Jody Luna, place 3 Garland ISD board candidate, has seen the implementation of new programs year after year during her 10 years of volunteering at her children’s schools and participation on various committees and councils.
“The district is continually adding new things but it is also stretching our kids to a different level,” she said. “Part of that is because my kids are getting older so I’m seeing new things every year.”
She said that all the programs are incredible and mentioned the global business management program at Naaman Forest High School, the Mandarin Chinese language class at Weaver Elementary School, the financial management course that will be given to eighth graders and fine arts programs expanding because of the bond. In addition, the Career and Technical Education Center will be built soon and even more programs will be added.
Luna also said that she sees significant improvement in parent involvement on campuses and the PTA is at their highest membership in five years.
She understands that there is always room for improvement and that everyone needs to come together for the benefit of the kids.
“My visual is a rowboat,” Luna said. “If the entire district and the community of the district were in a rowboat, we all need to have a paddle and we all need to be rowing in the same direction because our cargo in our rowboat is precious.”
She has noticed that Garland ISD has a bit of a stigma attached to it but she doesn’t understand why because she sees firsthand the level of success of the GISD students.
“We are growing great kids here and we’ve got great things going on in this district,” Luna said.
Concern has been expressed about two members of the same family serving on the board of trustees simultaneously. Another concern is that Luna, her brother-in-law Scott Luna, GISD board of trustees vice president and Rick Lambert, also a GISD board trustee, work together. Luna said that this will present no conflict.
“If two members of the same church, two residents of the same neighborhood, two parents in the same athletic booster organization, or two best friends serve on the board, that certainly presents no conflict,” Luna said. “I believe the same holds true for two members of the same family.”
The candidate said that she is comfortable with asking questions about issues and voting however she sees fit rather than going along with the crowd.
“I’m not a yes man,” she said. “My focus is going to be about the kids because I’m a parent and I have three of them in the classroom.”
She also understands that taxpayers will be approaching her with concerns and questions if she is elected and she welcomes the opportunity to visit with them. She referred to herself as an “approachable individual” and said that is the manner in which she has always carried herself.
“People will expect no less of me,” she said.
Luna is aware of the unhappiness and fear among the Garland ISD staff and is willing to try and determine the causes and improve the situation by asking for their help.
“I don’t walk in their shoes,” she said. “We’ve got to dig deep and talk to them to find out what it is and it has got to come from the inside out.”
Luna hopes to have the opportunity to serve on the board of trustees and said that she is invested and that she has been impactful in her volunteer work with the district.
“I feel like there’s a job to do where we have to join together,” she said. “We’ve got an obligation to our babies. It takes a village and we have to get everyone rowing in the same direction.”
Additionally, there is the business side and she sees an opportunity for the district to rebrand itself.
“For me this is the extension of all the investing of time and effort involved of all the things that I’ve already been doing,” Luna said. “I have a passion and I have kids that are right here in the thick of it. I’m experiencing GISD on every level from the communication from the student side, from the parent side, curriculum…field trips, extracurricular activities.”
“If I’m going to be the most productive and have a positive influence on the district, it is right now,” Luna said. “And I’ve got the energy.”
Luna is executive vice president of business development at Excel Title Group and an Ebby Alumni at Ebby Halliday Realtors.