Here’s who’s on the ballot in Fort Worth ISD’s District 1 school board race
Incumbent board member Camille Rodriguez is facing off with Amanda Inay, a reading teacher at a Fort Worth charter school, for the District 1 school board seat in the Fort Worth Independent School District.
Both candidates emphasized the importance of the district’s work to improve literacy scores. Rodriguez, who was elected to the board in 2004 and again in 2022, pointed to the board’s adoption of a literacy plan as an example of progress. Inay, who taught in Fort Worth ISD before leaving for Rocketship Public Schools, said her experience as an educator gives her special insight into the issue.
Here’s what to know:
Camille Rodriguez
Age: 57
Campaign website: DrCamille4fwisd.com
Best way for voters to reach you: DrCamille4schoolboard@gmail.com
Occupation: Podiatrist
Education: New York College of Podiatry Medicine; Prairie View A&M University undergraduate degree in biology; minor in chemistry
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years)
Yes, school district trustee, district 1
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Fort Worth.
Member of the Board American Red Cross Greater North Texas Region, former member of the board, Fort Worth Symphony. Life member-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, life member - All Saints Catholic Church.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Danielle Cocanougher, Rosa Navejar, Rufino Mendoza
Why are you seeking this office?
I wish to continue the positive strides we are making at FWISD for our next generation of leaders.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Literacy is of course paramount for our students.
Moreover, literacy is the foundation for student success. The recently adopted Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for that support and success.
Many public school districts are losing students for a myriad of reasons. We must do more to attract students to our award winning programs such as dual language, early college high school, and fine arts to name of few. We need to more aggressively tell our student’s success stories. For example, several seniors were recently named TCU community scholars from Trimble Tech High School in the district I proudly represent.
Another way to ensure students success is to attract and retain quality teachers who want to spend their careers with the FWISD family. We currently have partnerships with several universities to attract teachers right out of college and we host numerous hiring fairs throughout the year.
How will you measure your success as a district trustee?
When ALL our students are achieving at or above grade level, I know that we are on the right path!
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
I have a long history working with my colleagues on the board. Moreover, as a proud FWISD graduate I can’t say enough about the value of my public school education. In fact, while my parents did not graduate high school, all of my siblings and I are proud FWISD graduates. Education opened so many doors for me. Because FWISD believed in me, I returned to my community as a practicing podiatrist.. I want the same opportunities for our students. I will continue to work very hard as I always have on behalf of our students.
Fort Worth ISD has declared literacy as its main priority. What strategies would you like to see the district adopt to boost reading scores?
We have already adopted our Strategic Plan to lays out our framework for literacy and academic success. We re-directed millions of dollars to support literacy objectives. We host Family Literacy Nights, Whiz Quiz competitions and the Family Literacy Conference which will equip families with expert guidance and strategies to build strong readers at home. Join us as we build strong readers and life long learners!
Besides literacy, what other issues do you consider priorities for Fort Worth ISD, and how would you address them?
Completing our 1.2 billion dollar 2021 bond program remains a challenge in the face of raising costs. We continue to hold community meetings to ensure that we collaborate with stakeholders and community members for the future of FWISD.
Everything is student focused. Despite challenging times, we must ensure that our students have the best education by spending wisely. We will continue to work with colleagues on a local, state and federal level to ensure our students have the very best education. We will continue to apply for various grants. We are watching every dollar spent to ensure successful academic return on investment.
Amanda Inay
Age: 43
Campaign website: https://www.amandainayforfwisd.com/
Best way for voters to reach you: The best ways for voters to reach me is through the website or my email address.
Occupation: 4th/5th Grade Literacy/Reading Teacher
Education
Amanda Inay is a proud product of public schools and a first generation college graduate. She received her bachelor’s from Texas A & M - Texarkana. There she was the President of Phi Theta Kappa, an Honors Graduate, Preside of Science Club for Educators, Vice President of Student Council for Exceptional Children, and a Blue Chip Teacher Recruit, and a member of Kappa Delta Pi.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years)
I have not run for an office on this scale. I have been elected to serve as Chair of Mended Little Hearts Fort Worth as well as Vice President of Family Advisory Council of the CICU - Cook Childrens. I have served in these roles for the past 7 years.
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Fort Worth.
I have been a Literacy Champion advocating for children in the City of Fort Worth both in my classroom and beyond. Whether it is speaking at board meeting to patron the purchasing of books/materials students need to supporting fellow teachers in enhancing instruction and educational practices you will find me always standing for what is right for our students, families, and communities.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
My campaign finance reports are available to the public.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking this office to work in partnership with fellow board members ensuring to : * Champion Literacy and Student Achievement for Every Student * Building Strong, Positive Trust between Board and Community * Superintendent Accountability * Fiscal Responsibility My experience as a reading teacher of 18 years, a parent of current FWISD students, prior board experience at Cook Children’s, and as a active community member will give a unique, fresh perspective to the challenges of FWISD.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
1. Champion Student Literacy and Achievement.
2. Ensure transparency and trust between the board and community.
3. Fiscal Responsibility
How will you measure your success as a district trustee?
I will measure my success as a district trustee by ensuring Superintendent Accountability through monthly reports to see the progress on the goals of the Strategic Plan.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
Voters should choose me over my opponent because I am a teacher who has proven to be successful in literacy instruction, I am a parent of FWISD students, and I am a very present, active member of our community. I hold a very unique, vital lens to ensure the forward success of FWISD.
Fort Worth ISD has declared literacy as its main priority. What strategies would you like to see the district adopt to boost reading scores?
Fort Worth ISD is on the right track with the leadership of Dr. Molinar. The recent decisions she has made are steps to ensure literacy is the main priority.
Besides literacy, what other issues do you consider priorities for Fort Worth ISD, and how would you address them?
Other issues for Fort Worth ISD that are priorities for Fort Worth ISD are school closures/consolidations, building trust between the board/district and the community, as well as being fiscally responsible.
To address the school closures/consolidations I would work to ensure transparency with communities and to make certain that the decisions do not feel “done to the community”, but “done with the community. Tough decisions require all to have a seat at the table.
Building trust between the board/district and the community will require a deeper level of transparency in governance and where our student achievement stands. We are already moving toward this under the leadership of Dr. Molinar and my presence on the this board will only enhance this.
I will be a proponent of fiscal responsibility by ensuring my votes of spending align with the strategic plan, the first priority of literacy and student achievement.
