After a six-year tenure on the dais, a groundbreaking Hays CISD board trustee is opting to forego a third term as she purses a career in education.
In a letter to constituents, Hays CISD at-large board trustee Sandra Bryant, who is the first, and currently only, African-American elected to serve as a trustee, announced her plan to not run for reelection this May.
Bryant, who was elected to the board in 2011 and currently serves as board vice president, said she decided to “pass the mantle” and pursue another calling in life after much “prayer and deliberation.”
“I will be focusing my full attention on earning my master’s degree in counseling,” Bryant said in her letter.
Bryant believes that seven goals she had in mind when she first ran for the at-large seat have been accomplished.
Those goals included continuing to build relationships with the community, stand for smaller classroom sizes, increase pay for teachers and staff and increase safety in schools.
Other goals were promoting accountability, heighten transparency and improve communication.
She also said foregoing reelection won’t “hamper my involvement in the community.”
“I love our school district, our cities, and the county and will always remain active,” Bryant said. “I am committed to this community and will continue to serve on commiteees and boards.”
Bryant also added that she cares about every child and that they were “more than students to me.”
She also said that it was important to be a voice for staff and teachers and that “they knew someone was listening.”
“I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” she said. “It has contributed to my growth into the person who I am today and has allowed me to meet and represent thousands of people from all over the district.”
Letter from Bryant to Hays CISD parents
For more than a decade, I have proudly served the community in various capacities, including nearly six years as an At-Large Trustee on the Hays Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It has contributed to my growth into the person who I am today and has allowed me to meet and represent thousands of people from all over the district. However, after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided not to seek re-election. It is time for me to pass the mantle and to pursue another calling in life. I will be focusing my full attention on earning my master’s degree in counseling.
When I first ran for the Board, I set out with seven goals in mind. They were to: represent all by visiting every school in the district twice a year or more (to continue to build relationships with the community), stand strong for smaller classroom sizes, increase pay for teachers and staff, increase safety in our schools, promote accountability, heighten greater transparency, and champion better communication. I can now proudly say that these goals have all been accomplished.
My choosing not to run for re-election will not hamper my involvement in my community. I love our school district, our cities, and the county and will always remain active. I am committed to this community and will continue to serve on committees and boards. I will also continue to mentor and be a voice for the people. The name of my Facebook will change but I will keep communities informed on what’s happening in the district.
I must thank my husband, Ray Bryant, who has been a devoted partner on this journey. I couldn’t have done this without his support! To our three children, Essence (Hays High School graduate), Darius, and Jaque (Lehman High School graduates) – thank you for sharing me with everyone else! I also want to express a deep appreciation to my constituents for their vote of confidence. To my pastor and his wife, thank you for always lifting me (us) up in your prayers.
In closing, there are a few more things I would like the community to know about me. I care about every child. They were more than students to me. It was important for me to be a voice for the staff and teachers and that they knew someone was listening. Lastly, even when you didn’t see me up front fighting for you, please know that I was always in the background working on your behalf.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Yours in solidarity,
Trustee Sandra Bryant
