2021 Position 3 Candidates

Nelda Sullivan (Incumbent)

Email: casnrs51@comcast.net

CLICK HERE to view candidate video

 

 

 

 

Why are you running for Pasadena ISD School Board? Is there a particular passion that motivates you to serve? 
I am running for re-election to the Board for a variety of reasons - the number one reason is to continue the success of our district. We have committed to our community to remain forward­ thinking and innovative in all that we do for our students. We have worked for many years building a solid foundation to make each student's success in our district possible. Having a stable board and a strong superintendent is necessary for a thriving district because consistency at the top provides a strong foundation. Witnessing every accolade, every accomplishment, and every achievement is what continues to motivate me to serve this incredible community and school district. 

What qualifications, work. experiences, or volunteer efforts prepare you to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pasadena ISD?
I have forty years of banking experience (35 years in an executive capacity) and five years as a legal assistant. This has given me valuable knowledge about the multiple programs and activities, providing a solid educational base for our students. I have faithfully served our community these past 28 years in a variety of different settings. Through my volunteer work I am proud to say I was named Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by the American Heart Association, and Volunteer of the Year from the Houston Professional Business Women's Association. Over the years, I have served on various district-level committees and various campus PTA organizations. I am a Merit Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts of America, and all three of my grandsons are Eagle Scouts. 
 

The chamber has partnered with PISD on many initiatives, and one of the most successful has been the development of an internship program aimed at preparing our future workforce for local businesses. What accomplishment are you most proud of for Pasadena ISD?
I believe I am most proud of our district's efforts to ensure that each graduate is College, Career, and Military Ready when they leave our district. Career & Technical education options are a priority, and I am proud to say our district is committed to providing CTE coursework not just at CTHS but at every high school campus. Our Board has also committed to the Early College High Schools, located at each comprehensive high school. I am very proud of our students and proud that we will have the largest graduating classes of ECHS in the entire state of Texas - all at no cost to our families. I am also very proud of our Pre-K programs at each elementary school campus. Our little ones are ready to start Kindergarten with the skills necessary for success. 

Through the numerous unprecedented crises our community has faced, the chamber, like PISD, has had to innovate quickly and remain flexible in meeting the needs of the community. What challenges and opportunities for growth exist for PISD currently?
The year has been unprecedented in what we have all had to face in terms of challenges - and our district is no exception. I believe this Board's stability and our support of Dr. Powell, as she has led through this crisis, is the fundamental reason our children are back in school and are experiencing success in the classroom. The most important current challenge we face is providing the necessary support of our district as they have worked tirelessly to help close the academic achievement gaps resulting from this pandemic. We have committed to providing the essential support for all of our students to have the technology in their hands to learn at home and school through the 1: 1 initiative where every student has their own learning device. Serving as an advocate for all students' academic excellence requires extensive staff development, something our district has committed to providing. 

As a result of the 2019 PEDC strategic plan, the Chamber implemented IMPACT Pasadena, a leadership program to develop future leaders for our community. What is your personal leadership style? If elected to the Board of Trustees, what do you think your primary responsibility would be in leading as a trustee and how would you want to be remembered as a leader for PISD?
Leadership Style - I am, first and foremost, a Servant Leader committed to the district to provide students the very best education possible. When I am re-elected to the Board, I will continue to support the district in all areas, including the Strategic Plan, which outlines our goals and objectives for the next five years. I wish to continue the successful programs in our districts that have been previously mentioned and support our various student programs, such as our award­winning JROTC programs and our Fine Arts programs. Our district has received "Best Communities for Music Education" for the 15th straight year. We are members at large to serve every child in our district - not piecemealing for competing factions or "projects." We make decisions based on the good of every student in our district. I accept it as a personal responsibility to participate in as many school district events as I can. I attend multiple events throughout the year to support our campuses. I am so proud of how we meet the community's needs, particularly at Nelda Sullivan Middle School. I have worked closely with the neighborhood around this campus to help meet students' needs. My promise is to do all I can to make our community better every day. 

