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Ballotpedia: Benny Kinsey

Benny is originally from Waco, Texas. Kinsey earned an associate's degree from Barton County Community College, a bachelor's degree from Park University, and a master's degree in business administration from University of Arkansas Grantham. He lives in Klein, Texas., and has 4 adult children. 

Benny currently works as a training program manager at United Airlines. He previously held roles including director of recruitment and retention at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, manufacturing recruitment lead at Fiat Chrysler, and program manager for Military Hiring Initiatives at General Motors. Kinsey served in the U.S. Army for 25 years.

Benny Kinsey's campaign for School Board Member in Klein Independent School District is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Supports expanding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to teach students resilience, self-regulation, and effective communication.

Supports expanding STEM programs, financial literacy courses, and civics education.

- Supports expanding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to teach students resilience, self-regulation, and effective communication.
- Supports expanding STEM programs, financial literacy courses, and civics education.

School Curriculum

Supports providing resources and workshops for parents to reinforce learning and behavioral strategies at home.

Aims to reduce practical barriers like transportation, homelessness, or financial challenges by advocating for free or reduced-cost transportation, school supplies assistance, and support for homeless or low-income students.

Supports developing systems to track attendance data, evaluate initiatives, and identify areas for improvement.

Advocates for expanding access to technology for at-risk students.

- Supports providing resources and workshops for parents to reinforce learning and behavioral strategies at home.
- Aims to reduce practical barriers like transportation, homelessness, or financial challenges by advocating for free or reduced-cost transportation, school supplies assistance, and support for homeless or low-income students.
- Supports developing systems to track attendance data, evaluate initiatives, and identify areas for improvement.
- Advocates for expanding access to technology for at-risk students.

School Facilities & Resources

Supports controlled access, surveillance systems, school resource officers, and visitor management protocols for school safety.

- Supports controlled access, surveillance systems, school resource officers, and visitor management protocols for school safety.

Student Wellbeing

Supports programs that provide mental health resources and support for educators, including counseling services, stress management workshops, and wellness programs.

- Supports programs that provide mental health resources and support for educators, including counseling services, stress management workshops, and wellness programs.

Teachers

Plans to increase access to mental health services in schools, including counseling, therapy, and support groups.

- Plans to increase access to mental health services in schools, including counseling, therapy, and support groups.

Access to Education

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Benny R. Kinsey

As of October 14, 2024, Benny R. Kinsey’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Benny R. Kinsey is currently a Training Program Manager at United Airlines. He previously served 25 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major.

Supports integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum.

Supports targeted academic support to enhance student learning.

Believes in creating an engaging curriculum that fosters student interest and participation.

Supports tailored academic support for students.

Supports expanding programs that provide one-on-one or small group tutoring in core subjects like reading, math, and science, as well as offering enrichment opportunities that help close the achievement gap.

Supports integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) programs into school curricula to teach emotional regulation, empathy, resilience, and communication, fostering a focus on mental health and equipping students with essential life skills.

Believes regular school attendance is crucial for academic success and plans to implement programs and policies to encourage daily attendance and student engagement.

Believes in a tiered approach to allocate resources efficiently, ensuring every student receives the necessary support to succeed.

Supports initiatives to reduce the stigma of mental health issues.

Supports initiatives like awareness campaigns, student-led mental health clubs, and events that promote mental health literacy.

Supports reducing stigma around mental health.

Supports monitoring and evaluating mental health programs for children.

Supports using data analytics to identify schools and programs with high concentrations of at-risk students to allocate resources effectively.

Supports creating data-driven intervention programs to address child wellbeing.

Believes in incorporating responsive teaching practices, offering a variety of electives and extracurricular activities, and providing opportunities for students to explore their interests and passions.

Believes in empowering educators with knowledge and tools to ensure students receive timely and effective support.

Believes in the importance of personal connection and transparency with constituents.

Believes teachers and school staff play a crucial role in identifying students who are struggling with mental health issues.

Believes parents are their children’s first teachers and their involvement is essential for student success.

