Meet the HPISD School Board Candidates

kelly walker, seat 3

Incumbent? Yes
HPISD Grad? No
Previous Experience President and founder of Benchmark Environmental Consultants in Dallas. Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Texas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology.
Residence University Park
Parents of HPISD Students? Yes (2) at HPMS and HPHS
College Tarleton State University
Community Organizations Currently serves as the Finance Officer for the HPISD Board of Trustees; Advisory Board for the HP Education Foundation; a guild member of La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas and a member of the Captial Projects Committee for the City of University Park. Previously served as Facilities Chairperson to the HPISD Board of Trustees.

Why are you running?
I am running for a third term to continue assisting our community in maintaining the HPISD traditions of excellence, to make certain that all voices are heard, and to ensure that we remain responsible stewards of the District’s funds as we begin to build the facilities for the next centennial.

bonnie j. lammers, seat 3

Incumbent? No
HPISD Grad? No
Previous Experience Prior to medical school, I was a professional registered nurse working in CCU/ICU and open heart post-op unit. I am now a medical doctor working as a medical consultant.
Residence Highland Park
Parents of HPISD Students? No
College Nebraska Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Community Organizations Currently, I work as election clerk on election days at Armstrong Elementary School. I have served on Dallas County Grand Jury and volunteered at HPUMC, Armstrong Elementary and St Mark’s School of Texas.

Why are you running?
In the final weeks of summer 2015 I was surprised to learn of the proposed $361+ million bond to be used for the demolition and rebuilding of our recently renovated schools. This is less than one decade after the 2008 $75.4 million bond used to renovate extensively these same HPISD school buildings. Whether you voted “yes” or “no” in November of 2015, going forward this taxpayer money should not be wasted. There should be no more surprises. If elected to sit on the HPISD Board of Trustees, I will work towards the transparency of HPISD finances and prevent waste, both in day-to-day expenses and new building projects. Together, we can use these tax dollars wisely for the betterment of our school system and community.

Our students are our first priority. Past generations have left us an exemplary school system from which we all benefit. We must do the same for those who will come after us. Right now, parents should be fully aware of and involved in vetting the changes in curriculum that are required after the School Board recently accepted federal funds.

Parents should never be the last to know about changes which affect their children. There should be full transparency in all things, including the curriculum, that affect students within the HPISD system. We must always answer first and directly to parents.

I am not the incumbent in this race. I am a physician who has benefited greatly from public education. I have nothing to offer beyond my honesty and willingness to work for the benefit of our students, parents and members of this community we call home.

paul rowsey, seat 4

Incumbent? Yes
HPISD Grad? No
Previous Experience I am currently the CEO of a real estate investment firm. I previously was the CEO of a fully integrated real estate development and investment company and before that was a practicing attorney.
Residence University Park
Parents of HPISD Students? Yes (3) Grads
College Duke University (A.B.), SMU (J.D.)
Community Organizations The Real Estate Council and Foundation (Former Chair), Impact Dallas Capital (Community Advisory Committee), Zero to Five Funders Collaborative

Why are you running?
Our community has endorsed and voted to support a long-term plan to improve our schools and address the difficult challenges the district faces on school finance, demographic growth and the pressure we have experienced on our facilities, all while maintaining the HP tradition of academic excellence. Successfully executing this plan and making sure that our community, our district, and our students receive the best possible result is vitally important. I believe my 36 years in business, combined with my almost six years of experience on the school board and long involvement in school district initiatives, will allow me to play a key role in this process and its successful implementation.

gerry hudnall, seat 4

Incumbent? No
HPISD Grad? No
Previous Experience Secondary teacher with double major in history and political science
Residence Highland Park
Parents of HPISD Students? Yes (3) Grads
College SMU
Community Organizations DAR officer; weekly volunteer at HPUMC; Armstrong Book Review officer; MASGC; SMU Reunion Chair; Past member of Simmons Steering Committee, Wesley Board at SMU, Craig Class; Dallas Woman’s Club, Summer Bible study leader

Why are you running?
I would be honored to serve the community to ensure that today’s students receive a world-class education and to be awarded the best opportunities for tomorrow’s professions. As a former substitute teacher of the HP system and a parent of 3 HP graduates, I understand the students, the parents, and the faculty of HP. I am proud to be a long-time resident of HP. This generation and the next continue to deserve an education that sets them up to be leaders in a competitive world market.

anthony scalia, seat 5

Incumbent? No
HPISD Grad? No
Previous Experience I spent the last 20 years in institutional financial services, and now run a commercial real estate investment firm.
Residence University Park
Parents of HPISD Students? Yes (1) at UP
College My undergraduate degree is from The Ohio State University, while my graduate degree is from University of Arizona.
Community Organizations I’m actively involved in a variety of school organizations as well as frequent volunteer at my child’s school.

Why are you running?
I am running for school board to help our community and be an advocate for the educational needs of our children. I believe that a school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, district staff, students, and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog at the local level. The board must take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision. Once a decision is made, transparency is of the utmost importance. A board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her and must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all members of the community. I look forward to using my background and experience to serve the HPISD stakeholders.

edward herring, seat 5

Incumbent? No
HPISD Grad? Yes
Previous Experience I am the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Tailwater Capital, a private equity firm focused on investments in the energy sector.
Residence Highland Park
Parents of HPISD Students? We have 4 children in the HP School District. We have a son that is a Sophomore at the High School, one son at HPMS, one son at MIS and a daughter at Armstrong Elementary.
College Stanford University Undergraduate Degree and Harvard Business School MBA
Community Organizations I currently serve on the HP Finance Committee

Why are you running?
I believe strongly in giving back to the HP community that has meant so much to me and my family over the years. As a school district, we have an unique opportunity to continue to build upon our tradition of excellence, and I feel that my background as a former graduate, an active parent to children in district and a dedicated community volunteer position me well as a candidate for the School Board.