Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Karen Clardy
Karen Clardy was a member of the Richardson Independent School District school board in Texas, representing District 5. Clardy assumed office on December 9, 2019. Clardy left office on September 24, 2021.
Clardy ran for re-election to the Richardson Independent School District school board to represent District 5 in Texas. Clardy won in the general election on November 5, 2019.
Clardy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Clardy previously served as the Place 3 member of the Richardson Independent School District school board from 2017 to 2019. She ran for and won election to the Place 5 seat after the school board voted to change board member composition from seven at-large seats to five by-district seats and two at-large seats.[1]
The board nominated Clardy to serve as board president for the 2020-21 school year and was re-nominated her for the 2021-22 school year. Clardy resigned from the board on September 24, 2021.[2]
Elections
2019
See also: Richardson Independent School District, Texas, elections (2019)
General election
General election for Richardson Independent School District school board District 5
Incumbent Karen Clardy won election in the general election for Richardson Independent School District school board District 5 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karen Clardy (Nonpartisan)  | 100.0 | 4,288 |
| Total votes: 4,288 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
Three of the seven seats on the Richardson Independent School District board of trustees in Texas were up for general election on May 6, 2017. The Place 6 and 7 seats were up for election to regular three-year terms, but the Place 3 seat was up for election to a two-year term due to the announced resignation of incumbent Kris Oliver. The race for the open Place 3 seat included candidates Joseph Armstrong, Karen Clardy, Eric Eager, and Ben Prado. Clardy won election to the seat. In his bid for re-election to Place 6, incumbent Justin Bono ran unopposed and won another term. Place 7 incumbent Kristin Kuhne defeated challenger Lynn Davenport.[3][4][5]
Results
| Richardson Independent School District, Place 3 General Election, 2-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Karen Clardy |
54.95% | 5,748 |
| Eric Eager | 22.55% | 2,359 |
| Joseph Armstrong | 12.41% | 1,298 |
| Ben Prado | 10.09% | 1,055 |
| Total Votes | 10,460 | |
| Source: Dallas County Elections, "2017 Joint Election," accessed September 20, 2017 | ||
Funding
Clardy reported $10,760.00 in contributions and $5,641.38 in expenditures to the Richardson Independent School District, which left her campaign with $5,118.62 on hand as of April 28, 2017.[6]
Endorsements
Clardy was endorsed by a number of community members. Click here to see a list of her supporters.
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Karen Clardy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clardy's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
- Teachers are our most important resource for classroom instruction. I will continue to advocate for additional salary compensation, curriculum, and professional development support and special education support for our classroom teachers. Additional teacher allocations may also be necessary to keep class sizes at a reasonable and teachable level
- I will continue to advocate for compensatory education funding which addresses the needs of our economically disadvantaged students.
- I will continue to advocate for all students in Richardson ISD
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2017
Ballotpedia survey responses
Karen Clardy participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates.[7] In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on April 16, 2017:
| “ | I believe that with my experience on a school campus I would be a great asset to the board. My experience sets me apart from the other candidates because I recognize and have been a part of the challenges of schools throughout our district. I want RISD to be the best district for all students. Our present school board is made up of men and women who truly want to serve RISD. They are all servant leaders. It is important to have board members that have a variety of expertise in order to have a well-rounded perspective of issues. There is no one on the board or anyone currently running for the board that can match my 25 years of school experience. I will bring a new and much needed perspective.[8][9] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in Texas. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| “ | The most important resources we have in our schools are our teachers, staff and district. One of the problems we have is the loss of great teachers with experience and retaining new teachers who have promising careers in the teaching profession. RISD is competitive with new teacher salaries, however we do not adequately compensate experienced teachers.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (April 16, 2017) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should defer to school board decisions in most cases. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. Proficiency is easily measured by testing but growth cannot be measured as accurately. When you measure proficiency, you can see growth over time. I think standardized testing is necessary to have a point of reference. It is equally important to include the growth percentage of individual students who may not meet the proficient status. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. Private school vouchers do little to help the economically disadvantaged students. The payments often do not cover the entire cost of tuition or other mandatory fees for private schools. Thus, only families with the money to cover the cost of the rest of the tuition, uniforms, transportation, books and other supplies can use the vouchers. Vouchers actually hurt rather than help socio-economic families by undermining the public schools they rely on for an education. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Expulsion should be used when school and student safety are in jeopardy. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Teachers Teachers are our greatest resources. |
The Dallas Morning News survey
Clardy participated in the following survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News. The questions provided by The Dallas Morning News appear bolded, and Clardy's responses follow below.
Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
| “ | I have worked for RISD at Lake Highlands High School for the past 25 years until I retired in June, 2016. I retired to spend more time with my family and to find another avenue on a larger scale to serve RISD. My experience on a school campus sets me apart from the other candidates because I recognize the challenges that schools throughout our district need to address. I want RISD to be the best district for all students.
I have had the privilege of interacting directly with parents, students, teachers, school administrators and paraprofessionals for the past twenty-five years. In that capacity, I also served as a liaison between the school administration and employees across RISD. I helped facilitate the implementation of three large bond renovations at the campus level. I have served on the district Retention Committee, Technology Committee and the Budget Review Team. I know my way around RISD. I’ve enjoyed friendships throughout the district, and I have a perspective on how policies, procedures and budgets actually play out in the schools. I would come to the board as a seasoned advocate in RISD.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
If elected, what two issues would you give the most attention and resources?
| “ | Teacher and Staff Retention- A benefit of being an integral part of the school campus for so many years has enabled me to be a barometer for problems that are issues throughout the district. One of those problems is that we are losing great teachers with experience and we are not able to retain new teachers who having promising careers in the teaching profession. RISD is relatively competitive with new teacher salaries, however we do not adequately compensate teachers with experience.
District Growth- Many of our schools in RISD are growing by leaps and bounds. Families are moving into our district because they value the school district’s ability to serve their children. We want to honor that faith by addressing growth proactively. I have first-hand knowledge of the importance of listening to our community and campus administration and the importance of involving them in addressing overcrowding issues quickly and thoughtfully.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
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 numerous board meetings.
RISD residents, teachers and parents deserve a transparent and responsive board that is held accountable. I believe open communication about issues being voted on is very important to our community. I also think it is crucial for board members to attend events throughout the district. The trustees are at-large board members, so they must be present and available to the entire RISD community during their tenure.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
As you look around the country, what innovative ideas would you recommend for improving classroom performance?
| “ | I believe the intelligent use of technology is an important resource for educating our students. The global movement towards technology makes it necessary for us to incorporate technology into the curriculum for our students so they are ultimately competitive in the marketplace. Teachers need to be actively involved in teaching our students how to use available tools to optimize their students learning experiences. The district is planning a 1 to 1 Chromebook rollout to all high school students next year. It will be important to give teachers choices on how they will use this added resource for their students. It is equally important to make sure that teachers have the professional development so they will know how to best utilize this resource in their classroom or for home assignments. It is of upmost importance to keep teacher/student verbal communication open and at the same time utilize the great resources that technology can bring to classroom learning. To summarize, embrace technology as a tool, but remember that our teachers are the primary educator in the classroom.
Another idea I have for improving classroom performance is to expand AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. This program is currently offer in the high schools and junior highs and a very few elementary schools. I would like to see this program expanded to all of the elementary schools. I have watched our high school AVID students achieve great results and most if not all of these students graduate and receive scholarships to college. Unlike secondary AVID that has specific classes, elementary AVID is for all elementary students. AVID gives young students a head start on being academically successful by focusing on skills such as how to study, to be organized and they are also taught writing and notetaking skills. These are just a few examples There are many other benefits to this great program. Introducing AVID at the elementary level would provide a strong foundation for continued academic success for RISD students. My third suggestion would be to provide a teacher allocation especially designated to monitor and teach In-School Suspension students. I have first-hand knowledge that these students need consistent monitoring from the same teacher. They need a teacher who will be able to actively obtain homework assignments and assist them so they do not get behind in classroom assignments. Students that are assigned to CMLC (Alternative School) should have all textbooks and materials needed to complete their assignments from their home school and they should have access to their home school’s technology sites to complete assignments. AP classes are not taught and no one ensures that assignments from the home school are communicated to the teachers at CMLC. I have found that when students in ISS and our alternative school get behind in their assignments, it only leads to more frustration and even more discipline problems.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
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?
| “ | Most of the students in the secondary AVID program targets our low-income students. The success stories of these students is proof of a program that actually serves the academic needs of our student population.
This year the junior highs went to ELA Block classes (1 ½ hours). I think this is a good step forward in helping low-income and diverse students overcome language barriers when they reach the high school level. The continuation and expansion of our CTE programs will most certainly benefit our students. I do not believe a tax increase to fund any of these programs would be necessary.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
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?
| “ | I don’t think you have to be too creative to save money. Based on my experience at a campus, I could make quite a list of ways to save money. One way would be to reallocate funds from unnecessary expenditures to areas where they can be better utilized.
