Letter to District 1
Dear Neighbors,
I’m running for school board because I love public schools. Public schools have always been an important part of my life. My mother was a teacher and elementary school principal in Arlington. I went to public school wherever she taught before I moved in with my dad for high school in West Texas and experienced every bit of Friday Night Lights. I have eight other public-school teachers in my family. Most importantly, I am a proud parent of two Dallas ISD students. I’ve seen firsthand the amazing work that Dallas ISD teachers and staff do every day.
I’m running for school board because it is incredibly important. It is hard to imagine what is more important than helping 140,000 kids succeed. But this election is important for another reason: If we don’t win this election, then it’s possible no school board trustees will have kids enrolled in Dallas ISD next year. We need a Dallas ISD parent serving on the school board, experiencing what it’s like to go through the enrollment process, navigating the bus system, working with the master schedule, and a host of other inside experiences you only have as a Dallas ISD parent. My choice to enroll my children in public instead of private school is one of the many things that sets me apart in this race.
I’m running for school board because I believe I will be a great trustee. I’ve volunteered weekly in Dallas ISD for eight years through Reading Partners, which tutors K-2 students in reading. And I’ve been fortunate to serve in many leadership roles in public education, including Reading Partners North Texas (Chair), Educate Dallas (Chair), Dealey Dad’s Club (President), and others. I’m also an attorney who is board-certified in construction law. With Dallas ISD being one of the largest property owners in the city, I will bring important knowledge to the board. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to serving the District 1 community as Dallas ISD trustee.
If elected, I have seven key priorities that will drive my service as Trustee:
- Prioritize Kids Above All: I will focus every decision on maximizing outcomes for students. That may seem obvious, but even good intentions can place adult issues ahead of the needs of students. Using good data, my decisions will put kids first.
- Celebrate Amazing Teachers: Teachers are the most important part of maximizing student outcomes. First, we must pay teachers more, train and support them well, and provide an excellent working environment. Second, we must continue celebrating great teachers and encourage others with performance-based pay that rewards excellence and effectiveness.
- Great Schools Build Great Neighborhoods: Schools thrive when communities embrace them. Neighborhoods thrive with excellent public schools. Schools should be vibrant centers for all our neighborhoods. I will be a passionate advocate to the District 1 community, sharing the incredible things happening in our schools and working to build partnerships between schools and communities.
- Encourage Parent Partnerships: Parents are key drivers in their kids’ education, and they should always feel welcome in our schools. I will listen to parents as they seek the best for their kids.
- Keep Innovating, Keep Striving: We must keep innovating and never settle. I will encourage a culture where new ideas are welcomed, while maintaining urgency because every student matters.
- Ensure Safe Schools: Students and teachers need safe environments to learn and teach, and parents need to know their kids are safe in Dallas ISD. I will prioritize the infrastructure and resources we need to keep our schools safe.
- Support Sound Fiscal Policy: Trustees have a duty to be excellent stewards of the resources the taxpayers have graciously given to Dallas ISD. As a partner in a law firm, I am a small business owner. I have also represented many clients navigating important challenges in the lives of their companies, working extensively with their budgets and finances. I am an experienced professional committed to fiscal responsibility, healthy accountability, and full transparency.
For the last fourteen years, my wife, Rebecca, and I have lived in Dallas ISD District 1. This community helped us raise our family. I want to give back to a community that has given so much to us and do so by supporting the public schools in Northwest Dallas. I want to make this community even better by investing in the public schools that anchor our neighborhoods.
It will take all of us working together to build the future we want for our kids and neighborhoods. Please GET INVOLVED in our campaign and DONATE to support. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.
Thank you,
Lance Currie
Candidate for Dallas ISD
District 1 Trustee