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Eric Parker (Texas)
From Ballotpedia
Eric Parker was a candidate for Place 6 representative on the Lewisville Independent School District school board in Texas. Parker was defeated in the by-district general election on May 6, 2017.
Elections
2017
Two of the seven seats on the Lewisville Independent School District board of trustees in Texas were up for general election on May 6, 2017. In her bid for re-election to Place 6, incumbent Kristi Hassett defeated challengers Jon Hanna, Eric Parker, and Peter Rabner. Place 7 incumbent Tracy Scott Miller defeated challengers Shari Chambers and Sandra Weinstein. A third challenger, Colleen Shaw, originally filed in the Place 7 race, but she formally withdrew her candidacy on April 19, 2017, citing personal reasons. While she no longer campaigned for the position, Shaw's name still appeared on the ballot.[1][2][3]
Results
| Lewisville Independent School District, Place 6 General Election, 3-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kristi Hassett Incumbent |
67.69% | 8,027 |
| Eric Parker | 13.53% | 1,604 |
| Peter Rabner | 10.36% | 1,229 |
| Jon Hanna | 8.42% | 999 |
| Total Votes | 11,859 | |
| Source: Denton County Elections, "Cumulative Report–Official: Denton County–2017 May General and Special Elections," accessed June 6, 2017 | ||
Funding
Parker reported no contributions or expenditures to the Lewisville Independent School District as of May 3, 2017.[4]
Campaign themes
2017
Parker participated in the following survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News. The questions provided by The Dallas Morning News appear bolded, and Parker's responses follow below.
Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
| “ | My qualification of being a board member is on the merits. I am authentic, research motivated and recent from the lisd education system. I have taken on participatory role as a volunteer and i am offering 3 years of service to help. The board needs a team member and player to understand complexity of healthcare navigation and insurance cost . Healthcare background can be a insightful perceptive on education. Anything that touches tax money with healthcare needs to be examined to determine if package cost justifies the end investment.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
If elected, what two issues would you give the most attention and resources?
| “ | I would address the 'strategic design' failed policy which has lead the school district into different areas of interpretation and the board when packaging the bond. I would replace strategic design with L.E.A.R.N which stands for Language, Education, Access ,Readiness and Navigation; laying out a direct platform and vision for being involved in education. It would be an outline I would embed as policy to influence arguments from the board and local committees on issues that affects education without miscommunication on the purpose.
The second issue at hand is lisd is facing a growth and the district needs a debate on classroom sizes and the future designs of buildings that cope with this issue, which could cause devastating long term effects if the work flow analytic provided to the district, do not cover both the cost and the educational needs of students. Lisd needs to have a realistic approach to number of students in a classroom and the amount of teachers to hire.[5] |
” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
For non-incumbent trustees: Have you attended any school board meetings? If so, what have you learned about how a board member can be effective?
| “ | I have attended the school board meetings, majority of them are online. My research is specific on education allotments pertaining to how the school runs and functions financially. The last meeting that I did attend was the revealing on the bond allocations and the representation from the committee that helped shape the bond package. the process was insightful and an effective I learned how a board member can operate is to engage with parents and students away from the desk and listen to there concerns.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
As you look around the country, what innovative ideas would you recommend for improving classroom performance?
| “ | Social involvement is needed for not only learning advancement but also the therapeutic properties. Self esteem plays a role in how a student can successfully tackle a subject in education. Peer-peer interaction is vital in keeping a good self esteem in grade levels 6 and above. I would innovate the idea of small group tutoring. Where students are given a designated area to sign up with a study group in the exact same subject to better enhance themselves. Because of the age aspect the approach would need guidance from teachers who better understand their students to promote this kind of idea. It would also be a good reflection for self grading opportunity in peer reflection assessment. With math being low based on schools assessments in the performance index, the next question is...how do we better help our teachers to resolve this trend? this idea is only applicable to some subjects and helpful for math specifically. Partial credit is used when the process of the question is equal value to the answer. Other words, your thinking process matters in math by showing your work. The school district could select certain questions as being a district standard for the different type of math so teachers can follow through if deciding to grade on partial credit. The real purpose of the process is not necessarily to evade the answer and receive points, but to have real data in how the student thinking process worked when answering the question. The partial credit system therefore indirectly acts as a reward system for a student participatory role. Now teachers have real time data to better understand in what went wrong rather then investigating the how.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
Given the current funding structure, how does your district meet the academic needs of its low-income students? Are you willing to ask voters to approve a tax increase to create or expand these programs?
