Distinct differences

I am running for reelection to the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) because every child in District 13 deserves the chance to succeed. This race is deeply personal to me. Education changed the course of my life, and I know what happens when opportunity is out of reach—when a child’s future is shaped more by hardship, poverty, or zip code than by their God-given potential.

Youngest of 18 children in a family that struggled to make ends meet. My parents had limited formal education, which limited their opportunities and kept our family in poverty. When I was seven, my father died of cancer. To survive, we became migrant farm workers, following the harvest seasons and working wherever we could to put food on the table.

The years as a migrant farm worker changed me forever. I saw hardworking people give everything they had, day after day, yet still have too few choices because they had never received a strong educational foundation. I learned early that talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not reach every child. That truth has stayed with me, and it is one reason I fight so hard for students today.

The anchor of our family was my mother, a woman of extraordinary strength who transformed our survival into a lesson in civic duty. Even while relying on food stamps and Social Security, she taught me that receiving help meant we owed a debt of gratitude to the world. A painting of President John F. Kennedy hung on our wall as a daily reminder of his “ask not” speech. Driven by that vision, she raised her sons to defend our country in the military and her daughters to build its future as educators. She taught me that public service is never just a slogan. It is a duty.

My foundational belief in public service culminated in a distinguished 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, highlighted by 131 months of total operational submarine service. Operating in one of the world’s most demanding environments taught me the highest standards of discipline, accountability, and mission-first leadership. More importantly, it served as a masterclass in human potential. I proved that when individuals are met with high expectations, clear mentorship, and equitable opportunities, they consistently outperform what their past circumstances might suggest. I don’t just believe in potential; I have spent decades unlocking it in others.

After retiring from the Navy, I brought that same commitment to public schools. I served as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Within three months of becoming a teacher, I was promoted to department head, and the state of Virginia asked me to travel with its training team to help struggling schools implement best practices. Students selected me for the National Who’s Who Among Teachers four times, and I was also recognized as Tidewater Youth Advocate of the Year and Teacher of the Year. I have worked with students in classrooms, supported teachers, partnered with families, and helped lead schools. I understand what students need to thrive, what teachers need to succeed, and what parents expect from strong, safe, and effective public schools.

I am running for reelection because our children deserve schools that challenge them, believe in them, and prepare them for life after graduation. They deserve strong academics, safe and disciplined classrooms, meaningful accountability, and a curriculum that prepares them for college, careers, military service, skilled trades, and citizenship. They deserve leaders who understand that education is more than policy—it is the doorway to opportunity.

I am also running because families deserve a voice, teachers deserve support, and taxpayers deserve confidence that our schools are focused on what matters most: helping students learn, grow, and succeed. Every SBOE decision should begin with one simple question: will this help children build a better future?

Education changed my life, and I believe it can change the future of Texas. From the fields of my childhood to the Navy and the classroom, my journey has taught me that resilience, service, and opportunity matter. I am running to stand with students and teachers, support families, strengthen public education, and help build a Texas where every child can reach their full potential.