Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Tomball ISD Position 7

Tomball ISD voters will have the opportunity to elect a new school board trustee to Position 7 in November.

The details

Candidates Courtnay “Coco” White and John Payne are running for Position 7 of the Tomball ISD board of trustees.

Current trustee Lee McLeod did not file for reelection.

Also of note

On Nov. 5, TISD trustee Positions 5 and 6 are also up for election.

Early voting starts Oct. 21 and Election Day is Nov. 5.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

For more information about voting in Harris or Montgomery counties, visit www.harrisvotes.com or https://elections.mctx.org. For more election coverage, go to communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

Why did you decide to run in this election?

I’m running to ensure all children in Tomball ISD receive a quality education in a safe and supportive environment. With my background in law enforcement and as a parent of four TISD students, I am deeply committed to fostering not only academic success but also the safety and well-being of…

What experience do you have that would help you in this role?

I have 14 years of law enforcement experience, serving as a school resource officer, along with leadership as a sergeant and pastor, focusing on building relationships and supporting the community.

What is your top priority, if elected?

My top priority is to ensure the district provides a safe, supportive environment for every student while maintaining high standards of education. I will also fight to protect and strengthen public school education, ensuring that every child has access to the resources they need to succeed.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Tomball ISD?

The biggest challenges are managing rapid growth, ensuring adequate resources for students and maintaining educational quality in expanding schools. Additionally, we must focus on caring for the whole child, addressing their emotional needs alongside academics and navigating the limitations posed by the current basic allotment of state funding.

How do you plan to address the growth coming to the district?

I will work to ensure we plan carefully for expansion by advocating for more resources, facilities and teachers to accommodate the increasing student population, while preserving the quality of education TISD is known for.

Why did you decide to run in this election?

I believe that we should let kids be kids. I’m running to make a difference for each child, parent, teacher, principal and community not just in our district, but so that our children can learn to be prepared for life to take their goodness and spread it to the world.

What experience do you have that would help you in this role?

As a former teacher and current CPA, I bring both the education classroom and real-world business experience to the table to support our district. I also have experience assisting districts with grant funding opportunities–useful experience to support our children and districts with the changing school finance landscape.

What is your top priority, if elected?

Keeping our district on its path of excellence through safety, educational excellence, learning foundations for success and fiscal responsibility. Many of the duties of a board member are policy, governance and finance, and I believe my experience fits well with the district’s needs and board responsibilities.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Tomball ISD?

School funding after vouchers. While school board members do not get to vote for or against vouchers—they’re decided by the Texas legislature in Austin—the district will be impacted by whatever funding decisions are made in Austin. The district will need someone with good financial acumen to help.

How do you plan to address the growth coming to the district?

Our growth forecasting should consider land opportunities and creative ideas to keep our children close. Our thought exchange last fall showed all parents throughout the district prefer children to attend a school near their home. We should also consider the fewest disruptions to where children are attending school as possible.