| “ | The district should always fight to improve any investment in public education. The district has a responsibility to supply data and use data as a driving force when determining how to help students. I am in favor of an early hood child education program like Pre-K head start for low come individuals. If you can invest in helping disadvantage kids in pre-K, you can save money in the long run when the kids are equal to their peers in kindergarten. The concept is similar to preventative care when addressing concerns at its earliest. The cost with these programs is determined by the class Set-up. It would be a debate to compare and contrast the two expenses. I would not ask voters for a tax increase as one board member alone has no such authority, that’s up for the board to debate as a team. My role as a board member is to give information to parents and supply research for the board to debate however I am willing to offer a new perspective to gather funds. Currently the school district receives $275 for 9-12 attendance under the current code. I believe this number is outdated and undervalued. Lisd with other independent school districts should argue for a better number to gather more funds from the state to relieve local tax payers. The next question is then asked, where Texas does gathers the money to increase the allotment. The NTTA budget shows a trend of an expanding surplus from its current expense. Perhaps a percentage of the NTTA capital projects or any money left over that are not used on roads is used to help fund the education allotment increase. The extra boost of money to our schools would be just enough to help fund any future programs . Texans should discuss how much does the state help our local tax payers. A state wide discussion may help innovate ideas to tackle the education allotments.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
Many districts are exploring creative ways to save money or shift costs to parents and students. What creative measures would you favor or oppose and why?
| “ | If schools district must shift funds and expenses directly out of parents wages and treat education as a service fee, that type of action speaks for how little help the local tax payers receive from the state. I am not a fan of pushing every penny out of parents from either there wages or property taxes; however if conclusion does come to shifting cost, we must priorities as a school district. Frisco ISD purposed a $300 extracurricular activity fee to pay for activities at the expense of parents while priorities its resources in the budget to more meaningful investments in education. This is a potential idea I would mimic while taking in the account lisd does cover lower income individuals, so the value must be equal to the amount of the expense. I would debate on giving lisd parents choices in an open discussion. Have lisd parents poll a number as a community and everyone pays a one time yearly activity fee or have the option to only parents who want their children to participate in extracurricular activities paying individually a higher fee making extracurricular activity expense self-sufficient with those whom participate. Therefore, the school district could reshape its budget to focus funds more into the classroom to improve grades.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
The state has adopted an A through F accountability system for district and campuses. Do you favor or oppose this system and why?
| “ | If the A-F accountability was the post actions of House bill 5 then Texas schools really did get the bad end of the deal. If you read through the law you come across Sec. 39.053, under this section you have "Performance on the achievement indicators adopted under Subsections (c)(1)-(4) shall be compared to state-established standards. The indicators must be based on information that is disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status." Socioeconomic should not have relevance to what a student can achieve in education. There not the question of why the student cannot achieve but rather are there funds to help them achieve. The commissioners is given a broad choice to have a indicator on what the commission believe is flawed, the question is does this indication goes against TEA data or meant to be congruent? Which system does the district follow? Does the school district have any flexibility to ask for an appeal of the results? Will the accountability affect funding for public schools? While legislative attempt may seem helpful, it’s raising more questions than it does with answers. For that reason I am opposed.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
How would you assess the district’s efforts to improve graduation rates and increase the number of students prepared for college? What further improvements would you advocate?
| “ | The school district has always been commended for a good graduation rate. The real problem is the rising tuition cost of college and student debt that is associated. To cope with this situation student are either not attending college or are viewing alternatives in education. While the School districts are looking into CE (continuing education) credits or magnet schools; which are good for skill specific to help students in the skill force, there always the argument a person must be well rounded. Majority of CE classes are not transferable credits for a degree path . This sort term solution does not address the widening gap of students that obtain a high school education vs. college level education. This is a real problem happening to the millennial cohort and to fix this problem starts in the public education system. I would advocate in reducing the regulations in dual credit system and creating an equal uniform policy between the colleges and lisd. Dual credit system can help fix the education gap if promoted in the correct format. This offers a chance for students to tackle core classes and help reduce tuition cost. With the rising trend of students and employers seeing associates degree in a favorable light, lisd needs to help to improve this trend.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
What schools in your district have been particularly effective in getting every child up to grade level in reading and math?
| “ | It very hard to distinguish the capability for a school to grade level their students on his or hers academic performance level without the consideration of their own cognitive ability and intellectual functioning. Retrospect on this deficit, the next know data to review was the performance Index. 2014-2016 The Colony high-school and Lewisville high school presented the most overall distinguishable improvements in closing the economically disadvantage and education gap in math, reading and science. Middle schools across lisd showed exemplary status with Mckamey and Castle Hills in the known lead however; there seemed to be a linking reflection of socioeconomic status in aspect some middle schools did not show a distinctive improvement from 2014 - 2016. Wellington elementary in my view was shown to be the most distinguished in the performance index, acting as a lead example between 2014-2016. There was improvement to some degree across the board in the elementary schools. 2014-2016 also presented different schools across the grade spectrum showed a retrograde in the science's with no clear correlation of why. The district has done well to focus its attention on desirable aspects to be distinguishable in achieving higher standard proficiency but; there needs be a review in the schools that did not achieve this desirable affect in the district with some needed attention to help equalize the standard performance.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
How would you assess your district’s current school choice efforts, and what changes are needed?
| “ | The school district tried its best in allowing parental flexibility in choosing a school the parents wants their child to attend. With the rising population and the max capacity of our schools , the district has no choice but to tighten guidelines. This is a result of not having equal proficiency across the district which is the driving for the the reason why parents want a school choice effort. It giving parents a bad deal with the school zoning lines and the local areas they have chosen to live ,by not providing them with proficient schools for their children educational needs. District needs to stop focusing on where to put student and start focus on the issue at hand, how do we improve the schools in which students are transferring out of.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
How would you assess your superintendent’s performance?
