Pasadena ISD Position 5

Kenny Fernandez

Email: KennyF@nasaops.com
Phone: 281-684-4421
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kennyf10
Website: www.friendsofpisd.com

 

 

Why are you running for a position on the Board of Trustees? Is there a particular passion that motivates you to serve?

I have served eight years as a PISD Board of Trustee, and through my years of dedicated service, I have witnessed excellence and developed a deep appreciation for what happens every day in the classrooms across our district. I want to continue the work we are currently doing to support our students in providing them with the best outcomes we can. I am motivated most by the achievement made by our students in a variety of areas. Students have so many opportunities to excel - whether it is Fine Arts contests where our students are awarded scholarships to pursue their education or other areas of interest such as enrollment in CTE courses that help pave the way for their futures beyond high school. Our district is accomplishing great things, and I’m proud to be a part of this team. 

What qualifications, work experiences or volunteer efforts prepare you to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees?

As a graduate of J. Frank Dobie High School, a life-long resident of the South Belt, son of a PISD retired teacher and parent of a PISD graduate and ECHS freshman, I am uniquely qualified to serve our schools as a Board member. When first elected in 2015, I was exposed to the inner workings of our school district, and I have been provided multiple opportunities to train as a Board member through the Texas Association of School Boards. I have attended various workshops over the years on school board governance. I understand my role as a member of an eight-person team committed to ensuring our district runs efficiently and is meeting the needs of all students. My volunteer efforts consist of my service as a Director on the Gulf Coast Area Association of School Boards and I am an active member of Sagemont Church. In addition, I currently serve on the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce and served as Chairman of the Board from 2020-2022. Other volunteer work includes active participation with the PISD Athletics Hall of Fame. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of for Pasadena ISD?

I believe there are so many accomplishments that make me proud to serve as a Board member. Still, one accomplishment that I believe stands out as critical to our community’s overall success includes our partnership with San Jacinto College to provide a world-class educational experience through our Early College High Schools. Having five separate early colleges at each of our comprehensive high schools is changing the trajectory of the lives of our students by allowing them to receive their high school diploma and Associates Degree in four years. Our enrollment in ECHS has grown significantly over the last few years, and we are most proud of the fact that our ECHS program has one of the highest enrollments and graduation rates in the state of Texas. This program is an extraordinary success and is evidence of the excellence occurring each day in our schools and across our district.  

What challenges and opportunities for change do you think exist currently?

I believe we are still facing academic difficulties due to Covid and the impact of not having our students in school. While we provided internet access and virtual instruction to all students during that time, it will never be the same as being on a campus with age-alike peers and in a classroom with our outstanding PISD teachers, especially for students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. The instructional loss is one challenge we are working to improve, and we have made significant gains across all student groups. Still, now the challenge will be establishing budget priorities when federal ESSER funding stops. As a unified Board of Trustees, we must advocate in a non-partisan way for our state legislators to commit to supporting public education and not divert funds from public schools for voucher programs or private schools. 

Our community is facing significant workforce challenges, how would you work to collaborate with other stakeholders and partners to address this issue?

Not only do we have a Career and Technical High School dedicated to preparing students to step into the world of work in our local community, but each of our high schools has also invested in developing career pathways to help students grow in their area of interest while preparing them to become College, Career or Military Ready (CCMR). I believe we must continue to collaborate with San Jacinto College and our local business partners to understand their needs for our community so that we provide the necessary skills for students to achieve well beyond high school into college and the world of work. Being a member of the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce allows me a unique opportunity to work hand in hand with our partners to address issues we face as a community. 

If elected to the Board of Trustees, what do you think your primary responsibility would be in leading as a trustee and what is your personal leadership style?

My primary responsibility as a Board of Trustee member is to serve on a team of 8 to represent the 50,000 students of this district. Our Strategic Plan is clear and provides a multi-year timeline of what we want to achieve and where we want our district to be by 2025. I am committed to ensuring we support the Superintendent in her efforts to run a district that is safe for all students, that challenges each child academically and prepares each child for a world that changes daily. My leadership style is participatory because I am one of 8 individuals committed to Pasadena ISD. I am not afraid to ask questions and to seek clarity when necessary to make informed decisions. I will always keep students as the number one priority to ensure we are doing all we can for our community now and in the future.

Larry Savala

Email: larrysavala@gmail.com
Phone: 832-970-9797
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HispanicFamilyInitiative
Website: same as above

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why are you running for a position on the Board of Trustees? Is there a particular passion that motivates you to serve?

I was appointed to the PISD Board Position 5 and served in 2014-2015. Board trustees are trusted officials who must serve as a team. They must also serve the community that elected them. Trustees must be trustworthy and must not serve for their own interest but for the interest of the students, faculty and parents of our district. Trustees must be held accountable for wrong decisions. I will work with all trustees and put 100% of my attention on what is best for the students, staff, and families of PISD and not for myself. I love serving for the best of students and staff.

What qualifications, work experiences or volunteer efforts prepare you to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees?

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans partnered with me during the Bush Administration to bring awareness to great opportunities in education. This partnership was in 2005 and 2006 at the Hispanic Family Conference I founded to help teachers, principals, counselors and community leaders understand the how to communicate these opportunities to the families they serve. I also created a parent/teacher initiative in 2013 that trained local teachers and parents how to communicate as a team for the best interest of students. When my son Larry was murdered in 2006 my family created the Larrys Gift celebration honoring my son and blessing hundreds of students and families in PISD with a great Christmas. The principals and counselors of PISD select the families in crisis and those families are treated to a special celebration with new gifts, food, and lots of God's love.

What accomplishment are you most proud of for Pasadena ISD?

The retainment of good teachers.

What challenges and opportunities for change do you think exist currently?

The biggest challenge in our district is the division within our current board of trustees. There must be open communication for trust and good decision making to exist. The last election created this current problem and it must be addressed. 

Our community is facing significant workforce challenges, how would you work to collaborate with other stakeholders and partners to address this issue?

I would communicate with potential entrepreneurs the opportunities that exist with organizations such as the Pasadena Chamber to assist them and to partner with local companies to help create jobs for the men and women in our area. I also believe a strong marketing campaign aimed at our latino owned business would benefit this area. 

If elected to the Board of Trustees, what do you think your primary responsibility would be in leading as a trustee and what is your personal leadership style?

The responsibility to improve the board by creating team unity that does not currently exist and to make sure the superintendent has all the resources necessary to lead PISD. My leadership style is that of a servant leader who leads with honesty and integrity. I'm a good listener and I have learned to make difficult decisions.