Lynn Davenport

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Lynn Davenport

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 18, 2022

Contact

Personal website

Lynn Davenport ran in a special election to the Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees to represent District 1 in Texas. Davenport lost in the special general runoff election on June 18, 2022.

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Dallas County, Texas (2022)

General runoff election

Special general runoff election for Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees District 1

Catalina Garcia defeated Lynn Davenport in the special general runoff election for Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees District 1 on June 18, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Catalina Garcia (Nonpartisan)	63.5	5,478
		Lynn Davenport (Nonpartisan)	36.5	3,150

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,628
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

Special general election for Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees District 1

Catalina Garcia and Lynn Davenport advanced to a runoff. They defeated incumbent Gretchen Williams in the special general election for Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees District 1 on May 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Catalina Garcia (Nonpartisan)	35.9	5,942
✔		Lynn Davenport (Nonpartisan)	32.1	5,307
	Submit photo	Gretchen Williams (Nonpartisan)	32.0	5,292

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,541
= 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

See also: Richardson Independent School District elections (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.

Results

Richardson Independent School District, Place 7 General Election, 3-year term, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kristin Kuhne Incumbent	54.42%	6,100
Lynn Davenport	45.58%	5,109
Total Votes		11,209
Source: Dallas County Elections, "2017 Joint Election," accessed September 20, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Richardson Independent School District elections

Davenport reported $17,601.00 in contributions and $13,000.49 in expenditures to the Richardson Independent School District, which left her campaign with $4,600.51 on hand as of April 28, 2017.

Endorsements

Davenport was endorsed by Dallas City Council member Adam McGough. She was also endorsed by a number of former officials and community members. Click here for a list of her supporters.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lynn Davenport did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2017

Candidate website

Davenport highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:

“	Here’s why I’m running for the Board of Trustees: Richardson ISD should have outstanding academic performance. At one point, RISD was one of the highest-performing diverse districts in the state. Our performance has been on the decline since 2010. Academics should be the primary focus and we’ve lost sight of that with the fixation on standardized testing. I believe we need accountability, but not in the way it has sabotaged the love of learning. Excessive simulation tests and benchmarking go beyond what the state requires. I will work to restore a focus on academics that will grow every student and restore RISD’s academic prestige. Richardson ISD should be an outstanding place to work. RISD has some of the most fantastic, dedicated teachers and principals in the state. But we also have the highest teacher turnover rates in Dallas County, and we’re losing as many as 20% of our teachers each year. Under the leadership of our Superintendent there was a concerted effort last year to curb teacher attrition. Our teachers need to have meaningful professional development that does not waste their valuable time. Administrators should be available and accessible for the teachers so they can best serve the needs of the students.. I will work to make RISD a place where teachers want to come, stay, and flourish. Richardson ISD must have transparent, honest relationships with parents, taxpayers, and citizens. RISD’s recent bond election was an example of how these relationships with parents and taxpayers have lost their authenticity. The bond community meetings became sales tours rather than listening tours. After the bond was passed, there were still many questions about how the money was going to be spent. I will work to restore financial accountability, transparency, and strengthen relationships between the board, administration, parents, and taxpayers. Richardson ISD should be independent. It’s in our name—we are an independent school district. This allows us to take advantage of RISD’s unique strengths and address RISD’s unique challenges, not just adopt the same vision for all districts, dictated by Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). I will work to establish the independence that once set us apart from other districts in Texas.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

The Dallas Morning News survey

Davenport participated in the following survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News. The questions provided by The Dallas Morning News appear bolded, and Davenport's responses follow below.

Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?

