Pearland ISD school board candidates outline priorities ahead of May election

Four candidates for Pearland ISD school board spoke at a candidate forum on the district's Building Blocks podcast, laying out priorities on teacher pay, student safety and mental health, career and technical education and state funding as voters prepare for early voting in April and Election Day on May 3.

The forum focused on issues officials and parents say most affect district operations and classroom instruction: retaining and recruiting teachers, carrying out safety and mental-health training for staff, expanding career and technical education (CTE) pathways tied to the district’s college-, career- and military-readiness (CCMR) goals, and opposing state policies that reduce public-school funding. The discussion matters to families and district employees because state funding and local budget choices affect teacher salaries, class sizes and program availability.

Daniel Stuckey, a candidate for Position 5 and a former Pearland ISD teacher and coach who now works in construction sales and marketing, said teacher retention is a top priority and repeated district targets from the 2029 strategic plan: “Our retention rate's 84.8%. And, our goal by 2029 is to get that to 89%.” He said Pearland ISD’s turnover (he cited 14%) compares favorably to a statewide figure he gave as 19% but that the district needs competitive pay and community support to attract “quality teachers.” Stuckey also emphasized safety and mental-health training, saying the district has “done quite well” on TEA audits and aims for “100% of our administrators and teachers trained in safety assessments and in mental health interventions.”

Azania Salazar, a candidate for Position 5 who identified herself as a Pearland ISD special-education provider and parent of three district students, stressed supports for special education and the effect of student transfers on funding. “Pearland ISD, like all Texas public school districts, is primarily funded based on student enrollment,” she said, warning that students leaving for private schools take state funding with them while fixed costs remain. Salazar said she would “fight for fair funding, strong academic programs, competitive teacher salaries, and increased resources for special education and extracurricular activities.”

Jim Johnson, a candidate for Position 6 and president and CEO of the Pearland Chamber, framed his priorities around advocacy with the state, saying Texas must increase the basic allotment and that trustees should push against unfunded mandates. “Those unfunded mandates … continue to impact Pearland's long lasting success,” he said, and he described listening to teachers and parents as central to making budget and policy choices.

Incumbent trustee Jenny Francis, running for Position 6, highlighted district spending priorities and student supports. Francis noted that “Pearland Independent School District allocates approximately 61% of its general fund to instructional services, which encompass teacher salaries and related expenses,” and called for investments in tutoring, remediation and extracurricular programs to support equity and student engagement.

All four candidates cited career and technical education expansion and the district’s CCMR target. Stuckey gave district CCMR figures and goals: “We're at 80.2 right now. Our goal by 2029 is 95%,” and described CTE offerings (he said the district has about 26 CTE programs vs. a state minimum of six) as a growth area for students pursuing certificates or apprenticeships. Candidates discussed barriers for trades that require long apprenticeships and suggested the board advocate at the state level for clearer pathways.

Candidates differed in emphasis but generally agreed on keeping students central in policy decisions, supporting teachers, and engaging the community. Several candidates tied staffing and program funding to state policy choices such as proposed voucher or education savings account legislation. Stuckey referenced pending bills by shorthand — “HB3 or SB2” — saying the board will adjust if those measures pass; Salazar directly warned that vouchers could reduce district resources.

The forum was presented as a resource for voters: early voting begins in April and Election Day is May 3. The session did not include formal board action or votes; it was a candidate forum recorded for public information.

Ending note: Candidates asked Pearland voters to participate in early voting and on Election Day and emphasized engagement with schools and campuses as part of trustee responsibilities.