MEet lesley
As a former Cy-Fair ISD educator, mom of two CFISD students, and proud wife of a CFISD teacher, I am deeply committed to the future of our schools and the education of our children. I’m the daughter of a nurse and a teacher, both first-generation college graduates who impressed upon me the importance of education and serving others, so it just makes sense that I went into teaching as soon as I earned my Bachelor's degree.
I moved to Houston in 2003 as a Teach For America Corps Member and have lived and worked in this area ever since. With over 20 years of experience in public education, I have had the privilege of serving in various roles, including high school English teacher, instructional coach, school administrator, and teacher certification officer. I hold a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston.
My passion for education extends beyond the classroom, as I have advocated for CFISD schools since 2022 as president of Cypress Families for Public Schools.
I am excited to run for the Cy-Fair Independent School District Board of Trustees alongside fellow candidates Dr. Cleveland Lane and Kendra Camarena, both dedicated educators and CFISD parents. Together, we are committed to getting CFISD back on track with a common-sense, pro-public education approach to leadership.
priorities for cfisd
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Allocate resources that clear the path to success for every learner.
Every child is different, so CFISD must continue to provide multiple avenues toward and visions for success. Let’s make sure CFISD remains a destination district by celebrating and building upon our extensive academic, vocational, and military readiness programming; our diverse clubs and extracurriculars; athletics, visual and performing arts; and more!
As Trustee, I will:
Support the hardworking CFISD staff who lead and implement academic instruction by making smart and sustainable use of the plentiful student achievement data we already have. As an instructional leader myself, I know what questions to ask, and I understand that analyzing the data is only the first step. Our educators need time to plan and implement excellent instruction and interventions, whether it’s for a special education or GT learning environment. I will work WITH them and trust their expertise.
Advocate for our special education students and educators. Our special education students need a multitude of services and would benefit from more options. Our special education teachers and paraprofessionals require sustainable workloads and fair pay so they can provide students with the level of service that will allow them to thrive.
Work to bring back librarians, counselors, and instructional specialists who are essential for vibrant schools and flourishing students.
Prioritize the well-being of students through evidence-based practices.
Our students’ physical safety and mental well being are as important as ever, and the pressures on them continue to evolve. Student safety is complex and requires us to honor the whole child, including mental and physical health, effective discipline, strong security, character education, and positive community connections. We must be current with the research and the times. We must dare to innovate and make changes when it will benefit students and the community. I will:
Honor the complexity of student safety by focusing on data and research and asking questions from a variety of lenses, including parent, staff member, business owner, and tax-payer
Emphasize the importance of improved student behavior and prioritize clarity and consistency in discipline practices. Recognizing that many students’ ‘backpacks’ are heavy with a variety of challenges, clear behavioral expectations and consistent, fair enforcement of those expectations remain foundational to a strong, welcoming school culture.
Explore and champion policies to address the impact of screentime on students’ learning and well-being
Implement innovative ways for working families to be partners in their students' educational success.
Time and again, educational research proves what teachers already know: Family involvement with a child’s education increases the likelihood of that child’s academic success. As Trustee, I will:
Support CFISD in building on their efforts to involve working families in students’ education
Ask questions that invite exploration into family engagement strategies that are sustainable for CFISD educators
Invite collaboration with community partners to provide resources that will ease families’ participation in school events
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Ensure the Board’s time is spent on discussing and funding data-informed programs and services.
CFISD has a well-deserved reputation for fiscal responsibility and efficiency. Unfortunately, inflation, years of insufficient support in Austin, and a punitive funding formula present financial challenges for CFISD.
As Trustee, I will:
Leverage my influence to steer discussions toward real solutions
Learn everything I can about school finance and bring innovative ideas and perspectives to our work
Use my platform and adult learning expertise to inform the community on school finance with the goal of growing our advocacy power
Streamline the budget process to prioritize student needs and stakeholder input.
Education and teaching are always changing, now more rapidly than ever. Classroom teachers work with our children every day. They know what educational resources will most benefit student safety and success. We must give them a seat at the table and listen to them.
