RECOMMENDATION: Texas Patriots PAC is pleased to recommend Will Hickman for the State Board of Education - District 6 Position.
The State Board of Education:
The State Board of Education (SBOE) sets policies and standards for Texas public schools. The primary responsibilities of the SBOE include: setting curriculum standards; reviewing and adopting instructional materials; establishing graduation requirements; overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund; appointing board members to military reservation and special school districts; providing final review of rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification; reviewing, with veto authority, the Commissioner's proposed award of new charter schools.
The SBOE represents about 1.7 million people in each of their districts. They are charged by the Constitution with the investment of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) that is currently valued at approximately $44 billion dollars. The members of the SBOE are charged with periodically reviewing the education needs of the state and establishing goals for the public school system. They adopt and promote four-year plans for meeting these needs and goals. The SBOE approves plans for school accreditation standards and implements the graduation plans voted by the legislature. The members approve school curriculum standards known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and also approve textbooks. The members of the SBOE devote a massive amount of time listening to public testimony about the educational concerns of Texas citizens as well as reviewing hundreds of pages of information about education matters. The members of the SBOE do not receive a salary. They meet at least three complete days about every other month of the year at a great personal sacrifice for no compensation in return.
WILL HICKMAN
Will Hickman is the incumbent and is a conservative and strong asset as a Board Member of the SBOE. Hickman has demonstrated leadership in several civic organizations and has many letters of endorsement from individuals associated with these organizations. He is known for attending meetings prepared to engage in meaningful deliberations about items on the agenda.
Mr. Hickman has three children in public schools and is recognized for his parent choice and charter school advocacy. He is currently working on the concept of student “flight plans” where each student plans for his or her future by exploring careers and college opportunities before they leave high school. Will HIckman was appointed by the current chair, Keven Ellis, to serve as chairman of the ad-hoc Flight Plan Committee. In Mr. Hickman's words, "Since each student has a different dream, high school should be personalized and customized so each student can achieve their own dreams. Each student will have their own Flight Plan for their future."
MIKE WOLFE
Born in Houston, Mike Wolfe earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Wolfe has experience working as a child support officer with the Texas Attorney General's office, a juvenile supervision officer with Harris County, and an educator with the Houston Independent School District. Wolfe has also served as a Harris County School trustee.