Dallas Kids First candidate endorsement
for the May 4, 2019 Dallas ISD School Board election:
We encourage Dallas ISD voters to prioritize education at the ballot and elect strong leaders who are tasked with approving a $1.8 billion budget for the present and future of 157,000 kids. School Board leadership matters and it is unacceptable that just 7% of registered voters head to polls in support of kids by casting a ballot for these critical elections.
With no incumbent filing to run, one-third of the Board will be new to elected leadership. The “learning curve is big for everyone” as one candidate reflectively shared with the Dallas Kids First community panel, but the 157,000 kids in Dallas ISD classrooms today do not have the benefit of waiting for adults to focus on achievement & opportunity - hence an endorsement for individuals who bring depth of knowledge and experience working alongside community members with a focus of improving education.
With consideration to the research of the Lone Star Governance framework, provided through Texas Education Agency, Dallas Kids First brought a panel of students, teachers, parents, residents, and community leaders to meet 6 of the 9 candidates across Districts 4, 5, and 7. The panelists evaluated the discussion with a focus on: leadership experience, urgency, education knowledge, understanding of trustee role, community partnership, and of course - kids-first mindset. A kids-first mindset means budgetary decisions, policy-setting, and school evaluation is prioritized through the impact it will have for kids’ achievement & opportunity.
The core of advocacy by Dallas Kids First is that school board leaders must make tough decisions with a focus on kids - especially as it relates to having high expectations for all involved in education, empowering & holding leaders accountable across all schools, and making outstanding teachers accessible to every kid in the District.