By Kimberly Anderson, candidate for Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees
I believe you deserve a Board of Trustees which advocates for EVERY child, regardless of race, income, ability, or zip code and considers the impact that board decisions will have on EVERY child, EVERY time.
I believe you deserve a Board of Trustees which is accessible, approachable, and accountable because acting in the best interest of EVERY child requires open, honest communication and collaboration between the board, community stakeholders, educators, and the administration.
AISD serves an incredibly diverse student body with over 68% of our students considered economically disadvantaged, over 15% considered English Language Learners who speak 39+ languages, 55% considered At-Risk, and a constantly growing population of students qualifying for special education services. This poses challenges as the district strives to meet the educational needs of each and every student. And each and every student deserves to not only have their educational needs met but to have enriching opportunities and experiences which prepare them for life and success after high school whether they live in 79107 or 79119, whether they are enrolled in AP courses or attend a PPCD class, whether they are in athletics, fine arts, or student government, whether their first language is English, Spanish, or Farsi, or whether they are in a STAAR grade or not. The Board must seriously consider the impact its decisions will have on EVERY student to avoid inequity and ensure that every single student in Amarillo ISD continues receiving an excellent education.
This is why open, honest communication and collaboration between the Board, community, parents, educators, and the administration is so important. All of these parties bring important insight and expertise to the table, and the input of each group should be valued. We must be willing to commit to having true collaboration through our Site Based Decision Making Committees and District Education Advisory Council. These can no longer be rubber stamp bodies serving only to pay lip service to including the voices of parents, teachers, and community members in the decision making process. If we desire increased transparency and greater equity in our district, each of these groups must have a meaningful seat at the table, and for far too long educators have been denied an impactful voice in the process. Our teachers are the foundation of this district and besides parents, the stakeholders who know our children the best. Their knowledge and expertise should carry a heavy weight as decisions are made in our district.
Amarillo is an amazing community full of “doers,” people who see a need and fill it. It is exciting and awe-inspiring to think of what could be accomplished in our district if the community, parents, and educators were truly engaged and included in a collaborative relationship with the Board and the administration. It would be my honor to lead our district towards more transparency, greater equity, and greater respect and esteem for our educators through these collaborative relationships.
