I am an educator, entrepreneur, writer, and scholar. Today, I am humbled and honored to announce I am also a Democrat running for the State Board of Education, District 2.
I was born in McAllen, and I grew up in Pharr, Texas in a single-parent household. Through many financial hardships, my mother worked hard to provide for me. No matter how poor we were, my mother always instilled in me the importance of education so I could be the first in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Since age 19, I have dedicated my life to enhancing educational opportunities for students in South Texas. From college access to critical writing to service learning, my lessons have reached thousands of students of all ages. To me, the classroom is a place of opportunity.
Thomas GarciaIt was in my 7th grade English class I decided to become a writer after picking up a tattered copy of The Sea-Wolf. It was in my 12th grade U.S. Government class I planned to host summer institutes on college admissions for high school students at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. It was in my college writing seminar I determined to teach right out of college.
It was in my teaching prep class I formed a high school course based on my 4 summer institutes. It was in my graduate school pedagogy class where I turned my writing and college admissions curricula into a nonprofit organization. It was in my countless Zoom classrooms I realized I needed to serve my community in a more impactful way.
If elected to the State Board of Education, I would work hard to ensure the classroom is a place of opportunity for all students. No student should be left behind or fall through the cracks.
That means setting curriculum standards that encourage critical thinking rather than teaching to the test. That means listening to educators on adopting instructional materials that help students learn the facts. That means advocating for ethnic studies, dual language instruction, and service-learning opportunities. That means engaging with parents meaningfully so they can make the best educational choices for their children and contribute to their school communities. That means ensuring more transparency on how tax dollars are spent and easier accessibility to this information.
Our campaign will stand for students on all post-graduate pathways, from college to the workforce to the military. Our campaign will stand for parents who want their children to receive a high-quality education. Our campaign will stand for teachers and staff who work hard to uplift society by educating our youth.
Our campaign will stand for all constituents who simply want a better future for Texas, and who know that future begins in the classroom. From Hidalgo County to Matagorda County, our campaign will listen and learn from you.
With spirit,
Thomas Garcia
Democrat for State Board of Education District 2
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Thomas Ray Garcia, candidate for the Texas State Board of Education, District 2. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with the permission of the author. Garcia can be reached by email via: thomas.garcia09@gmail.com.
Producing quality journalism is not cheap. The coronavirus has resulted in falling revenues across the newsrooms of the United States. However, The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service is committed to producing quality news reporting on the issues that matter to border residents. The support of our members is vital in ensuring our mission gets fulfilled.
Can we count on your support? If so, click HERE. Thank you!
