Kendra Yarbrough Camarena

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Position 7

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Austin, 2001

Graduate

University of Houston

Personal

Profession

Director

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena is running for election to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District to represent Position 7 in Texas. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Yarbrough Camarena completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena's career experience includes working as a director and educator. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin in 2001 and a graduate degree from the University of Houston. Camarena has been affiliated with the Forest West Community Association, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Federation of Teachers, and Delta Kappa Gamma International Sorority for Key Women Educators.

Elections

2025

See also: Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Texas, elections (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Position 7

George Edwards Jr., Elecia Jones, and Kendra Yarbrough Camarena are running in the general election for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Position 7 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		George Edwards Jr. (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Elecia Jones (Nonpartisan)
		Kendra Yarbrough Camarena (Nonpartisan)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2019

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2019

General runoff election

Special general runoff election for Texas House of Representatives District 148

Anna Eastman defeated Luis LaRotta in the special general runoff election for Texas House of Representatives District 148 on January 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eastman (D)	65.4	4,544
		Luis LaRotta (R)	34.6	2,399

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,943
= 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.

General election

Special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 148

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 148 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eastman (D)	20.3	4,212
✔		Luis LaRotta (R)	15.8	3,282
	Submit photo	Adrian P. Garcia (D)	12.1	2,496
		Ryan McConnico (R)	10.8	2,228
		Michele Leal (D)	9.1	1,885
		Penny Morales Shaw (D)	8.0	1,652
		Chris Watt (D)	6.2	1,284
		Chris Carmona (Independent)	4.4	910
		Kendra Yarbrough Camarena (D)	3.9	818
		Rob Block (D)	3.3	679
	Submit photo	Anna Nunez (D)	1.9	388
		Carol Denson (D)	1.6	334
		Alva Trevino (D)	1.5	317
		Mia Mundy (D)	0.7	136
	Submit photo	Terah Isaacson (D)	0.4	90

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 20,711
= 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.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Yarbrough Camarena's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A devoted mother, wife, and public servant, I am passionate about strengthening my community through education, economic development, and collaborative leadership. With over 15 years of experience in public education, I have held a variety of impactful roles, including classroom teacher, department chair, and instructional coach. My journey began in 2002, teaching Government, Economics, World Geography, and U.S. History, where I inspired students to apply what we learn in the classroom learning to real-world issues and fostered academic growth through innovative programs.

From 2012 to 2018, I advanced to instructional leadership, supporting teachers across secondary social studies by designing professional development, curriculum, and assessment tools aligned with best practices and state standards. My dedication to educational excellence was recognized with the Ann Sledge Instructional Coach of the Year award in 2017. I currently serve as a director who oversees partnerships, economic development, and workforce initiatives. In this role, I develop and implement programs that address workforce needs, support small businesses, and foster collaboration between educational institutions, community organizations, and industry partners. My focus is on empowering small businesses and entrepreneurs, and ensuring our workforce is prepared for the demands of today and tomorrow’s economy.

Beyond my professional roles, I am deeply engaged in community service, volunteering with local o

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Protecting Student Safety & Driving Academic Excellence
• Guarding Your Tax Dollars with Smart Investments & Transparency
• Standing with the People Who Power Our Schools

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about advancing policies that ensure student safety, student success, smart financial stewardship, transparency, and open communication. That means adopting evidence-based safety measures, investing in academic programs that close achievement gaps, and making fiscally responsible decisions that respect taxpayers while maximizing resources for classrooms.
I also support policies that value and respect all school employees—teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, administrators, janitors, and cafeteria workers—by ensuring competitive compensation, fair working conditions, and opportunities for professional growth. Strong schools depend on strong teams, and every role contributes to student success.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered for listening thoughtfully, advocating strongly, and creating an environment where educators feel supported, parents know their voices are valued, and students are given every opportunity to thrive. Part of that commitment means asking the right questions and ensuring decisions do the most good and the least harm for students, staff, and the community. By balancing financial stewardship with the academic and community needs of our district, my goal is to help CFISD remain the district that families choose, the very reason each of us came.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Lifeguard at Harvest Bend and Carriage Lane Pool.

Who are your constituents?

