I'm running to give all students an excellent education.

I’ve wanted to work in education since I was a student in a struggling high school in my hometown of Las Vegas, New Mexico (not Nevada). More than half my friends dropped out of school and of my friends who tried college, most did not make it past their first semester. Many of my teachers did the best they could with the resources they had, but the harsh reality was that we were drastically underprepared for life after high school.

I went to Rice University where I decided that I wanted to commit my education to learning about injustice and how I can fight it, but I was met with a rude awakening before my first day of classes. My new college friends were discussing how many AP credits they earned in high school. Most had earned 5’s (the highest possible score) on at least 10 AP exams and a few admitted with shame that they earned only a 4 on a few of their exams and 5’s on the rest. I kept to myself that I took a total of three AP exams in high school and earned 2’s on all of them. I was tempted to call home to tell my friends and family that Rice probably wasn’t going to work out, but I had a strong purpose for being at Rice and I resolved to see it through.

Rice not only opened my heart and mind to a new world of academics, but also the city of Houston. I led a volunteer group of students to Cunningham Elementary every Wednesday for tutoring, mentoring, and recess with 3rd-5th graders. I also volunteered weekly at Yates and Wheatley High School to help students complete their college applications. I believed then as I do now that a great education is the best way out of poverty, and I committed my college experience to making myself the best educator I could be.

After graduating from Rice, I became a high school math teacher at Burbank High School in San Antonio, Texas. I then attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education to earn a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management to arm myself with the ability to better analyze big-picture issues in public policy. I returned to the classroom to teach high school math at IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Donald Trump was elected president of the United States during my tenure at IDEA. Many of my students were immigrants, including undocumented immigrants not protected by DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). These students of mine took a leap of faith and entered college anyway, fully aware that they probably wouldn’t be able to legally work unless we change our laws to reflect the values our country states on the Statue of Liberty. 

Their courage inspired me to work for Beto O’Rourke in his 2018 Senate campaign against Ted Cruz. Not only did I get the opportunity to work for a pro-immigration, pro-public education candidate in Beto, but I also learned the tools of organizing and advocating in the largest political organization in Texas history. After the election, I did education, non-profit, and government consulting while volunteering for HISD’s Ascending To Men program at Chavez High School. 

In March 2022, I joined Beto O’Rourke’s team again, this time as his Field Organizing Director, leading a staff of over 200 and a volunteer base of about 10,000. Our team broke records for number of doors knocked and number of conversations had to turn out the vote across the state. Though we came up short on our ultimate goal, we inspired people to use their vote as their voice for change.

Now the state of Texas has taken over Houston ISD, effectively taking away the votes of our elected school board members. But our student’s education is too important to sit this election out. District VIII needs a fierce advocate who will stop at nothing to fight for our students’ education. As your school board member, I will always listen to all of my constituents and will energetically represent your vision and values for our district. I will use every tool I have to influence the appointed board in every important decision involving our kids. I’ll never forget my anger and frustration for the school system’s failure to give my high school friends and I a fair shot at The American Dream and I’ll work tirelessly until every child in HISD is receiving an excellent education.