Three candidates are vying for Place 1 on the district board of trustees with Friday’s election day looming. Click here for voting locations.

Incumbent and school board vice president Kathy Duke of Highland Village faces challenges from first-time applicants Mary Smith and Kronda Thimesch, both residents of Lewisville. Last Tuesday, the PTSA sponsored a candidate forum at the Career Center East for the public to come and meet the candidates and ask questions.

Even though Smith wasn’t able to attend the meeting, she left a statement in regards to her goals for this upcoming year.

“Through my journey as a board candidate, I’ve learned so much about the school district, and how my strengths can play a valuable role in the district,” Smith said. “My honesty, talent, passion and loyalty are shining brighter then ever, and will play a big role in the LISD board.”

During the forum, Duke said she hopes that by being reelected, she can make an impact on education across the entire district by embracing the diversity of each campus.

“We need to go with our strategic design, and work on transformation of education, work on closing the achievement gap,” Duke said. “I believe with our new superintendant, he’s going to keep us moving towards that vision.”

Thimesch said she hopes to spread the passion for education by involving local businesses in school funds and projects.

“I feel like we need to have school board members who are willing to listen, that have a strong understanding of the needs in our community,” Thimesch said. “You need to know how to bring the business experience, you need to have an understanding of what’s going on on in our schools.”

Both Duke and Thimesch both stressed innovation and change as major factors in how the board moves forward and implements new programs within the district. Naseem Razvei, president of the district council of PTAs, agreed.

“I think that as we’re moving into the 21st century, we need to keep up with technology,” Razvei said. “We need to look into alternative learning ways. I think both candidates represent that, and I think both of them have a vision for it.”

As the forum ended, both candidates gave their closing statements about how they hoped to not just impact the current generations in LISD, but the future generations as well.

“As I’ve raised my children in LISD, I’m passionate about our students and our teachers but if we’re being honest the passions the easy part,” Thimesch said. “Having the real world experience to turn that passion into concrete plans is something that I can bring to the table.”

Like Thimesch, Duke said she hopes to bring a passion for education to the entire district.

“I am very passionate about Lewisville ISD,” Duke said. “I want to be part of the future. I want to be part of us closing the achievement gap. I want to be part of our vision in order to bring our students to the 21st century.”

Running for Place 2 is incumbent Trisha Sheffield, current board president. Highland Village resident Roger Myers was running against Sheffield but has dropped out of the race, but did not meet the paperwork deadline to be officially removed from the ballot. Sheffield, a Lewisville resident, too was unable to attend the meeting, and also left a statement.

“In serving this year as president of our board, I have helped lead the way to positive changes, implementing some needed adjustments at the board level that has reaped positive results,” Sheffield said.