Sarah Sorensen is the parent of an SAISD student and has a background in project management and public policy research and advocacy.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am a proud public school graduate, a parent of a current San Antonio ISD student and the current Board Trustee for San Antonio ISD District 1. I believe that public schools are the heart of our communities and the foundation of our democracy. Our society is only as strong as our public schools. I view my place on the board as part of a larger movement to develop and carry out a shared vision for our public schools that supports a strong multiracial democracy and a community where all people can thrive. In our current political landscape, this movement is more important than it has ever been. Now is the time for all of us to come together to fight for the schools and the community we deserve. I have a background in public policy, research, advocacy, community organizing, coalition building and project management. I have worked in nonprofits and state and local government. I hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in public affairs and policy from the University at Albany.
List any previous experience in the community or in the education field, such as participation in parent teacher associations, local boards and commissions or neighborhood associations.
I am a parent of a current SAISD student. I have served as PTA Vice President, President and as a member of the charter writing committee for Bonham Academy. I served two terms as vice president of the Lavaca Neighborhood Association. I am the founder of Our Schools San Antonio, a parent union in San Antonio ISD that advocates for fully funded public schools where all students, families, teachers and staff are valued and fully supported for success. I worked for nearly a decade as a legislative analyst for the New York State Assembly’s Chair of the Higher Education Committee. I have served on the San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees since 2021.
If elected, you’ll likely be facing a budget deficit and the possibility of funding hamstrung by the state. How would you approach these issues? Where should the district turn to save money if needed?
Texas ranks 41st in the country for public school funding and has not increased base aid to public schools since 2019. Without an adequate increase in state aid, San Antonio ISD will continue to face budget cuts and pressure to close more schools. This is why I joined with over 500 teachers and school workers from across the state to advocate for more school funding and against vouchers at the state legislature in early March. Despite a budget surplus and the fact that a majority of Texans support giving more funds to public schools, the legislature has not indicated that it intends to meaningfully increase funding for public schools this session. Unless the legislature changes course, San Antonio ISD will be forced to make more budget cuts. I will advocate against cuts at the campus level while the district’s central administration costs are higher than the state average.
What do you think the district’s biggest challenges are in the coming years, and what should be the board’s top areas of focus?
SAISD faces inadequate and uncertain funding from the state and federal government along with federal and state policies that threaten students, families and workers. We have an aging infrastructure and a declining enrollment.The state accountability system prioritizes standardized test scores above all else while state leaders seek to give tax dollars to private schools. Additionally, students, families and school workers face increasing pressures in their day-to-day lives. Food and housing insecurity are on the rise while hateful rhetoric has saturated our daily lives. Given these challenges the board should prioritize:
- Collaborating with the community to create a plan for the district that centers equity and restorative investments in schools and neighborhoods.
- Ensuring that SAISD schools are safe and welcoming for all students, families and workers.
- Implementing policies and practices that support the mental health and well-being of students.
- Enhancing working conditions and increasing pay for all school workers.
Please list any relevant endorsements in this race.
I am endorsed by the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, San Antonio DSA, council member Teri Castillo and council member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez.
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