Keller school board

Members serve three-year terms and are unpaid.

Place 4

Name: Craig Allen

Age: 43

City: Keller

Occupation: Director of residential services at Texas Christian University.

Online:www.parents4kisd.com

Background: Allen, who has a master's degree in higher education from the University of Arizona, has worked in public and private education for 18 years. Before coming to TCU, he worked at Seton Hall University in New Jersey for 10 years. Allen now serves on the Keller ISD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee.

About the candidate: As a trustee, Allen said he would trust and support the teachers and school administrators while asking probing questions to ensure that the district makes the right decisions. Allen said he would also improve communication between the district and community and further engage the community in the district's activities.

Name: Richard Walker

Age: 60

City: Fort Worth

Occupation: Chief operating officer for the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas

Online: None

Background: Walker served on the Keller school board for 10 years -- including three as president -- until 2005. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.

About the candidate: Walker said he is running again because he wants to restore Keller to its recognized status, the second-highest rank in the state's four-tier rating system. Walker, who was a member of the board that hired Superintendent James Veitenheimer, said trustees should set clear, defined goals for the superintendent and tie pay raises to the completion of those goals. He said he also wants to focus attention on raising the salaries of teachers with 15 to 20 years of experience rather than those of first-year teachers, which should be done without a tax increase.

Place 5

Name: Lara Lee Hogg (incumbent)

Age: 40

City: Fort Worth

Occupation: Stay-at-home mother; former hospital administrator at Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego.

Online:www.parents4kisd.com

Background: Hogg was elected to the school board last year to replace Jarrett Armstrong, who resigned. She is the former executive director of the North Fort Worth Alliance and has a master's degree in public health from San Diego State University and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Texas A&M.

About the candidate: Since joining the board, Hogg said, she has taken an active role working with the city of Fort Worth to improve the infrastructure and safety for children. She said she wants to continue concentrating on fiscal accountability and wants to push for additional math, science and technology funding. She said she also wants to establish more partnerships between the district and community businesses.

Name: Charlie Youngblood

Age: 42

City: Keller

Occupation: American Airlines pilot and a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve

Online:www.youngbloodforkisd.com

Background: Youngblood is a former president of the Lakes of Highland Oaks homeowners association. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in aeronautical operations from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.

About the candidate: Youngblood got involved in Keller school politics last year when his two children were detained at Keller High after a false rumor spread that one of the boys planned to take a gun to school. Youngblood said the incident made him aware that the district needs to improve its relationship with the community. As a Keller resident for more than five years, he said he also wants to ensure that older schools in Keller are given the same attention that schools in fast-growing far north Fort Worth get.