The numbers didn’t go our way — but I’ve always understood to my core that this campaign was not exclusively about numbers.

It was about people. The people of GCISD are not just numbers to me. I ran for school board to amplify the voices of real GCISD individuals that I met along the way, like these five people:

• The mom of a student enrolled in dual language who I had never met before but who did her research and contacted and spoke with ALL 8 candidates. She asked questions, she read information, she followed up, she verified, she asked more questions, and then she showed UP! Oh how she showed up! And it’s the parents of these elementary school kids that have given me such hope for the future of GCISD. Because I sure wasn’t this informed when my kiddo was in 1st & 2nd grade. I was just drinking the kool-aid and doing the parties. These mamas have jumped in with both feet for their kids (really for ALL kids) and they are fierce and they are light and they are kindness and I can’t wait to see what they continue to do!

• The first-time voter who showed up and brought tears to my eyes with their excitement about getting to cast their first ever vote for ME! Wow! That’s a moment I will never forget.

• The teachers who have been calling me for the past 18 months in tears and those who are so frustrated to have the district that once felt like family suddenly not have their back. I will continue to be an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a voice to speak for you for as long as I possibly can. I will defend you and brag about you and beg on your behalf. But mostly, I will stand strong beside you and correct every untruth or mischaracterization I hear uttered about your situation. You deserve nothing less!

• The new Grapevine resident who raced to vote after reading about the attack on public schools. He is not yet a father, but he was gravely concerned about the extremism seeping into our public school boards because he was raised Catholic and his wife is Muslim. They haven’t decided yet the path for their children but he told me he does know with every fiber of his being that their public school experience should NOT be a place where the focus is on their religion – whatever it is. So he came to vote and sent his wife the next day!

• The longtime resident whose main concern was to keep his property taxes low — but understood that it was important to invest in the future. And was willing to sit and learn a bit more about M&O, I&S, and Robin Hood.

My team did pull in some good numbers, so I would like to pause to say how grateful I am for every single one of those 6,268 votes I earned from GCISD citizens. Thank you to my 16 supporters who hosted Meet & Greets for me. Thank you to the 5 organizations that hosted public forums: Council of PTAs, GC-SAGE on gifted and advanced academics, READ on dyslexia, the Colleyville Executive Organization, and the Grapevine Republican Club. Thank you to the 486 homeowners who displayed my sign in your yards, and the dozens of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who spent hours block walking and greeting voters. Thank you to the more than 150 individuals who donated to my campaign. I am so very proud of the fact that I was supported and lifted up by LOCAL families right here in GCISD. A true grassroots effort. Thank you to the 3 nonpartisan organizations who organized to take a stand against extremism in GCISD this year. Thank you to my husband, daughter, parents, and in-laws for your steadfast support.

We did this for the 13,000 students, who are not just numbers to me. You each have value and you each deserve a stellar public education. Even though I am not officially serving our district from the boardroom, you can count on me to remain a strong advocate for our public schools. I won’t stop speaking the truth and I hope our community will continue to listen.

— Kimberly

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