Prioritize enrollment growth

GCISD is experiencing high teacher attrition as well as declining student attendance—we are losing the equivalent of 150 students every six weeks. I will prioritize enrollment growth to attract new students and their families to our district. We must take steps now to ensure GCISD experiences a bright future. That cannot happen without our amazing students and teachers.

The loss of special programs like 50/50 dual language and STEM have caused parents to leave GCISD and enroll their children in surrounding school districts that offer more programming. We must use every tool we have to understand why parents are leaving GCISD and address those concerns. We need to restore the legacy of excellence which exemplified GCISD for so long, and that starts with supporting and marketing our stellar programs to attract new families.

In comparison to our neighboring districts, GCISD is falling behind in programs that attract families. Coppell ISD launched a state-of-the-art Career in Tech high school, while HEB ISD offers both an International Baccalaureate program and a larger selection of languages than GCISD. Additionally, charter schools are enticing students away with their specialized programs and the promise of school vouchers always looming in the legislature. 

Our children deserve a high-quality, personalized education that reflects our families and their children. GCISD has always boasted an elite reputation among public schools in North Texas. With collaboration and effort we can restore our attendance numbers and provide highly sought-after services comparable to our surrounding districts.

By focusing on growth, supporting and marketing our special programs, and making strategic decisions, we can revitalize GCISD, return to a legacy of excellence, and ensure a bright future for all our students.

Make smart financial decisions

We need to reevaluate our budget priorities and make smart decisions about how to spend our money to directly benefit our students and teachers. GCISD is facing a nearly $6 million deficit this year and our fund balance is being drained. This is unsustainable and jeopardizes our future.

We have also seen a troubling emphasis on political maneuvering in our district in recent years, resulting in excessive micromanagement of teachers. This undermines morale, reduces productivity, and wastes valuable time and money. And it comes with an additional cost: we are now spending far more time and resources on recruiting and onboarding new talent.

As your trustee, I will prioritize smart financial decisions in order to maintain our property values and ensure an attractive district for new families. As older families retire, it is imperative that their homes continue to maintain their value. We can make that happen by attracting young families seeking an elite school district with high-quality services and programming.

Keep our talent in-district and return to developing excellent teachers through mentorship programs 

We must restore our highly successful mentorship programs for new teachers. This was an attractive quality for job-seekers and is direly needed as we experience record teacher attrition in GCISD. Without seasoned teachers to guide new educators, we run the risk of missing best practices learned on the job and in the classroom.

Reducing the student-teacher ratio in Special Education classrooms is also essential for effective instruction. SPED classrooms should not be overcrowded. Similarly, addressing dyslexia and other learning differences requires specialized attention and resources that must evolve to provide competitive, high-quality services to attract new families seeking the best education for their families.

I will always listen to teacher experiences and make smart financial decisions that prioritize educator needs and student needs. We need to be analyzing and learning from teacher engagement surveys and exit interviews to understand and improve teacher retention.

By investing in mentoring and retaining the best teachers, we can provide the support necessary for all students to thrive.