Promises to uphold "the highest standards of integrity" as a trustee.

Believes in fostering a positive school climate to enhance access to education.

Believes a positive school climate is essential for student success and plans to promote initiatives that strengthen school culture, such as character education programs, peer mentoring, and community-building activities.

Believes in clear communication between parents and educators about a child's needs and interventions.

Believes success in education requires both academic and emotional well-being.

Believes access to mental health services should be a fundamental component of the educational system.

Believes in continuously assessing educational efforts and learning from successful strategies to improve student outcomes.

Ballotpedia: Denise Morrison

Denise was born in Sherman, Texas. She earned an associate degree from Central Texas College, a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston, and a graduate degree from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She is married and has 2 adult children and 5 grandchildren. She identifies as a Christian woman.

Denise currently works as a finance manager. She previously worked as the director of workforce planning and asset management for HP. She has also been a director of finance  with the organization Faithbridge.

Denise Morrison is running for election to the Klein Independent School District. She previously ran for the Klein ISD School Board in 2021 but was not elected. 

Advocates for reducing emphasis on standardized testing.

- Advocates for reducing emphasis on standardized testing.

As of October 9, 2024, Denise Morrison’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in improving background checks for school staff.

Believes there must be accountability for failures in child welfare.

- Believes in improving background checks for school staff.
- Believes there must be accountability for failures in child welfare.

Proposes a college assistance program to address teacher shortages.

- Proposes a college assistance program to address teacher shortages.

Believes Klein ISD's debt negatively impacts teachers, students, and taxpayers.

Denise Morrison

As of October 10, 2024, Denise Morrison’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Denise Morrison has 24 years of experience as a Finance Manager, having worked for companies such as Exxon, Compaq, and HP. She was the former Director of Workforce Planning & Asset Management for HP.

Believes schools avoid discussing "hard subjects."

Supports Klein ISD's academic performance, as evidenced by 2023 STAAR test results, with 100% of students meeting grade-level standards in 3rd grade reading and 4th grade math, and 98% of students meeting grade-level standards in 8th grade reading and 88% in Algebra I.

Believes it's important for boards to address both the successes and the challenges facing schools to build and maintain trust with the community.

Supports the Klein Independent School District (KISD) and its facilities, as evidenced by his attendance at Klein schools.

Supports the use of school facilities as polling places.

Believes the School Board should communicate with stakeholders in a timely manner, saying, "This response on a form letter is not achieving 'Transparency'."

Believes the Board's decision to move money from the general fund to cover budget shortfalls raises concerns about future funding for school facilities.

Believes bond funds should be used to refurbish older schools in the district.

Believes there are "significant problems with transparency" in school facilities.

Believes there is "little to no accountability for incidents and issues that happen and are brought to their attention."

Believes school security is essential for preventing violence and protecting school communities, and supports comprehensive measures including crime prevention, access control, and collaboration with law enforcement and emergency responders.

Supports measures to ensure the safety and security of children.

Believes child wellbeing is paramount, highlighting the 2023-2024 school year with 5 teachers charged with sexual misconduct, assault, and sex trafficking.

Believes current policies and procedures for child safety are insufficient, saying, "we continue to experience too many incidents."

Believes in supporting teachers to enhance education quality.

Believes there should be clear accountability and consequences for teachers who commit crimes or acts of retaliation against students.

Believes incidents of sexual misconduct and trafficking involving teachers, such as the arrest of a Klein Cain High School teacher, should "never happen."

Believes in strong financial management to support teachers and education.

Believes there is a lack of confidence in the current school board.

Believes in "actively cultivating and modeling a culture of transparency."

Believes parents should be held accountable for educating their children.

Believes STAAR test results are important for evaluating student performance.

Believes in evaluating child education progress.

Believes the Klein School Board is mismanaging its budget.

Ballotpedia, Dustin Creager

Dustin is from Brownwood, Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Lamar University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. He lives with his wife, Rebecca. He is also a former coach and athletic director for the Klein Texans and an assistant athletic director of the All-American Youth Football and Drill Team. 