The constituents of the CFISD School Board are everyone who lives within the district—students, families, teachers and staff, taxpayers, and community members. Since trustees are elected at-large, every voter in CFISD has a voice. That means our responsibility is to serve all students, support educators and staff, listen to families, and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while keeping the focus on student success.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I believe the best way to support the needs of students, faculty, staff, and the community is to start with listening. Every group has unique perspectives and challenges, and it’s important to create regular opportunities for them to be heard. By listening first, we can make informed decisions that reflect the real needs of our district.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I will be present and accessible. That means attending school events, meeting with stakeholder groups, and keeping open lines of communication through email, phone, and social media. I want parents to feel heard, informed, and included in decisions that affect their children, because strong schools depend on strong partnerships between key groups and organizations.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

We evaluate student growth using a combination of informal assessments and norm-referenced tests, ensuring we understand each student’s progress. At the same time, we support teachers with ongoing professional development so they can utilize the most advanced teaching strategies, providing instruction that meets students’ needs and helps them reach their full potential.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

I approach school funding by asking the right questions and understanding the specific needs of each campus. From there, I work to identify existing funding sources to address those needs and explore additional opportunities, including partnerships, to ensure every student has the resources and support necessary to succeed.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Safety First

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Supporting the mental health of students, faculty, and staff begins with listening and understanding their needs. Schools can provide access to counselors, social workers, and wellness programs, as well as professional development for staff on recognizing and addressing mental health concerns. Promoting a safe and supportive environment is essential, and collaboration with community organizations and resources can expand the support available. Open communication, early intervention, and consistent access to resources help ensure the well-being of everyone in the school community.

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

Reviewing curriculum decisions to ensure they align with educational standards and community values.

Identifying adequate funding for librarians and library resources, acknowledging their critical role in student development.
Eliminating restrictive policies.

Protecting and upholding all parental rights.

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

An ideal learning environment is one where students feel safe, supported, and engaged, with opportunities to explore new concepts and ideas both in the classroom and through hands-on experiences like field trips and real-world learning. It’s a place that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, helping every student reach their full potential.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I will engage parents by being present and accessible. That means attending school events, meeting with parent groups, and keeping open lines of communication through email, phone, and social media. I want parents to feel heard, informed, and included in decisions that affect their children, because strong schools depend on strong partnerships between families and educators.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

I believe in supporting and valuing every member of our school community: teachers, administrators, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, janitors, and cafeteria staff. That means ensuring competitive pay, providing time and resources for professional growth, and showing respect for their essential work. When we do this, we create a destination workplace where talented educators and staff want to stay, which directly benefits student success and strengthens our schools.

Are there any areas of school curriculum you would like to see changed?

NA- Curriculum is based on TEKS

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.

2019

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Yarbrough Camarena's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Kendra is a mother of two, a wife of 14 years, a career educator and a community activist. Her family has deep roots across the district from Lindale to the Heights to the Near Northwest/Oak Forest area, where she has resided for the last 36 years. She is committed to an attention to detail approach of problem-solving for the state, city and its' constituents.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Give local school district and schools the autonomy to address both the academic and social needs of students. We know that students struggle academically in school when their basic needs are not met. It is imperative that we continue to invest in schools, teachers, nurses, counselors, and support staff by developing legislation that focuses on providing support to the child's overall well being.
• Ensure that our state is financially responsible with taxpayers' hard earned money. Making sure our basic needs, like education, clean air and water, women's health, flood mitigation and more are highlighted in our state budget.
• Provide communication and transparency with the voters on issues that will impact them. Empower the voices of the community by including diverse perspectives that will lead to the development of good public policy based on everyone's experiences. Our office will be dedicated to bringing updates and public meeting information to our neighbors in District 148. We will also work with all leaders to address constituents' needs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Kendra is a uniquely qualified candidate who will use her experience in the classroom, her understanding of government, and her sense of the community she has always called home to serve the people of District 148. She understands what the District needs and how to get things done. Whatever the issue that everyday Texans face - education, health care, clean air/water, or transportation - Kendra will be a State Representative we can trust to work for all of us.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Kendra's role model is Ken Yarbrough, her father, who represented Texas State House District 138 for 14 years. He always said the best policy he created was when all stakeholders had a place at the table in the development of the bill- a piece of legislation that represented all Texans,

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Kendra has been a teacher for 15+ years.

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.

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