Investing in Our Children: Building the Ladder to the Middle Class
Remember When Texas Public Education Beat Russia to the Moon?
In 1969, when NASA needed the technology to guide Apollo 11 to the lunar surface, they turned to Texas public school graduates. Not Harvard. Not Yale. Texas kids from towns like ours calculated the trajectories, engineered the systems, and proved that with the right education, any child can reach for the stars.
Today, some politicians want to abandon that legacy. They push voucher schemes that would drain millions from our already struggling rural schools to fund private academies in big cities. They've forgotten what made Texas great: the belief that every child, no matter their zip code, deserves a quality education.
My Plan: Rebuilding the Ladder to the Middle Class
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I will fight any attempt to divert public funds from our rural schools. Our tax dollars should strengthen our communities, not subsidize private schools hours away.
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$1 million annually to qualifying schools for teacher pay, signing bonuses, and classroom supplies. In return, schools maintain an 80% graduation rate with graduates earning at least 15 college credits or a trade license.
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Universities and trade schools will partner directly with high schools so students graduate with 30+ college credits or professional certifications. Education shouldn't end with a diploma, it should launch a career.
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No child can learn on an empty stomach. Feeding our kids should never be up for debate.
I learned responsibility raising livestock through FFA and faith teaching Sunday School. Those experiences taught me that our children aren't just students, they're the next generation of Texas dreamers, innovators, and leaders. Let's give them the tools to build the future, not become cynics about the present.