Dustin works as a financial advisor. He previously worked in corporate leadership roles and as a store manager at Walmart. He also served as a firefighter, captain, and district chief in 3 fire departments. 

Dustin Creager currently serves as a member of the Klein Independent School District Board in Position 4. He was first elected in 2021 and is serving his first term. 

Believes in using "our own moral language" instead of being "conformed by categories of critical race theory."

Believes the school district should use their "our own moral language" and focus on "the true history of America." rather than being "conformed by categories of critical race theory."

Supports initiatives that serve special needs children.

Plans to focus on initiatives that serve special needs students in the school district, including developing special education programs that provide strong support and high quality technology. 

- Believes the school district should use their "our own moral language" and focus on "the true history of America." rather than being "conformed by categories of critical race theory."
- Plans to focus on initiatives that serve special needs students in the school district, including developing special education programs that provide strong support and high quality technology. 

Supports transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent.

Plans to continue focusing on ensuring transparency with taxpayers and that taxpayer funds are carefully spent. 

- Plans to continue focusing on ensuring transparency with taxpayers and that taxpayer funds are carefully spent. 

Believes all decisions should be based on "what is best for the 53,000 students of Klein ISD."

Believes the board should focus on what is best for students in the district. 

- Believes the board should focus on what is best for students in the district. 

As of October 9, 2024, Dustin Creager’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Dustin Creager

Dustin earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Lamar University and his master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. He lives with his wife, Rebecca.

Dustin Creager worked for Walmart for 20 years, spending 15 years in corporate leadership and 5 years in store operations as a store manager. He transitioned to a career as a financial advisor five years ago.

As of October 10, 2024, Dustin Creager’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in "unprecedented academic growth" and improved academic performance, with all campuses meeting standards and more than doubling the number of 'A' rated campuses.

Supports a comprehensive fine arts program in music, theater, visual arts, and dance.

Believes in the transformative power of education, saying, "One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."

Supports school safety measures, including secured vestibules, card reader access locks, and shatter-resistant film in school facilities.

Supports investing $895 million in campus upgrades.

Supports developing special needs programs and ensuring they have proper support and funding to provide students with the best technology and new initiatives to support their learning and development.

Supports policies that promote child wellbeing.

Supports the Klein Volunteer Fire Department.

Supports child wellbeing initiatives, as evidenced by being a 2024 Texas Honor Board Finalist.

Believes in promoting athletics for child well-being, citing over 40 years of personal athletic performance and competition at the state level.

Supports additional staff training for safety and security.

Supports training emergency responders for active shooter situations.

Believes in helping clients achieve their financial goals.

Supports transparency and excellence in financial reporting, as demonstrated by receiving the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 27 consecutive years.

Believes in providing "top-notch programs" for special needs children, noting that "special need student populations are growing faster each year."

Believes all decisions should prioritize the needs of Klein ISD students.

Supports access to education, as evidenced by their designation as a 1st Ever Blue Ribbon School.

Supports access to quality education, as demonstrated by KISD high schools earning a 'Best in US' ranking.

Supports access to education, as evidenced by "highest family satisfaction results earned in district history, with more than 9 out of 10 respondents expressing satisfaction in several key areas."

Believes in enhancing access to quality education, as demonstrated by Klein Independent School District's (ISD) performance, which exceeded state and regional scores on the redesigned State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams.

Supports access to education, as evidenced by the record-breaking $63 million earned in student scholarships for 2024 graduates.

- A trustee is an elected member of a local school board who helps govern a public school district.

- Trustees represent community interests and are responsible for setting policies that guide how the school district operates.

- The board of trustees hires and evaluates the superintendent, who manages the day-to-day operations of the district.

- Trustees approve the district’s budget, monitor spending, and may set the local tax rate or call for bond elections to fund schools.

- The board also oversees educational programs, district goals, and overall performance.

- In Texas, trustees are elected to four-year terms, often on a rotating basis, so not all seats are elected at the same time.

- Trustees serve without financial compensation.

Texas Trustee, Klein ISD

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School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Access to Education