Jeff Horak

Candidate Questionnaire

List your participation in CSISD school and/or district parent clubs, volunteer organizations, business partnerships or committees (any years)

• CSISD Board of Trustees - 2019 - Present
• CSISD Board of Trustees President - 2021 - Present
• CSISD Education Foundation Board Member - 2014-2024
• Greens Prairie Elementary - W.A.T.C.H.D.O.G - 2022 - Present
• CSISD Strategic Design Committee - 2021
• Pecan Trail DAD - Open House Cook - 2021 - Present
• 50 Men Who Can Cook - Chair and Cook - 2014 – 2023

Include any other areas you have supported CSISD not included in the previous question:

Volunteer at different campuses throughout the district in many capacities

List any local organizations in which you currently participate:

NAIFA Member - 2012 – Present

Considering your background, skills, and talent, what positive contribution would you make as a member of the Board of Trustees?

I have a proven track record of success as a trustee/president with the CSISD Board of Trustees. My contribution is that my commitment to CSISD and the 14,000+ students, 2,000+ employees (1,200+ teachers), and 19 campuses will continue to shine forward. I have been a member of many different facets of CSISD, my roots are in CSISD, and I continue to watch and learn from the ever-changing landscape that is public education. My united outlook on CSISD will allow the district to continue to thrive and prosper to remain a top tier school district in Texas. The leadership skills and communication abilities I possess will allow me to be a sounding board for CSISD and listening vessel for our community.

What are the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees?

The Board of Trustees’ responsibilities include oversight of the school district as it pertains to remaining fiscally responsible of the stakeholder’s investment into the school district. Trustees are responsible for the hiring of the superintendent of the school district and adopting the annual school district budget and tax rate. They are charged with gathering feedback from the community, teachers, staff, and administration to make informed and calculated decisions in board meetings. A trustee must focus on the district as a whole and not on certain particulars as many of the decisions that are made in meetings impact the district in the present or future.

What role does the Board play in contributing to student success?

The Board maintains that the true success of the school district correlates with the student achievements and successes that are accomplished each year. Student success is obtained through a multitude of avenues, via academics, extra curriculars, and volunteerism. The Board remains focused on the whole student experience and challenges the district to provide opportunities for ALL students to thrive and succeed. As a board, we oversee that the school district provides data and results that present how our students are succeeding and what the district is doing to accomplish these goals. It allows us as a board to be knowledgeable and informed on the processes in place to accomplish student success.

What are CSISD's strengths, and how would you continue to foster those strengths as a trustees?

Our district’s strengths start at the core of any great organization, our teachers and staff. The district cannot move forward and continue to grow student success without the foundation. That foundation is our teachers and staff. The district has continued to maintain a standard of excellence with top rated teachers and support staff. CSISD also has a dedicated community outpouring for our school district. Our community is proud of CSISD and continues to provide valuable feedback and suggestions that help our district continue to strive for greatness. In the past two years, CSISD has been able to navigate the public education funding shortfall from the state of Texas by evaluating and addressing all aspects of the inner workings of the district. In doing so, CSISD has been able to improve processes and procedures all while improving the student experience for our students from K-12.

CSISD has revamped their methods of outreach to teachers and stakeholders over the past two years. The introduction of coffee chats, campus specific feedback sessions, teacher advisory committee and more campus-lead direction and independence has allowed CSISD to continue to grow from the boots on the ground level rather than central office directives. The pink palace or glass office stigma has faded drastically over the last two years with more central office staff being on campuses to provide full support to our campus staff and teachers.

What challenges does CSISD currently face, and what are the possible solutions to address those issues?

Our school district from a state level will always be in battle over public education. As a trustee, I will continue to visit with our elected officials that represent us in those areas. I will continue to challenge the district to be fiscally responsible on the local level. Our stakeholders believe in CSISD, and our district must continue to strategically and wisely make fiscal decisions that have direct, positive impacts on our students, teachers, and community. Education has evolved over the last 30 years and continues to change rapidly. CSISD continues to work and focus on the education experience and closing the gaps for our students. The district has adopted different programs, platforms, and strategies that zero in on improving student success. This has been a tough learning curve for students and teachers and staff, but the district and students are seeing success based on the data and growth that continues to occur.

Candidate Files

• Candidate Filing Packet
• Pre-Election Campaign Finance Report (30th day before election)
• Pre-Election Campaign Finance Report (8th day before election)
• Post-Election Campaign Finance Final Report
• Semi-annual Campaign Finance Report
• Semi-annual Campaign Finance Report