“	Richardson ISD should have outstanding academic performance. At one point, RISD was one of the highest-performing diverse districts in the state. Our performance has been on the decline since 2010. Academics should be the primary focus and we’ve lost sight of that with the fixation on standardized testing. I believe we need accountability, but not in the way it has sabotaged the love of learning. Excessive simulation tests and benchmarking go beyond what the state requires. I will work to restore a focus on academics that will grow every student and restore RISD’s academic prestige. Richardson ISD should be an outstanding place to work. RISD has some of the most fantastic, dedicated teachers and principals in the state. But we also have the highest teacher turnover rates in Dallas County, and we’re losing as many as 20% of our teachers each year. Under the leadership of our Superintendent there was a concerted effort last year to curb teacher attrition. Our teachers need to have meaningful professional development that does not waste their valuable time. Administrators should be available and accessible for the teachers so they can best serve the needs of the students. I will work to make RISD a place where teachers want to come, stay, and flourish. Richardson ISD must have transparent, honest relationships with parents, taxpayers, and citizens. RISD’s recent bond election was an example of how those relationships with parents and taxpayers have lost their authenticity. The bond community meetings became sales tours rather than listening tours. After the bond was passed, there were still many questions about how the money was going to be spent. I will work to restore financial accountability, transparency, and strengthen relationships between the board, administration, parents, and taxpayers. Richardson ISD should be independent. It’s in our name—we are an independent school district. This allows us to take advantage of RISD’s unique strengths and address RISD’s unique challenges, not just adopt the same vision for all districts, dictated by Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). I will work to establish the independence that once set us apart from other districts in Texas.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

If elected, what two issues would you give the most attention and resources?

“	If elected, I would give the most attention and resources to the aforementioned teacher attrition issues and fiscal transparency.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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 began regularly attending RISD board meetings in 2014. Our district is not divided into member districts like Dallas ISD. We have at-large representation for our school board. This can be beneficial to our students, as we make decisions for the entire district rather than protecting our own turf. The disadvantage is the lack of healthy discourse. The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) "Team of 8" Training inevitably results in groupthink, collectivism and a quest for consensus. There lies the breakdown in the effectiveness of school boards across Texas. My testimony before the Senate Education Committee on this topic was featured in DMN writer, Dave Lieber's November 2016 article titled "State Lawmaker Says Texas School Board Members Get 'Indoctrination' into Groupthink Culture". TASA and TASB are government-to-government lobbying groups that need to take a backseat so we can return local authority and accountability to our independent school districts. By diminishing the voices of lobbyists, we can start listening to our teachers and communities to serve the needs of kids.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

As you look around the country, what innovative ideas would you recommend for improving classroom performance?

“	I would recommend we return to the time-tested approaches to learning where curriculum flows in sequential order and is age-appropriate. I support the responsible use of technology as a tool for learning, but not as a replacement for teachers or the evidence-based practices that are proven to work. For example, math facts are necessary at certain ages for developing critical thinking skills down the road. Learning software that allows kids to learn their times tables would be an excellent tool for teaching the important basics. However, we seem to be overly-enamored with innovation. The reality is, innovation in education usually means experimentation with technology. Real innovation is developing a process for engaging those closest to the problem: teachers and parents. People support that which they create. We need real input from teachers and parents, not the usual techniques for manipulating stakeholders into making them think they had a seat at the table.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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?

“	Our most vulnerable schools which are deemed 'failing' under the invalid accountability system are also our most economically disadvantaged. Those schools become STAAR-focused campuses in an effort to raise their accountability ratings. Our district does a good job of pouring resources into those 'failing' campuses. I would not be willing to ask voters to approve a tax increase to create or expand programs.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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?

“	Our district has an Excellence in Education non-profit organization where each of the four high schools can raise money for their academic boosters. I served on the Lake Highlands Wild for Cats Academic Booster to raise money for academic resources. I am a supporter of programs to supplement educational needs, but want to be careful not to burden parents anymore than they already are.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

The state has adopted an A through F accountability system for district and campuses. Do you favor or oppose this system and why?

“	I oppose the A through F accountability system which looks a lot like Jeb Bush's Florida plan. Parents are smart enough to know what "improvement required" means under the previous system. The 'what if' scores released last month demonstrated the complete disdain Congress has for the education profession. Many of our legislators view teachers as failures and believe they can do a better job. They have had over 30 years to produce something better than we had prior to 1981. They are still trying to say we are failing by creating a system that moves the schools into failure. The A-F system will further shame our Title I schools who are struggling with poverty issues the affluent schools don't have. Conversely, the affluent schools will not be able to demonstrate a narrowing of the achievement gap if there isn't one.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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?

