"I come from a proud family that has been involved in public service for as long as I can remember. I want to work for you. We need to create a better educational environment for our students, improve parent involvement, and hold administration accountable. With nearly a decade of education experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated governmental agencies, and get things done."
LIST OF ISSUES
EDUCATION
Education is not just crucial for the county as a whole, but it is also essential for students in Harris County, Texas. Education tends to be the difference in economic stability. Education plays a significant role in each household across the county.
Pre-Kindergarten
The new psychological neuroscience assessment (Texas Kindergarten Entry Assessment) that has been approved by lawmakers in 2017 need to be carefully monitored. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine whether or not students have met specified developmental benchmarks and academic competencies as outlined by the Texas Pre-K Guidelines and TEKS. The data from the Texas Kindergarten Entry Assessment will provide teachers with a thorough analysis of student knowledge entering kindergarten. The assessment includes the following measures: Vocabulary, Listening, comprehension, letter names, letter sounds, blending, spelling, math, science, executive function, social and emotional competence, emotion management and academic motor skills.
We have to understand that each child develops cognitively differently at different ages and stages. Labeling children at such a young age can be detrimental to their educational growth. I have plans to implement a program in each pre-k classroom all over Harris County that will assist each student with their reading confidence and helping in their cognitive development. The implementation of this program will not cost the taxpayer.
Pre-Service Teaching Programs
How can we get the best teachers into our classrooms when so many politicians and policymakers cry that schools are failing? Under those circumstances, who would want to go into the profession? Additionally, pre-service programs need to improve because many of the graduates do not seem prepared for the profession.
Education Finance
Defunding of education has been an going issue for the past several years. To better educate our young people, we as a state have to understand the power of investing in education. Our future depends on how well our young people are taught. Until we properly invest in our education system, our economy will continue to suffer. I vail to push the issue for adequate funding for our underfunded schools in Harris County. Those students are only failing because they do not have the proper resources to be successful in the classroom.
Politics
Politicians have long mentioned education in their speeches but the past two years it seemed to have happened more than ever. Many politicians seem to focus on how schools are failing, and their only solution is standardization, accountability and high stakes testing.