or reverse the declining trend?

Set a high(er) standard and hold the students to it. Stop giving 50s for students that are not doing any work. Stop changing the curriculum every 2-3 years.

10. Parents cannot view many 3rd party resources because of proprietary laws. Do you support the use of resources to which parents do not have full access?

Parents should have full access to any and all curriculum.