One week left to vote in important City and School Elections

The campaigns for local offices are drawing to a close with just four days of early voting left before next Saturday?s general election day. So far 335 voters have voted in the KISD Board Elections, a high number for early voting, in a race that has incumbent Joe Taylor challenged by Jeff Krieger. {{more}}131 voters have come out to vote in the Kennedale City Council Election that has incumbent Frank Fernandez being challenged by Hollis Matthews.

Early voting continues this weekend from 7am to 7 pm today (Saturday) and Sunday from 11am to 4 pm at the Kennedale Community Center at 316 W Third St, Kennedale, TX 76060. Early voting ends Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 9th.

The following information was published by the Star

Telegram in their Voter Guide to help voters needing more information about the candidates running for the KISD School Board and is presented in the order that was used in the Voter

Guide.

 

Kennedale ISD, Place 3

Jeff Krieger, Age: 41, Occupation: Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for Arlington ISD

Jeff Krieger

• Campaign (public) email address: [email protected]
• Web site: Blog: krieger4kisd.blogspot.com; Facebook: Vote for Jeff Krieger for Kennedale ISD School Board

Masters degree in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from UTA, a Bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska in Education, TEA Certified in Basic Business Education, Principal, and Superintendent certified.

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: N/A

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office.

I am most qualified for this office because at this moment the school district needs a knowledgeable and trusted advocate for all stakeholders of the Kennedale ISD community. The KISD community needs a board member who will work to create a climate of trust, innovation, and accountability between the board and KISD community. Most important, and directly linked to my skills, is to ensure instruction and student learning are at the forefront of the decisions done on the school board. Lastly, my skill sets is suited to develop positive, meaningful, and responsible relationships with parents, teachers, and students.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them.

 

1. The school board currently has multiple members in place who do not have any children/grandchildren who are students receiving current instruction in KISD. I have two students in the school district now.
2. No three-to-five year strategic plan in writing for the district. As a lifelong educator, I am ideally suited to work on a board who crafts this type of plan for a school district.
3. Longevity has its place on a school board, but at this time in the district a fresh perspective is needed for the school district to flourish academically in the coming years.

Joe Taylor Age: 59, Occupation:: General Contractor, City: Kennedale

Joe Taylor

• Campaign (public) phone number: 817-478-3892
• Your campaign (public) email address: [email protected]
• Web site: Re-Elect Joe Taylor Kennedale ISD School Board

I have earned more than 230 hours of board member continuing education with a focus on board leadership, vision and planning for schools. I attended New Mexico State University and Tarrant County College along with many business, insurance, and industry related certification courses and trainings.

Kennedale ISD Board of Trustees since 2000; Member Texas Association of School Boards School Board Advocacy Network – legislative liaisons representing schools with the state legislature; Kennedale Area Chamber of Commerce ? Board of Directors – Representing KISD; Kennedale Rotary Club ? Charter Board Member; KISD Education Foundation ? Founder & Trustee Representative; KISD Planning Committee Chairman for Capital Improvements 2004; City of Kennedale Vision 2015 Planning Committee; Boy Scouts Troop 35 ? Various Leadership Positions; Boy Scouts NRA Certified Rifle & Shotgun Shooting Instructor; Village at Pleasant Ridge (senior housing at church) Board Member; Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ ? Deacon; Active member of KISD Booster Clubs and PTAs since about 1994; KHS Chili Cook-off and Scholarship Auction Annual Supporter; Kennedale Brickworks Arts Festival ? Annual Sponsor; South Tarrant Chamber of Commerce – Board of Directors – Director of the Year – 2004

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office.

I have more than 15 years of proven servant leadership in the KISD community. I’ve worked diligently for our schools, and have established great working relationships with all area leadership while achieving proven results.

 

During my tenure we have developed educators, programs, and facilities among the best in class for a 4A district. The recent record of success in KISD speaks volumes about our progress. Families, including educators, move to KISD for our schools.

 

We have intentional goals and a resolute will to continue developing many improved opportunities for our students. We?re providing the sky for our learners to soar.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them.

 

Standardized testing ? Accountability matters, but there must be changes. I?m working to unify school leaders and legislators to stop high stakes testing. Educators should play a key role in developing solutions.

 

School funding – The court has ruled that current methods of funding are unconstitutional. I support legislation aimed to make funding adequate and equitable.

 

Vouchers – Recipients of public school funds through vouchers should be held to the same standards as those attending public schools. Public schools are held to increasingly difficult standards for educating all students regardless of challenges while private schools are only accepting the select students.