Houston Business-Education Coalition PAC (HBEC) Endorses Judith Cruz for Fall HISD Election

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Houston Business-Education Coalition

Oct 05, 2010, 08:00 ET

HOUSTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston Business-Education Coalition (HBEC) is pleased to announce that it has endorsed Judith Cruz in the special election November 2nd to fill the vacancy for District 8 of the Board of the Houston Independent School District (HISD).

"We have considered responses to a detailed questionnaire by the candidates," said Jonathan Day, HBEC PAC Chair. "Based on these responses, we have concluded that Judith Cruz is the most qualified candidate. She joined Teach For America after college and has more than eight years of teaching at-risk students in public schools. We believe that the HISD Board can benefit from this experience in teaching English as a second language and special education. Judith and her family have deep roots in the East End and their oldest child is already enrolled in an HISD neighborhood school. We are very proud to endorse Judith Cruz."

HBEC is comprised of 14 business and professional leaders who are vitally interested in the quality of the leadership on the HISD Board. Members of the HBEC PAC are:

James Calaway - President, Calaway Interests LLC
Jonathan Day - Of Counsel, Andrews Kurth LLP
Larry Kellner - Chairman and CEO, Emerald Creek Group
Ramon Manning - CEO, Partners Energy Group
Sherea McKenzie - Executive Director, Joint City/County Commission on Children
Gasper Mir - Prinicipal, MFR P.C.
Rod Paige - Former Secretary of Education & Former Superintendent of HISD
Adrian Patterson - Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Gracie Saenz - Attorney
Douglas M. Selman - R&D VP, (Retired)
Michael Treviño - Reputation Management Associates
Lori Vetters - Principal, MFR P.C.
Jim Windham - Windham Capital
Don Woo - President, Mission Constructors

About Judith Cruz

Qualifications
	George Washington University - Washington, D.C. (Master of Arts in Bilingual Education, August 2002)
	University of Texas - Austin, Texas (Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies, May 1999)
	Certified in teaching English as a Second Language and Special Education
	Eight years of experience in public schools working with at-risk youth
	National Council of Teachers of English, National Association of Bilingual Education
Positions
	"I will hold schools accountable for high standards to close the achievement gap so our children are prepared for college. We must have more creative solutions for reducing the dropout rate and make sure our students have the skills they need in the workplace."
	I send my son to Lantrip Elementary, my neighborhood school. The school, the faculty and staff are welcoming, supportive, and challenge students–including my son who's in kindergarten. I know not every HISD school is like this. Schools need to be competitive and attract parents. Good schools make good neighborhoods. Good neighborhoods make good communities. Parents shouldn't have to leave their zip code to have a strong school."

About Houston Business-Education Coalition (PAC)

HBEC is committed to supporting candidates for school board positions who demonstrate the leadership to improve student academic performance. HBEC is also committed to creating support in the community for significant changes that are required in Houston's public schools.