“	Graduation rates are being inflated. In the quest for increased diplomas, some districts are giving kids expedited online courses which allow them to graduate regardless of their actual readiness. This does the students a disservice by promoting them without acquiring the knowledge they need to be successful. The way to increase college readiness comes from engaging students and arming them with an education of opportunity. I would advocate for programs that encourage legitimate learning rather than digital diplomas.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

What schools in your district have been particularly effective in getting every child up to grade level in reading and math?

“	The schools with certified math and reading specialists fare better than those who have to share them with multiple campuses. If we want to invest in our struggling campuses, we need to invest in more certified specialists who are trained to intervene. Reading Response to Intervention (RTI) programs can be helpful tools, but nothing is more effective than a human reading specialist.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

How would you assess your district’s current school choice efforts, and what changes are needed?

“	Our district is making strides in offering choices within the district. As a parent, I want my kids to attend the schools closest to my home. I want a choice in the curriculum and a choice in enrichment offerings. I don't want charter school companies coming into my neighborhood to give me ‘choice’ that my district should be able to do by itself. People are asking for more STEAM programs. That stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Those things should already be woven into the curriculum. All students should have exposure to those important subjects. The Texas Constitution calls for public free education. I am not in favor of school choice efforts that allow the money to follow the child by diverting it away from public education. Ninety percent of our children attend public schools. Vouchers and Education Savings Accounts (ESA) would use our tax dollars to fund a parallel system of education that only benefits those who can make up the difference in tuition. ESAs require an additional layer of government by funneling the money through the Texas Comptroller. I testified against vouchers at the Senate Education Committee hearings last fall.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

How would you assess your superintendent’s performance?

“	I would follow the law which states the role of the trustee is to ensure the superintendent implements and monitors plans, procedures, programs, and systems to achieve appropriate, clearly defined, and desired results in the major areas of district operations. As a trustee, I will oversee, ask for documentation, and ensure the Superintendent manages the district as required in Texas Education Code (TEC) and district policies for students learning academics, providing the right conditions for student learning and serving the needs of students receiving special programs, including students in special education programs. I would assess performance by analyzing reports from the Superintendent, evaluating them for accuracy, and informing the board and the public of the analysis.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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?

“	I recognize the importance of early-childhood education and support those efforts. I would not support increasing class-size ratios at other grade levels in order to introduce or expand pre-K. Increasing class-size ratios would only be trading one problem for another. Class size matters and I’m a proponent of smaller classes. If Texas is going to prioritize and fund early-childhood programs, we need to do it without compromising class-size ratios.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

What resources are lacking in schools in your district? How could the district deliver services in the most cost-effective manner?

“	There have been complaints about excessive meetings, paperwork, and meaningless professional development that wastes the valuable time of our teachers. I don’t know why that is, but I will work to uncover the reasons. We do not have enough resources and administrative support in the classroom. We spend too much time chasing shiny objects, experimental technologies and pedagogies. The focus should be on academics and learning with time-tested strategies. Consultants are costly and diminish the professional expertise already at our fingertips: our trained teachers. We are lacking 'human' resources in the classroom. Supporting teachers may be costly upfront, but the return on investment will lead to improved job satisfaction and teacher retention.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

In what ways can your district’s communications with parents be improved? Likewise, how can parental involvement in your district improve?

“	Our district uses email, Twitter, Facebook and other effective means to communicate with parents. I would like to see more attendance at our school board meetings. Meetings are posted on the district website but are rarely publicized through social media. I have seen more parent, teacher, and taxpayer engagement than in past elections. I’m optimistic that the contested elections will bring a renewed interest in public education problems and solutions. My goal is to inspire both the engaged and the apathetic voter to get out and vote for me on May 6.	”
—Lynn Davenport (2017)

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