EDITORIAL: Garcia and Wulczyn are strongest candidates in NEISD trustee races

Serving about 55,000 students and often recognized for strong academics, North East Independent School District is one of the most important institutions in San Antonio, if not Texas.

Students at NEISD today will become leaders and professionals in Texas tomorrow. These students deserve trustees with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence and addressing student and family needs, along with a steadfast belief that public education can change lives.

For the upcoming May 2 election, we recommend Mike A. Wulczyn and Caprice Garcia to join the NEISD board for Place 3 and Place 7. They are impressive candidates who value public education and would put students and families first.

Wulczyn is challenging Place 3 trustee Diane Sciba Villarreal, who was elected to the NEISD board in 2022. Villarreal did not respond to our candidate meeting invitation, but she has expressed skepticism about birth control in sex education curriculum and advocated for making health an optional course.

Wulczyn is a refreshing candidate. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked in law enforcement. He holds four master's degrees and works as an insurance investigator. We liked his idea about using geofencing to resolve a dispute between the district and the state over banning cellphones in schools. Such technology could shut down apps while allowing parents to maintain contact. We also appreciate his commitment to transparency, addressing the district's budget deficit and keeping books in libraries.

Garcia is the clear choice in Place 7. A mother of four children, she has served on PTA boards at Steubing Ranch Elementary School, Madison High School and Bradley Middle School. She has an outstanding command of education issues and would be a bridge between parents, teachers, students and the administration. If elected, she said she would prioritize community engagement, school security and balancing the budget.

She faces Cheri Ettinger, a real estate agent who declined our meeting invitation. On social media, she appears to be running a faith-based campaign. Regardless, Garcia is an A-plus candidate.

Early voting begins Monday.

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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:09 AM.