Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you running for Celina ISD school board?
I’m running because I love this community and I believe parents, teachers, and trustees should be on the same team – working together for safe, excellent schools.
Over the last year, Celina families have dealt with lawsuits, investigations, teacher arrests, and a redacted report that still found systemic issues in our district. Many people tell me they feel shut out, talked down to, or left in the dark.
I’m not running to attack anyone personally or relive every painful headline. I’m running so families have a trustee they know, can reach, and can trust to listen carefully, ask hard questions in public, and vote with student safety and community trust at the center, not out of convenience or pressure.
How do you view the recent scandals and the superintendent’s contract vote?
Our community has been through a lot:
Multiple lawsuits from families about staff misconduct and district inaction.
TEA revoking former coach Bill Elliott’s certificate and placing him on the Do Not Hire list after a past student’s allegations.
Teachers arrested or removed after allegedly showing up impaired or endangering students.
A third‑party investigation that found systemic issues in athletics and at Moore Middle School, even though the public only saw a heavily redacted version.
And then, a 5–2 board vote to extend and raise the superintendent’s contract in the middle of this trust crisis.
I’m glad at least two trustees voted no on that contract – that was the right vote. But I also believe one late “no” vote is not enough on its own.
If I’m elected, I will not treat these issues as public relations problems. I will:
Ask direct questions in open session.
Push for as much transparency as the law allows.
Explain my votes in plain language.
And put student safety and long‑term trust ahead of short‑term comfort for adults.
You homeschool.
Why should parents with kids in Celina ISD trust you to make decisions about public schools?
Our family homeschools for the same reason many families make any schooling decision – because after a lot of prayer and conversation, we believe it’s what’s best for our kids right now.
Families choose homeschool for all kinds of reasons: special needs, work schedules, family priorities, or a desire to spend more time together. In our case, it’s my passion. I want to spend as much time as I can teaching and discipling our children, and we use a biblically based curriculum that fits our family’s convictions and needs.
Our choice is not a referendum on Celina ISD, and it’s certainly not an expression of hostility toward public schools. If it were, I wouldn’t be running to serve on the school board. We love this community. I’m a Bobcat graduate, we live here by choice, and many of our closest friends have their kids in Celina ISD.
I’ve spent years teaching in our homeschool co‑op and directing it, listening to parents whose kids are in Celina ISD, and sitting in the same board meetings they have. I see this role as carrying their experience to the board table and working with teachers and staff who know the day‑to‑day work best.
Most of the current board doesn’t have children in Celina ISD either, and that has never been the standard for service. The real question is whether your trustee shows up prepared, tells the truth, and is willing to make hard calls when leadership falls short.
The board does not need another insider with ties to contracts or side interests. It needs trustees with no mixed loyalties and nothing to gain except serving well – people who will ask honest questions in public and vote for what’s best for students and this community, even when that means breaking with the current board majority.
That is why I’m running for Place 4, and why I believe this is a moment for new voices and a fresh perspective on the board.
Are you going to bring national politics & culture wars into our local schools?
No.
Our board has plenty of real work to do: safety, staffing, classroom quality, communication, growth, and restoring trust.
I do have personal convictions, and I’m not shy about them. But I’m not running to import national talking points into Celina ISD.
My focus is:
Age‑appropriate, clear policies.
Classrooms that stay focused on learning, not political battles.
A process where parents can see what’s being taught, ask questions, and be taken seriously – without every disagreement turning into a headline.
What will you actually do about student safety and discipline?
Safety isn’t a slogan; it’s policies, training, and follow‑through.
If I’m on the board, I will:
Support clear expectations for behavior and consistent consequences across campuses.
Ask for data on incidents and trends, not just stories, so we can see where things are getting better and where we need to change.
Expect timely communication with parents when something serious happens – not rumors and surprises.
Ask for regular updates on what’s being done to prevent a repeat of the situations that led to recent lawsuits and arrests.
Our kids deserve a district that responds quickly and consistently, not one that only acts when a story makes the news.
How will you support strong academics — not just sports or activities?
Athletics matter here, but academics are the core.
I will:
Look for budgets and schedules that protect instructional time.
Ask how we are supporting students who are behind and those who are ready for more.
Push for clear, understandable reporting so parents see more than acronyms and test codes.
Listen to teachers and parents about curriculum concerns and consistency from campus to campus.
I want Celina ISD to be a place where students are challenged, not just passed along, and where families feel confident they’re getting a rigorous education, not just a good Friday night.
How will you handle concerns about books and curriculum in a constructive way?
Parents have the right to know what their kids are being taught and to raise concerns.
I support:
Curriculum transparency – making it easy to see what’s being used.
Fair, orderly review processes that respect parents, students, and teachers.
My basic standard:
If something clearly crosses age‑appropriate lines or violates policy, we address it decisively.
If something is simply challenging or uncomfortable, we communicate, offer reasonable options when appropriate, and teach students how to think critically, not remove materials at the first concern.
The goal is trust and clarity, not constant whiplash.
Will you stand up to district leadership when needed, or go along?
My job is to be respectful and prepared – but also honest.
I will:
Ask direct questions in public.
Expect straightforward answers.
Base my votes on what’s best for students and the district, not on personal loyalty or pressure.
At the same time, nothing gets done without collaboration. I’ll work to build trust and common ground with other trustees and the superintendent, while staying honest with parents about where I stand.
You may not agree with every vote I take, but you will always know how I voted and why.
How will you make sure parents actually have a voice before big decisions are made?
I plan to listen before I vote.
That means:
Holding coffees and small gatherings.
Running regular Parent & Community Surveys and sharing “What We Heard” summaries so you can see how your feedback is used.
Making sure major decisions – like contract extensions, big policy changes, or responses to investigations – are clearly explained and posted with enough notice for parents to respond.
Encouraging parents to email the board, speak at meetings, and work with me to get important issues onto the agenda, not just react after decisions are made.
My goal is to help move Celina from “we vent on Facebook” to “we show up, we’re heard, and the board responds.”
What is your approach to students with different backgrounds, needs, or beliefs than your own?
Every child in Celina ISD deserves to be safe, respected, and challenged to grow.
I will:
Support policies that uphold high expectations for behavior and learning for all students.
Listen carefully to parents of students with special needs, different cultural backgrounds, and different beliefs so their experiences are part of board conversations, not an afterthought.
Ask how policies and practices affect students who are most vulnerable, not just those who are already thriving.
You don’t have to share my background or beliefs for me to take your child’s safety and education seriously.
How much time are you willing to give this role?
A trustee seat is not a hobby to me; it’s a serious commitment.
I’m prepared to devote the time needed to:
Read materials in advance.
Attend meetings and required trainings.
Visit campuses when appropriate.
Meet regularly with parents and staff.
If voters trust me with this role, I will treat it as real work with real accountability, not a line on a résumé.
If I disagree with you on an issue, will you still meet with me?
Yes.
My promise is to:
Listen respectfully, even when we see things differently.
Explain my reasons clearly.
Treat you as a neighbor, not an enemy.
You may not agree with every vote I take, but you will always know that I heard you, weighed the facts, and tried to do what I believe is right for students and the district.
Still Have Questions?
No website can cover every concern, and I don’t want it to. I’d rather hear your questions directly and learn from your family’s experience.
If you’d like to talk more, you can:
Take the Parent & Community Survey and share what you’re seeing in our schools.
Email me anytime at Erin@VoteErinNorris.com.
Invite me for coffee or a small gathering with a few neighbors.