“If you have alignment from the mayor, the civic societies, the nonprofits, and business, you can get a lot done. If not, you are just wasting money.” Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan Chase. The Chamber’s focus is connecting our community, and we believe collaboration is the key to community success. PISD’s current strategic plan drives the vision for the district and is based on educator, parent, administration, business partner, and community input. How would you work to collaborate with the other PISD Board Members, the Superintendent, and stakeholders to accomplish the mission of PISD?
I believe I have done this every day for this district for the past 28 years. Our Board is required, by law to actively participate in continuing education courses to ensure we understand policy, procedures, and governance, which includes partnering with our community through strong relationships with our mayor, our civic societies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. I have always been committed to participating in these trainings, and I am very proud to say I have made it a priority to exceed the minimum requirements of these annual trainings to ensure I am well versed in the business of Board relations. Serving in various leadership roles outside of the school district, including Past President of Pasadena South Rotary, Past President of Soroptimist of Pasadena, past officer of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for HCA Healthcare -Southeast, formerly Bayshore Medical Center, has not only strengthened these organizations but has been an integral component of ensuring strong community relations with our School Board. These are just a few examples of my commitment to ensuring we stay connected with our community's various organizations as they support our district's goals. 

Yen Huynh Rabe

Phone: 281-229-1409
Email: yenrabe@yahoo.com
Social Media: facebook.com/educatorsforpasadenaisd
Website: educatorsforpisd.com

CLICK HERE to view candidate video

 

 

Why are you running for Pasadena ISD School Board? Is there a particular passion that motivates you to serve?
I am running for PISD School Board because as an Educator, I am very aware of students, teachers and support worker needs.  I am passionate about seeing students fulfill their potential in their academics and personal abilities.  I am running to do what is right for students and not for self-promotion.
 

What qualifications, work experiences or volunteer efforts prepare you to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pasadena ISD?
I am an educator with 16 years of experience in the classroom.  I taught for 14 years at Pasadena HS where I was the sponsor of the French/International Club.  Our school emphasized community service through events such as Oktoberfest, Burn Sam and Larry’s Gift in which were participated every year.  I also organized local and international field trips to expose students and teachers to different culture.
I am a member of Pasadena Chamber of Commerce because I want to network with business members of the PISD community to ensure that there is a mutual benefit for students and businesses when it come to internship programs and student work.  Currently, there are no educators on the School Board.
 

The chamber has partnered with PISD on many initiatives, and one of the most successful has been the development of an internship program aimed at preparing our future workforce for local businesses. What accomplishment are you most proud of for Pasadena ISD?
I am most proud that PISD has the potential to change to meet the needs of the diverse student population.  So we need to provide them with a safe and comfortable environment to learn and grow.
I am also proud of the PISD teachers and support workers dedication and care of our students.  Thus, we need to provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs well and to compensate them well.
 

Through the numerous unprecedented crises our community has faced, the chamber, like PISD, has had to innovate quickly and remain flexible in meeting the needs of the community. What challenges and opportunities for growth exist for PISD currently?
We must be innovative to recover the lost of learning caused by the COVID pandemic and to bring student back safely to in-person learning.  
We must maintain aging schools and buildings.
The district has a proposed budget deficit of $16.7M for 2020-2021 and a $29M budget deficit in 2019-2020.  We need to focus on how to spend within the budget in order to meet students and teachers’ needs.  That includes competitive wages for teachers and support workers.  Health insurance costs have increased whereas benefits have not.
 

As a result of the 2019 PEDC strategic plan, the Chamber implemented IMPACT Pasadena, a leadership program to develop future leaders for our community. What is your personal leadership style? If elected to the Board of Trustees, what do you think your primary responsibility would be in leading as a trustee and how would you want to be remembered as a leader for PISD?
My leadership style is to lead by example- doing what is best for students and community and not using a position of power for self-promotion.
My primary responsibility is to serve as an oversight of the administration and spending of an annual budget of more than $627M.  Board members must serve at arm’s length of administrators to avoid quid pro quo. 
 

“If you have alignment from the mayor, the civic societies, the nonprofits, and business, you can get a lot done. If not, you are just wasting money.” Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan Chase. The Chamber’s focus is connecting our community, and we believe collaboration is the key to community success. PISD’s current strategic plan drives the vision for the district and is based on educator, parent, administration, business partner, and community input. How would you work to collaborate with the other PISD Board Members, the Superintendent, and stakeholders to accomplish the mission of PISD?
Collaboration may be key but oversight of the administration is more necessary to ensure that taxpayers’ hard-earned money is well-spent in providing students a world-class education in a healthy and safe environment.  
Feedback is vital from community, parents, educators, and businesses.  PISD’s vision is there but it needs to be put in action.  I would like more transparency when it comes to making big budget decision like approving the plans of the $27M administration building.  That cost should have been included in a bond for voters to decide or at least inform the public for their input.  Instead, it was made in a school board meeting that took 20 seconds of discussion to approve.

Sunil Nepal is also listed as a candidate on the ballot; however, despite multiple attempts via voicemail, email and social media to make contact, no response was provided confirming their intent to seek election or participate in the virtual forum.