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Leading in Difficult Times

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  The past five months have been unsettling. We are living in unprecedented times and the Board is having to make some very difficult decisions. When we finished the 2019/2020 school year, I never imagined that we would begin the new school year like we ended the last one. The District had to re-imagine what school looks like and find new ways to ensure a quality education for our children. During these times, we need experienced leaders helping to guide our district in adapting to these new and innovative ways of learning. We have a very diverse NEISD community. Some parents, students, and teachers want in-person learning, and some want virtual learning. Please know that the health of our children, teachers and our community is very important to us. The District has a strong safety plan in place and has implemented some stringent safety protocols. We are making decisions based on data from Metro Health that will help us decide how and when schools should open to in-person learning...
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Why Am I Seeking Re-Election?

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I am known as a strong, dedicated leader who is passionate about our children, their educational experience, and preparing them for the future. I have served as Board President for the past four years and was Vice President the two years prior. I serve because I have a passion for this District and doing what is best for kids. And I hope to make a difference in the lives of our children.  This is truly a labor of love for me. I have no political aspirations. Elected board members are not compensated. We all work to care for and protect and support our children, staff and campuses. North East ISD is fortunate to have a stable and dedicated board, which has enabled the District to prosper. Our board is making positive changes, and I want to continue to work with Dr. Maika and his staff to move the needle and do what is best for children, staff, and the community. Based on my experience over the past eight years, I know I can help the District address the most important is...
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Fiscal Responsibility

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We are living in an ever changing budget environment that constantly challenges the board. Experience and attention to detail are required to ensure employees are compensated fairly and competitively and the district maintains a balanced budget.  The board has had a very conservative approach to adopting our budget the past several years. We adopted a budget this year without a raise or other additional compensation and, while that was difficult to do, we wanted to be prepared if we had a shortfall of revenue. We are fiscally responsible in that we spend within our budget, put our money into our classrooms, and would not consider cutting services. We want to ensure that we are able to provide all of the programs and services that our children, parents and staff value.   In order to help our taxpayers, the board has lowered the tax rate every year since Sept. 2015 for a 12% total reduction.
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COVID-19

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In the short term, COVID-19 is at the forefront. I’m proud of the swift action that our District has taken in order to care for our children and staff. We quickly set up 32 sites to provide to-go meals for our children on the first day of school closure. For those children without transportation to a feeding site, our buses will deliver to 41 additional locations. The board approved a resolution to pay all employees during this health crisis. Additionally, we granted the Superintendent authority to develop and implement education continuity plans that include online learning, virtual learning, workbooks/worksheets/packets, and other distance learning programs. In addition, counselors at each high school will be available through a direct line to support all students during this difficult time. 
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Student Engagement

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Our Board identified a need for ongoing student input to help us make decisions. That is why we implemented Student Voice Committees at each high school campus. Each committee discusses a topic we provide and then sends two representatives to discuss issues with Dr. Maika and myself. We then share those issues with the Board, and it provides insight into our decision making. Our students have very powerful voices, and we have learned so much from them. I will work with Dr. Maika to expand this program next year to include each board member attending their campus’s Student Voice committee meetings. The board members would then report out what they had learned in their individual committee meetings. And I would also like to explore expanding it at the middle school level.
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Mental Health

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The mental health of our children is of the utmost importance.  We added STAN (Student Teacher Assistance Network) Counselors to the Middle Schools.  These counselors help students maximize their success emotionally, socially, behaviorally and academically.  We will continue to provide our staff with the resources to quickly identify students in crisis. And I will ensure that we provide our students with resources to help them deal with their mental health needs.  Secondary stress is a real issue for our teachers so we have raised awareness about the Employee Assistance Program. As a result, we have seen a significant increase in services being provided. I will continue to be a strong advocate for this program. 
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Why is the Current NEISD Board Diverse and Strong?

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The NEISD Board of Trustees is a very diverse board. We come from seven different backgrounds and experiences. We are a majority minority board and this has made us very effective in understanding the needs of our community. We all have the common goal to do what is best for children. Because we are all focused on the common goal, we are a very high-functioning board.  In 2014, we were a finalist in the HEB Excellence in Education “Best School Board in the State” category. The category recognized the importance of strong board leadership.  One of the judges commented that our meetings ran smoothly and quickly, and we had many unanimous decisions. In 2015, we were an Honor Board recognized by Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). One of the criteria for that recognition is the maintenance of harmonious and supportive relationships among board members, to include indications of unified action by the board and evidence of effective resolution of differences. ...
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