Les Black
Prior offices
Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, At-large
Personal
Contact
Les Black was an at-large member of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in Texas. He assumed office on December 3, 2020. He left office on June 1, 2023.
Black ran for election for an at-large seat of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in Texas. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Black completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Les Black was born in Denton, Texas. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2002. His professional experience includes working as a college professor, public school teacher, and principal. He has served with the PTA, the Education Law Association, and the Denton High School Family Assistance Foundation.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, Texas, elections (2020)
General election
Endorsements
To view Black's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Les Black completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Black's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a lifelong educator, serving as a public school teacher and then principal for 22 years. My parents were both educators, and I grew up believing in the power of public education to change students' lives and improve communities. I hold a Ph.D. in Education Administration and am currently professor at Southern Methodist University, specializing in education law, policy and leadership. Deeply rooted in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch community, my wife Emily and I have lived in Farmers Branch for 23 years. We have two children who have both attended Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools since Kindergarten. Our daughter is a graduate of Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools and is currently a sophomore in college, double majoring in vocal performance and music education. Our son is a junior in high school, active in academics, athletics and fine arts. We are grateful every day for the quality of education our children have received in Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools. Serving my community as a school trustee is an extension of my life's mission. I will fight for quality academic and extra-curricular programming, safe and inclusive learning environments, a professional culture of collaboration and trust, increased student and parent engagement, and responsible stewardship of public trust.
- I will advocate for high quality comprehensive schools that offer a range of academic and extracurricular options to meet the needs of all students and help them discover and develop their talents.
- I would advocate for practices that promote safe and inclusive learning environments for students and a positive professional culture of collaboration and trust for administrators, faculty and staff.
- I would focus on increasing student and parent engagement.
I am passionate about education law and policy in general, as that is my profession. In recent years, I have done extensive legal research and written on the First Amendment rights of both students and teachers, particularly in the age of social media. I am interested in how student discipline and personnel policies can be designed and enacted in a way that protects safety, discipline and orderly operations while still respecting the constitutional rights of stakeholders.
I look up to my father, Watt Lesley Black. He passed in 2004 at the age of 80, but I think of him every day. My dad was a lifelong educator and a college professor. But it was his gentle way of encouraging students that I admired the most. When he turned 80, he was not well enough to have a party, so I reached out to his former students and colleagues to collect written birthday wishes, and what I learned in the process taught me a lesson in the power of words, particularly when one is in a position of authority. Student after student shared with me that he had spoken to them in a way that encouraged them to think bigger and dream higher - and in many cases, his words altered the course of their lives for the better. His example taught me that, as educators, every word has the power to either encourage or discourage students in ways that can be lasting, and that we must be careful that we are fully present and positive in every interaction. We're going to change students lives for good, so we'd better make sure we're changing them for the better. That's been an important lesson that has shaped both my professional and personal life.
For a school board member, I believe the most important characteristics are a commitment to service and an unwavering focus on putting the interests of children first. A good trustee serves with no political or personal agenda, listens, and models life-long learning. A good trustee is honest, collegial and a trusted team member. Finally, a good school trustee understands the governance role of the school board and always does his or her homework.
I am a believer in the old Johnny Appleseed theory - that we need to do things that leave a place in better shape than it was in when we arrived. That is what attracted me to education - the opportunity to plant seeds and change lives in ways that will continue to benefit people long after I'm gone. I don't think much about leaving a "legacy," but I do take comfort in knowing that what I do makes a difference.
"The Struggle for Student Rights: Tinker v. Des Moines and the 1960s, by Jonathan Johnson - this is the book that sparked my interest in First Amendment student speech issues and largely inspired me to pursue my doctorate.
School boards have several key duties. First, the board helps develop a school district's vision and goals and monitors progress towards those goals. Second, boards approve the district budget and set the tax rate. Third, boards approve and evaluate district policy. Fourth, the board hires, fires and evaluates the superintendent. Finally, board members have a role as a conduit of communication between the school district and the community. Board members should know their roles, listen to learn, and do their homework.
Traditionally, we tend to think of parent involvement in terms of volunteerism, and parent volunteers are essential to the business of schooling. But we have to do more. The Texas Education Code states parents should be full partners in the education of their child. With that in mind, I would encourage practices that invite parents to the table to have real conversations with teachers, counselors and principals about their student's educational progress.
Yes. There are over 50 languages spoken in CFBISD, a third of our students are English language learners, and we have a very diverse racial, ethnic and religious mix of students and families. Recruiting teachers and administrators that better reflect the district's diversity would serve the interest of all of our students. As a board member, I would encourage the development of a district recruiting plan designed to create a diverse pool of highly qualified applicants.
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.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 17, 2020
