About Me
My background
Education is the civil rights issue of our time. Not since the days of Brown v. Board of Education has our educational system been so politicized both in our state and across our nation. District Two needs a representative with real experience and extensive knowledge to enter the arena and advocate for the nearly 1.8 million students enrolled in our District Two educational institutions.
After graduating from Brown University, I began my career in St. Louis, Missouri as a Teach For America Corps Member serving underprivileged students. I returned home to serve our very own, as a School Board President and in various state-wide positions. I was elected as a member of the Legislative Advisory Council with the Texas Association of School Boards Board of Directors as well as an Executive Committee Member with the Mexican American School Boards Association. Being elected to serve in these capacities helped me to leverage my current experience and continue my mission of promoting educational equality in South Texas.
In my six years in Missouri, I served as a teacher, an instructional coach, and a grants administrator. The knowledge and understanding I gained in these educational systems outside of Texas make me uniquely able to tackle educational issues here at home in the Lone Star State. I can bring classroom experience, innovative ideas, and a working knowledge of alternatives to the educational institutions in District Two.
I currently work as the Assistant Director of Public Affairs for the City of Pharr, where I handle all state and federal legislative issues for the city.
My top issues
Inclusive Education:
SBOE should not sanitize versions of our history. It’s misleading to downplay historical conflicts or scars around ideology, race, class, gender, and immigration because all are central to our state and nation’s rich histories. I will ensure that curriculum standards are curated from the bottom up, prioritizing the voices of parents and students in District Two and across the state.
Pandemic Recovery:
Some school districts are already altering programming by offering instruction during breaks and inviting targeted students to “Rebound Academies” focusing on those with larger achievement gaps, and SBOE should replicate this programming across the state. I will also listen to educators across District Two with an open mind on innovative ways to further remedy this issue.
Mental Health:
We are experiencing an exodus of professionals leaving education, due to stress and workloads, exacerbated by the pandemic. I’ve heard personal stories on the toll it takes on educators’ mental health across many districts. I will fight for expansion of mental health resources and ensure that we continue to cultivate the love of teaching and mental health of every educator.
My past relevant affiliations
Teach For America (TFA)
Leadership For Educational Equity (LEE)
Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)
Mexican-American School Boards Association (MASBA)
National School Boards Association (NSBA)
The Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE)
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)