Susan Gray
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Susan Gray ran for election for an at-large seat of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District in Texas. Gray lost in the general election on May 5, 2018.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Hays Consolidated Independent School District, At-large
Will McManus defeated Michelle Cohen and Susan Gray in the general election for Hays Consolidated Independent School District, At-large on May 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Will McManus (Nonpartisan) | 58.0 | 755 | |
| Michelle Cohen (Nonpartisan) | 22.4 | 291 | ||
| Susan Gray (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 256 | ||
| Total votes: 1,302 | |||
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Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Susan Gray participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 5, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Susan Gray's responses follow below.[1]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Equitable Academic achievement 2) Balanced Budget for the district |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | A legislature that values and funds public schools and promotes the positive things that are happening in public schools. We need a legislature that is opposed to school vouchers. Vouchers take much need funds from public schools.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Susan Gray answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | One of my sheros is the late Governor Ann Richards. She was not afraid to call it like she saw it, but she was much beloved for her Texas sense of humor and her true compassion for people.[3] | ” |
| “ | This is more about my educational philosophy. One of the most memorable books I read while getting my Masters in Education was "If you Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students" by Neila Connors. As an administrator, you have to remember to acknowledge teachers and students. People really do thrive on acknowledgment and when they feel acknowledged and valued, they will give you their all to make students successful.[3] | ” |
| “ | Elected officials must be willing to listen to all sides of an issue, regardless of whether they agree or not. Sometimes a lack of facts can create policies and procedures that do not serve the entire community. Officials must remain open-minded and open-hearted.[3] | ” |
| “ | I have the wisdom of experience and age on my side. In my 30 plus years of education, I have dealt with my fair share of unhappy parents, teachers, and administrators. I have learned first and foremost you must be willing to listen to people and consider their perspectives and opinions. Finding common ground is key in resolving most issues.[3] | ” |
| “ | The first historical event that happened in my lifetime was the shooting of President John F. Kennedy. I was in 3rd grade, 10-years old and it was the first time I saw so many adults cry. I remember it as a really sad time for our country.[3] | ” |
| “ | My very first job was working at Antone's sandwich shop in Houston, Texas. I was 14 years old and I worked there until I came to Austin to attend UT. Clifford Antone was trying to run a sandwich shop in Austin (it didn't last very long) but he hired me because I had worked for his family's shop in Houston. There were a lot of good jam sessions in the back of the shop late at night.[3] | ” |
| “ | My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I have a large family and we all get together, share good food and have a relaxing and fun weekend together. There are generally no stressors around this holiday other than for people who are traveling, but our family tries to make the time together as stress-free as possible. Everyone generally brings the favorite dish they have brought before, but we have room for people changing it up. We also invite other non-family members to join us as well.[3] | ” |
| “ | I have a very large covered patio on the back side of my house which contains numerous plants and a small table and chair set. I love to sit out there in the mornings on the weekend with a cup of coffee and just commune with nature. In the evenings there is usually a great sunset, and again I can just sit and bit completely content watching my plants grow. When my 4-year old granddaughter comes to spend the night, she loves to help me water the plants and hang out on the back porch.[3] | ” |
| “ | The school board member's primary job is to be a trustee for the district. They must ensure that the district is adhering to their own policies and procedures while staying current with any changes made by the state legislature. The board also has the authority to employ or terminate the superintendent, as well as approving other personnel employments or terminations. The board must also work together with other district personnel to provide a balanced budget.[3] | ” |
| “ | If elected, I will create social media tied only to my position as school board member. This will allow parents or teachers or administrators to send messages 24/7. I am also willing to meet individually with parents, teachers or administrators who feel their voice is not being heard. Parents are a critical component of student success and I value their input.[3] | ” |
| “ | The school board and members of the community must be in contact with their elected representatives and let them know that we want schools fully funded. When the talk of vouchers come up, the community has got to let elected officials know that they do not want funds taken from public schools! Vouchers rob much needed public education funds![3] | ” |
| “ | It is imperative that school districts do all they can to keep students safe. School districts will have to look at ways to amp up the security to the entrances to their buildings. Many schools have double entries with buzzers and cameras, which allows for screening who enters the building. All other doors on the building should be kept locked from the outside so that unauthorized people cannot just walk in off the street. School districts across Texas currently have a letter from the Commissioner of Education encouraging them to consider more school resource officers, including utilizing them at elementary schools. School districts must also work hand in hand with local police, sheriff, and fire departments to ensure an immediate response to threats to school safety. Additionally, school districts have the option of adopting the Marshall Plan whereby one or more persons is authorized to carry a weapon but only after 80 hours of intensive training and a psychological exam. As of Sept. 1, 2016, all school districts are mandated to have phone lines that do not require getting an outside line before calling 9-1-1 (SB 788 - Kari's Law).[3] | ” |
| “ | It is imperative for all campuses to have a counselor who can focus on counseling and social-emotional learning. Teachers should be able to refer students who they see as struggling due to home issues, and faculty should be able to take the required time off for their own mental health concerns. It is important that teachers feel valued and that administrators will make sure substitutes are secured when teachers have their own personal needs to attend to. While teachers are usually the ones to put students' needs first, administrators must encourage teachers to make time for themselves.[3] | ” |
See also
- Hays Consolidated Independent School District, Texas
- Hays Consolidated Independent School District elections (2018)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Susan Gray's responses," April 5, 2018
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Hays Consolidated Independent School District elections in 2018 | |
| Hays County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 5, 2018 |
| Important information: | What was at stake? |
