Can retired educators be a force in state elections? Former South Texas superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez believes so.
More than 60 retired educators filled the meeting room at Kiko’s Mexican Food Restaurant on Aug. 5, invited by Reynolds-Perez to discuss how retirees might continue to have an impact on public education.
Reynolds-Perez led the Kingsville Independent School District until 2025. Previously, she worked in the West Oso Independent School District and the Corpus Christi Independent School District. She drew from her network of local contacts to fill the room.
Attendees took home stacks of voter registration forms to hand out to others. Reynolds-Perez also plans to organize volunteers to help cover for current principals, counselors
and teachers so that they can go out to vote during elections.
The event was hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonpartisan public education advocacy group founded by H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt and other Texas business and community leaders.
Reynolds-Perez and Raise Your Hand Texas Regional Advocacy Director Sophie Torres stressed that the effort is nonpartisan, though speakers expressed clear stances on public education policy issues.
Additionally, Thomas Ray Garcia, a Democratic candidate for Texas State Board of Education, and Nueces County Democratic Party Chair Conor Rice spoke at the event. Reynolds-Perez said that this is because both learned of the event and reached out to share their support of public education.
Several other attendees also shared their thoughts with the group. One attendee pointed out the proliferation of uncertified teachers in Texas classrooms, also sharing concerns about how policies affecting school enrollments could also affect teacher pensions. Another shared feelings that a state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in schools made it harder to support students.
Reynolds-Perez highlighted school closures, state takeovers of public school districts, current state funding levels and the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program that provides state funding for private and home school education as causes of concern.
If kids leave public schools, campuses won’t need as many teachers and other staff members, which reduces the number of people paying into the state teacher retirement system, Reynolds-Perez said.
Reynolds-Perez hopes retired teachers will travel to Austin to testify and provide public comments during the upcoming Texas legislative session, when lawmakers craft state policy and set funding levels.
“A sleeping giant is a group that possesses immense but unrealized or untapped power or influence,” Reynolds-Perez said. “I believe our demographic is that.”
Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Retired educators aim to influence voter turnout, Texas school policy
