By: Mariana Gutierrez Vega
As the Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator at CREEED, one of the most rewarding and inspiring aspects of my role is hearing about the dreams, hopes and aspirations that parents have for their children. Many tell me they want their children to go to college and find a good job, others tell me how they want their children to get good grades, and some share how they want to make sure their child feels safe and supported at school.
My job is to equip parents with the knowledge, tools and resources to turn those dreams and ambitions into action. In the four years since CREEED started our parent engagement efforts, we have been able to connect with 500 parents and seen so many of them become advocates for their children’s education. They have launched parent clubs and support groups at their kids’ schools, attended and spoke at school board meetings, built strong relationships with principals and teachers – all with the end goal of improving education for all students in El Paso.
Many parents I’ve worked with voted in a school board election for the first time only after they participated in one of CREEED’s parent and community engagement programs. My message to parents is clear: if you care about your child’s education, the opportunities and programs they are offered at school, then you must participate in school board elections.
On May 3, 2025, parents within El Paso Independent School District and Socorro Independent School District have an opportunity to make their voices heard by participating in their local school board elections. Here’s why school board elections matter and how parents can get involved.
Why school board elections matter
School board trustees are responsible for setting and making budget decisions for a school district, establishing a school district’s priorities; hiring and evaluating a district’s superintendent; assessing educators’ impact inside the classrooms; and making hard decisions such as closing or consolidating schools.
School board trustees fulfill an important policy role in the educational outcomes of students. If parents care about any of these issues, they can help decide who has a seat at the table where the decisions are made by participating in school board elections.
How to participate in school board elections
El Paso Matters has compiled a one-stop resource with everything you need to know about the upcoming school board elections. Here are some quick things to keep in mind ahead of the elections:
- Find out if there is a school board election happening in your district. You can go visit the El Paso County Elections Department (here) to find out and receive a sample ballot.
- Make a voting plan. Whether you plan to vote early, vote by mail, or on election day; keep important dates in mind.
- Learn about the candidates. Read about the priorities, vision and ideas each candidate has for your school district and ask if those align with your own priorities for your child’s education.
Shaping and implementing education policies is not a small responsibility, and through the election process, parents can decide who is the best person for the job.