As Trustee, I will:
Ask questions that push the Board to consider all stakeholders: “Who is being left behind? Who are we not hearing from?” Before we move forward with our financial planning, I’ll push for robust explorations that include a variety of perspectives.
Emphasize competitive raises and benefits for CFISD staff in the budget process
Work with district leaders to build opportunities for teachers and parents to advise and provide input on the budget and budget implementation
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Reimagine the creation of Board subcommittees to ensure transparency.
While it is beneficial to make school board meetings an efficient use of time, we must find a way to do so without sacrificing robust discussions that allow all Trustees and stakeholders to participate and stay up-to-date.
As Trustee, I will:
Pay close attention to the existing structure and learn what our options are for revising it
Hold myself accountable and urge my colleagues to meet consistently and share detailed reports
Advocate for sustainable updates to the subcommittee structure that will preserve efficiency and increase transparency
Expand existing stakeholder communication channels to engage the community and inform decisions with data and feedback.
We’ve heard a lot of rhetoric about parental rights over the past several years, but we’ve seen some CFISD Trustees dismiss parental input through their votes. Staff member committee input and survey data have also been dismissed. It’s time to rebuild trust with the community, and that starts with good faith efforts to make the most of the strong systems we already have.
As Trustee, I will:
Respect the stakeholders who invest personal time in committee participation and completing surveys by seriously considering their input and being curious about their point-of-view
Strive for implementation of ideas that will benefit students, be sustainable for staff, and make sense financially
Assume the best of those who disagree with me, and seek common ground for the sake of our students and community; in other words, serve the whole community, not just those who voted for me
Center the needs of stakeholders through inquiry, active listening, and self-reflection
Provide clear rationale for how the Board makes decisions.
It isn’t possible to implement every idea and piece of feedback, but stakeholders deserve fact-based discussions of and explanations for contentious, high-stakes votes.
As Trustee, I will:
Lean on my knowledge of PK-12 education and my skills as a teacher to respectfully and concisely share information whenever possible
Ask thoughtful questions of my colleagues during public meetings to better understand their positions and ensure the community gets to hear their point of view
Invite feedback from stakeholders as policies are implemented so we can reflect as a Board and refine or course-correct as needed
why i’m running
In May of 2024, the CFISD Board of Trustees voted to remove multiple chapters from State Board of Education-approved instructional materials. With that vote, students lost out on relevant, up-to-date learning opportunities, and teachers’ time and expertise were disregarded.
Many in the community objected, and one brave teacher filed a grievance. The June Board meeting was filled with people supporting the grievance and pressing for a vote to overturn the decision. The Board majority declined to reconsider.
That’s when I decided to run for the CFISD Board of Trustees—to stand up for our students’ right to learn, our educators’ expertise, and our community’s investment in this school district.
In August, the community geared up for a new school year. The mood was somber as we began to feel the impact of budget cuts: Our schools were losing beloved CFISD staff, including librarians, nurses, and counselors. Sadly, there was more adversity to come.
To save $4 million, the Board had approved a plan to drastically reduce school bus routes. Unfortunately, communication came late for many families. This resulted in terrible traffic and, for many students, long, dangerous walks to and from school. Over a dozen children would be hit by cars over the course of the school year – a tragic but predictable outcome that only strengthened my resolve to run.
Perhaps the bus cuts could have been avoided, or at least better planned and communicated, if the Board majority had spent May and June prioritizing that. Instead, they focused on omitting chapters from instructional materials. CFISD students were less safe and had less access to relevant academic texts.
We cannot afford to continue down this path.
As a longtime educator, I’ve spent my career figuring out how to give students what they need on a shoe-string budget and a ticking clock. You have to be strategic to be effective. The Trustees whose positions are up for election have shown us they are unqualified for the job.
I’m a mom and educator. I have the heart and experience to put students, educators, and families first. Vote for me this November for CFISD Trustee.
Donate to the campaign so we have all the funds we need to get out the vote!
You also have the option of mailing in a check made out to:
Lesley Guilmart for CFISD Trustee
Mailing Address:
16635 Spring Cypress Road #88 Cypress, TX 77429.