January 13, 2017      5:36 PM

Fort Bend ISD Board President to Patrick: I am not an "educrat." I am a parent and proud conservative

In open letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Fort Bend ISD President Kristin Tassin says “We must get beyond ideological rhetoric, get to the heart of the problem, and work together to find real solutions. But, it seems that some leaders at the state level are not listening.”

Dear Lt. Gov. Patrick,

With all due respect and contrary to what you may believe, not all of us who represent Texas public schools (the children who attend the schools, not the buildings), are liberals or “educrats,” as you referred to us in your speech to the Texas Public Policy Foundation on January 11.

Most of us are parents, many with conservative views and values, who ran for the school board or got involved in our local school districts in order to improve education and make a difference for the children in our communities and across the state of Texas.

As an elected official myself, one of the things I must do is take the time to listen to those who work in the trenches with our children every day and make an effort to understand what is really going on in education. We must get beyond ideological rhetoric, get to the heart of the problem, and work together to find real solutions. But, it seems that some leaders at the state level are not listening.

You said in your speech that you are listening to your constituents. But, I am your constituent and your message to me was to stay home – to “save [my] money” and “don’t bother to come to Austin to lobby” for what I believe is best for the students in my district and Texas.

Well, I am not going to stay home. Not only because I care too much, but also because it is my duty under the law to advocate for public education and the more than 5.2 million Texas children who attend our public schools.

The full open letter submitted by Fort Bend ISD School Board President Kristin Tassin is in the R&D Department.

By Kristin Tassin

Copyright January 13, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved