Voters will elect three trustees to the Dallas Independent School District board on May 7, and the candidates have been hard at work campaigning for weeks.
One can't drive far in North Oak Cliff without seeing an Isaac Faz or Audrey Pinkerton sign. Both are running for the open seat from District 7.
Isaac Faz works in education at Dallas County Community College. Faz grew up attending schools in District 7, and while he has no children in the district he hopes to represent, he points to many family members in Dallas ISD.
"I want to be on the school board because I want to make sure we are helping every student out, and the reality is I have family in six out of the 31 schools in District 7," said Faz.
Faz is well ingrained in Dallas ISD. He co-chaired the Future Facilities Task Force, the group that assessed schools and made recommendations for improvements.
Faz said his priorities for the district include college and career readiness.
"(First) we want to make sure that our students are ready to go to college, that they are prepared and they are ready to be successful. Two, if they are going to go into a career let's give them hands-on experience," he said.
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Audrey Pinkerton also went though Dallas ISD schools, and so did her children. One of her children already graduated, and the other is now in high school.
"I am running to make the school district better for the 160,000 students in the district, but really for all of us. I think this race is super important, because how we raise up this next generation to become productive citizens affects all of us – in terms of the economy and our quality of life" said Pinkerton.
Pinkerton said the time is right now for her to get on the board. Her kids are older, and she now owns her own business.
Pinkerton said she is very familiar with Dallas ISD, as a former student and an involved parent. She also points to her business experience, saying it will help her on the board.
"Professionally, I have been changing and leading business units that are struggling and getting them turned around. So I want to bring that combination to help DISD, which is also struggling, and to help get it turned around and moving in the right direction," she said.
Among her priorities for the district, Pinkerton noted fiscal responsibility, teacher retention, ethics and transparency.
Dallas ISD Board of Trustees elections are also taking place May 7 for Districts 4 and 5.