| “ | Superintendent Dr. Waddell was my superintendent when attending lisd. There was a lot of controversy when it came to technology specifically the cell phone fine policy. Over time the policy was removed and replaced with bring your own technology with much applause from parents and students. It was a smart resolution to a growing environment of education mingling with advancement for the 21 century. I believe that notion may of been taken too far with strategic design. Dr. Rogers I can only critique from what I have researched myself and taken in the account, it’s difficult to manage an estimated 6,000 employee and 54,000 students. With the current tax code, current bond election and acting as the check and balance for legislative responsibility and the district day-to-day school task in the curriculum. His ability to guide the boat is commendable.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
Where do you stand on the importance of early-childhood education? Would you support increasing class-size ratios at other grade levels in order to introduce or expand pre-K?
| “ | Parent’s value for early hood education is because of the plasticity of the child’s mind. Psychology has taken a deep interest in in using the advancement in science to improve on known theories that shaped education. Not a claimed psychological expert; I am aware children are dependent of the school abstraction in knowledge. Psychology today has helped to understand the different types of intellectual functioning or low intellectual functioning and how to effectively help both parties in education. I'm aware psychology today has clearly said, Childhood early education is cost prevention and education extension to a better and healthier life style as an adult and I do agree. The debate is shifting on how to appropriately address this revelation in class room sizes. I am a personal fan of smaller class rooms however; there also the debate on cost effectiveness and how to approach this investment on future and current building designs. I cannot say whether or not increasing other class-size ratio would be beneficial to introduce or expand on pre-k . Adjusting other class size would involve determine the amount of student that would be enrolled in a pre-k program and adjusting the class room size accordingly.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
What resources are lacking in schools in your district? How could the district deliver services in the most cost-effective manner?
| “ | Lisd district is very blessed with its resources and materials. There always the argument the grass is always greener on the other side. While it’s true the budget can be balanced, smart spending, and debate on self-sufficiency in programs. There not what the district is lacking in but, what areas of resources that the district should improve on. My research into the school district and I notice there is a flaw. Currently the standard for data comes from the TEA (Texas Education Agency) the TEA assessments are from the standardizes testing. While there disagreement in the approach on how standardize testing should be formatted, it’s the only known accredited data supplied to lisd on curriculum assessment. Currently that data shows some schools are behind in reading, math and science. If the district wants to dispute the standardize testing results, it must create its own curriculum assessment that accumulates a review for students to better understand the student development in reflection to curriculum success and failures throughout the 9 weeks. The data can also be used to compare and contrast a better curriculum and improve students’ performance. The cost approach would only equal to the amount of volunteer input, in-school testing approach and feedback from teachers. While it’s important for TAMSA (Texans advocating for meaningful student assessment) lisd really does need to lead by example on the local level.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
In what ways can your district’s communications with parents be improved? Likewise, how can parental involvement in your district improve?
| “ | Improvement to communication is only equal to the person communicating, but how information is shared and the timing it takes to be received by parents is one area that is very much lacking in the district professionalism when it handles harassment in public education. There are too often situations when the district is aware of a student being involved with harassment, drugs or violence yet failed the parents by not acting or communicating accordingly. This is a reoccurring theme that I have also witnessed. It’s a result of not having a time intervention policy that promotes better accountability to help the parents of lisd. Time is critical, Time intervention is necessary. Second note to that topic, parents today are over worked, stressed and work around the clock to help their families. In a result, parental involvement does lack. It’s in the school best interest to flex around this growing trend. I would innovate the idea in the type of technological applications lisd should invest in to better improve curriculum communication channels through similar application that are done with student; could also be used with parents for example: canvas and blackboard. To make the application efficient the login page for parents should be front and center on the lisd website homepage. The parents are then given instruction on set up, how to manage and can receive or send teacher feedback and be aware of school related activities that both students and parent can participate in.[5] | ” |
| —Eric Parker (2017)[6] | ||
See also
- Lewisville Independent School District, Texas
- Lewisville Independent School District elections (2017)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Lewisville Independent School District, "School Board Election - May 6, 2017," accessed February 20, 2017
- ↑ The Lewisville Texan Journal, "Shaw unofficially withdraws from race for school board," April 20, 2017
- ↑ Denton County Elections, "2017 May General and Special Elections: Unofficial Results," accessed May 6, 2017
- ↑ Lewisville Independent School District, "Election Information - May 6, 2017," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 The Dallas Morning News, "Voter Guide: Lewisville ISD, Place 6," accessed May 3, 2017
| Lewisville Independent School District elections in 2017 | |
| Denton County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 6, 2017 |
| Candidates: | Place 6: • Incumbent, Kristi Hassett • Jon Hanna • Eric Parker • Peter Rabner Place 7: • Incumbent, Tracy Scott Miller • Shari Chambers • Colleen Shaw • Sandra Weinstein |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
