New Trustees Elected to Dallas School Board
Two new trustees appear headed to the Dallas school board, according to unofficial vote totals. The contested races for District 4 and District 5 come as the district navigates tight budgets and political uncertainty. Unofficial results from late Saturday showed Byron Sanders well-positioned to be the next representative for Oak Lawn, West Dallas, Wilmer, Hutchins, and portions of east Oak Cliff. He would replace trustee Maxie Johnson, who threw his support behind Sanders as his successor.
Sanders declared victory with Dallas County polling data showing him with 65% of the vote, as of midnight. The Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative that provides in-depth coverage of education issues and stories that affect North Texans. Receive our in-depth coverage of education issues and stories that affect North Texans by visiting our website.
Trustee Camile White fell behind Prisma Garcia in the race to serve parts of southeast Dallas, Pleasant Grove, Balch Springs, and Seagoville. Garcia also declared victory and the 12 a.m. update showed her with 60% of the vote. “This win belongs to all of us,” she posted on social media. “Now, we roll up our sleeves and fight for every student in our district.”
The Role of Trustees
Trustees work with Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, leading the second-largest district in Texas. The board is tasked with evaluating Elizalde, overseeing a roughly $1.8 billion budget, and setting district policy for about 140,000 students. DISD faces financial uncertainties — like many districts across Texas — as rising costs and stagnant state funding have complicated budgets. Officials also are anticipating a roughly 1,700-student decline in enrollment next year.
Earlier Saturday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a school choice plan that will allow families to use public money on private schools or homeschooling. If a significant number of students leave DISD to participate in the education savings account program, that could impact the district’s finances over the next several years. Sanders said he will work to ensure Dallas ISD is the premiere district that families want to choose for their children.
Challenges Ahead
“We recognize that we are the cavalry. We’re not waiting for Austin to come save us,” he said Saturday night. “We’re going to leverage our own ingenuity.” Dallas ISD teachers, staff could see pay increases under the proposed budget. The district is working to address the financial challenges and ensure that it provides the best possible education for its students.
The district is also working to improve its communication with parents and the community. Garcia pledged to bring more energy and communication to families within her district. She discussed plans to launch a newsletter — in both English and Spanish — to provide updates to parents. Her priorities include enrolling more students in pre-K through a strategic, grassroots recruitment push.
District 5
Sanders sat well ahead of competitors Natashia Gerald and Devon Washington, according to unofficial vote totals. The CEO of a health care firm, Sanders would bring to the dais decades of experience from across North Texas’ education landscape. He previously led Big Thought, a nonprofit that focuses on arts education, youth justice, and social emotional learning.
Sanders said he wants DISD to “embrace some moonshots” — such as using the next bond to build affordable housing for teachers. During his campaign, he pledged to bring innovative ideas to the board. Johnson, who joined the DISD board in 2019, stepped down to run for City Council’s District 4 seat. He appears headed for victory, based on unofficial vote totals.
District 4
Garcia pulled ahead of White, unofficial vote totals show, which would shake up the board after the trustee’s single three-year term. Garcia held 60% of the vote as of midnight, and she said she was confident in the win. “I feel very positive,” she said Saturday night. “I know this is hard work. It will take the voices of many. I believe we can change the outcomes for our students and let them have the opportunities for success.”
White said she was running so she could continue building on work started in her first term, specifically more campus improvements via a 2026 bond. White’s first election was decided by a tiny margin; more vote totals will roll in throughout the course of the night. She did not immediately respond to a call and text seeking comment.
Conclusion
The election of new trustees to the Dallas school board marks a new era for the district. With their combined experience and innovative ideas, Sanders and Garcia are poised to make a positive impact on the district. The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas. The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from various organizations and individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the new trustees elected to the Dallas school board?
A: Byron Sanders and Prisma Garcia are the new trustees elected to the Dallas school board.
Q: What are the challenges facing the Dallas school district?
A: The district faces financial uncertainties, including rising costs and stagnant state funding, as well as a decline in enrollment.
Q: What are the priorities of the new trustees?
A: Sanders wants to ensure Dallas ISD is the premiere district that families want to choose for their children, while Garcia plans to bring more energy and communication to families within her district and enroll more students in pre-K.
Q: How will the school choice plan affect the district?
A: The school choice plan could impact the district’s finances if a significant number of students leave DISD to participate in the education savings account program.
