4.2.26
“SBOE Members Are Vital to the Future of Texas’ Students”
By Donna Garner
“Students are the seeds of tomorrow – whatever we plant in their minds today will shape tomorrow’s world.”
The kind of people we elect to the Texas State Board of Education will shape the lives of millions of students.
Members of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) are elected by the public across the state.
SBOE members receive no remuneration for their service; therefore, they cannot “be bought off” by special interests.
This may make it financially difficult on SBOE members, but the law itself is sensible because it is meant to keep special interests from trying to control our Texas public schools and students’ lives.
COMPARISON OF SBOE AND LEGISLATURE
Most SBOE members’ districts are very large; members typically have more constituents than members of the Texas House have.
In the 2025 – 2026 school year, there were close to 5,467,000 students in the public schools with 320,000 classroom teachers and more than 80,000 principals/counselors/administrators/etc.
COMPARISON IN PAY
While in session, the members of the Texas House get paid a moderate, per-day salary and expenses; they also have paid staffers and office space.
The Texas House has 150 members, each representing about 200,000 Texans.
In comparison, each SBOE member represents almost 2,000,000 constituents.
COMPARISON IN DUTIES
While home in their districts, SBOE members are expected to take part in many school and community activities. SBOE members also meet with constituents.
On top of those responsibilities, SBOE members also spend long hours preparing for the Board agenda, reading and reviewing SBOE curriculum materials, and deciding how to vote.
Many votes are on topics that are quite controversial.
SBOE members typically meet for five regular meetings a year which normally last at least four days each.
Whenever the public is invited to give their testimonies, these meetings often last way into the late hours.
Of course, the Texas Legislature covers a myriad of issues and spends much more time in session than do the SBOE members.
Both groups – SBOE members and Texas House members – sacrifice much of their personal time to give service to our state. I commend all of them for their dedication.
TIFFANY NELSON FOR DISTRICT 6
I am particularly excited about Tiffany Nelson who is running on Nov. 3, 2026 for SBOE District 6 (Harris and Montgomery Counties).
Will Hickman (presently on the Board) decided not to run again.
To me, a person who gets elected to the SBOE must have a servant’s heart and also needs to have previous experiences with children and their education.
Tiffany and her husband (pastor, educator) have six children. (Of course, children are the best “teachers” when it comes to adults trying to understand how students learn.)
She has both her BBA and Master’s degree (business) which is important because the SBOE manages the Permanent School Fund ($66.5 Billion – one of the largest endowments in the entire United States). The PSF is set up to help pay for students’ curriculum materials, etc.
Tiffany gained deep knowledge about how schools function by having her six children either attending or having attended Conroe ISD.
She also served on the Conroe ISD school board for three years. While on the Board, she strongly supported parental choice and curriculum that espouses classical-traditional values.
MY EXPERIENCES OVER 40 YEARS
I was a long-time, Texas, public-school, classroom teacher; and because I care about children and their influence upon the future of America, I have been closely involved with the SBOE for 40 years.
During those many years, I have seen super, dedicated, SBOE members who have battled hard to return our schools to classical, traditional values.
Unfortunately, I have also seen the damage far-leftist SBOE members can do to students’ values by saturating the classrooms with leftist, social justice standards and curriculum.
I am excited about Tiffany Nelson and the good that she can do once elected to the Texas State Board of Education.
SBOE MEMBERS ALSO RUNNING
Julie Pickren and Audrey Young are presently on the SBOE, and they will be up for re-election on Nov. 3, 2026 also.
They have been doing a fabulous job on the SBOE, and I look forward to their continued service and advocacy for traditional/classical values.
L. J. Francis was a sound voice of reason on the SBOE, and I was very disappointed that he lost in the March 3, 2026 primary.
THE OUTCOME IS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS
This is the chance for all Texas voters to make a real difference in our public schools and in the future of our state and nation.
All of us must start now by gathering information on each SBOE candidate.
Then on Nov. 3, 2026 all of us must get to the polls and cast our vote in this all-important SBOE election.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TIFFANY NELSON
https://www.tiffanynelsonfortexas.com/meet-tiffany
RECENT EDUCATION ARTICLES OF INTEREST
3.17.26 – Recommended Literary Works Lists for Texas (K-12) -- https://sboe.texas.gov/state-board-of-education/sboe-informal-public-comment-process
2.4.26 – “Texas Appoints First Inspector General for Educator Misconduct” -- by Erin Anderson – Texas Scorecard -- https://donnagarner.org/2-4-26-tx-appoints-first-inspector-general-for-educator-misconduct-by-erin-anderson-texas-scorecard/
1.13.26 -- “Bringing Traditional, Classical Literature Back to Texas Schools” -- By Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/1-13-26-bringing-traditional-classical-literature-back-to-texas-schools-by-donna-garner/
11.24.25 -- “TX Com. of Education Morath Presents Latest News About Texas Public Schools” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/11-24-25-tx-com-of-education-morath-presents-the-latest-news-about-texas-public-schools-from-donna-garner/
9.18.25 -- “Texas SBOE Voted To Teach History in Logical Order” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/9-18-25-texas-sboe-voted-to-teach-history-in-logical-order-from-donna-garner/