Shifting costs to parents and students in my opinion is not an option. They have been nickeled and dimed through property taxes, classroom supplies, extra-curricular activities, art fees etc.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
The state has adopted an A through F accountability system for district and campuses. Do you favor or oppose this system and why?
| “ | I am opposed to the A through F accountability system. A letter grade does not reflect all of the great accomplishments that are happening in our schools. It is a very narrow accountability system. It’s amazing to me that any student absence for ANY reason counts against our accountability 'grade'. They need to go back to the drawing board on this system.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
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?
| “ | I think RISD is making great strides in improving graduation rates. A good example is the new Memorial Park Academy that is currently housed at Berkner High School while awaiting their new building to be finished. This non-traditional school is self-paced and offers some online classes to provide assistance to students who need to earn academic credits thus making them more likely to graduate. I believe that so far this year they have over 67 students that have graduated from this program. There is also another new program that has replaced Plato this year that is in all of the high schools. It is also a credit recovery program.
College preparedness is so important. I think it starts with our counseling departments. All students should be encouraged to enroll in challenging courses (AP, PreAP, Dual Credit, STEM, STEAM etc) that will not only foster a love for learning but will also prepare them to be successful in college. I would encourage our counselors to be more aggressive in helping students think beyond filling out a class schedule. Counselors need to be more involved and helpful in guiding students (9-12) with their class selections that would best suit their graduation plan and help them through the application process for colleges and scholarships.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
What schools in your district have been particularly effective in getting every child up to grade level in reading and math?
| “ | I understand that all of our schools are currently rated Met Standard. However, just like in all school districts not all of our students currently read at grade level. I am encouraged by the leadership of Dr. Stone to focus on growth for ALL students and as a board member I will make it a priority to support programs and policies that work to close the gap between our highest and lowest performers and make sure all students up to grade level in the most efficient manner.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
How would you assess your district’s current school choice efforts, and what changes are needed?
| “ | I think our school choices are improving. We have many magnet programs available for all students throughout the district. However, I think that magnet programs should be strategically located throughout the district to balance the student movement and attendance.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
How would you assess your superintendent’s performance?
| “ | Dr. Jeannie Stone is an excellent leader and she has made some really good decisions in her short term as Superintendent. I have seen many superintendents come and go over the years. I feel that Dr. Stone is with us for the long term. I believe she is willing and ready to embrace the necessary changes that are needed to make our school district the very best.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
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?
| “ | Early Childhood education plays a critical role in the development process of our pre-K students. I believe we can introduce and expand access to pre-K without increasing class size. With my knowledge and experience in budgeting on the campus level, I feel we can find funding for pre-K without instituting measures that would hurt other grade levels.[9] | ” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
What resources are lacking in schools in your district? How could the district deliver services in the most cost-effective manner?
| “ | The most important resources we have in our schools are our teachers, staff and administrators. Salary inequities, stipends and overall compensation packages need to be re-evaluated.
I believe the district is top heavy and some of the salaries that are being used for higher level administration could be used for our teachers and staff. That would certainly help to rectify this problem.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
In what ways can your district’s communications with parents be improved? Likewise, how can parental involvement in your district improve?
| “ | I think our school district has a very good communication system in place with our parents. However, I have experienced on the campus level major conflicts and problems because of the lack of communication between the district departments and campus administration. My mantra when I was on campus was 'there is no such thing as over communicating'.
In recent years, our district has made great strides with regard to communication. Parent receive messages (via phone, email or text) when their child is absent. Many campuses send regular emails and have informative and updated websites. The new Peachjar Electronic Flyers have been very successful this year. Communication becomes an issue when we do not all speak the same language, and RISD is very diverse. Parents cannot show up for an event or parent conference if they are not able to understand message. Schools need to have special programs and translators available to help these parents. Because I have worked in a school, I know there are many great opportunities for all parents to serve. It is important that we reach out to everyone. When parents feel like they are part of the community, they are more apt to encourage their children to be better students and better citizens.[9] |
” |
| —Karen Clardy (2017)[10] | ||
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Richardson Independent School District, "Notice to Candidates," accessed May 4, 2019
- ↑ Community Impact Newspaper, "Richardson ISD board President Karen Clardy turns in resignation letter, effective immediately," September 24, 2021
- ↑ Lake Highlands Advocate, "RISD trustee Kris Oliver resigns," January 10, 2017
- ↑ Richardson Independent School District, "2017 Filings," accessed February 27, 2017
- ↑ Dallas County Elections, "May 6, 2017 Joint Election: Unofficial Cumulative Results," accessed May 6, 2017
- ↑ Richardson Independent School District, "2017 Filings," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2017, "Karen Clardy's responses," April 16, 2017
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 The Dallas Morning News, "Voter Guide: Richardson ISD, Place 3 Special," accessed May 4, 2017
