Frisco Independent School District
Parents should always have a role in their children’s education – make your voice heard!
The Frisco Independent School District will hold a Board of Trustees election for places 1, 2, and 3 on May 7, 2022. Board Members are elected at-large to represent the entire community. Voters will be able to select one candidate from each Place, for a total of 3 selections per ballot.
CANDIDATES
Place 3
Stephanie Elad is a mother and corporate HR Manager.
Elad is a registered Republican and voted in the Republican primary elections in 2016, 2018, and 2020. She has also made financial contributions to Republican candidates.
Elad’s platform has six points, including, restoring academic excellence, rejecting Critical Race Theory-inspired curriculum, listening to parents, and improving transparency.
Elad has been endorsed by local Republican Party Groups and the 1776 Project.
Dustin Paschal is an attorney and father.
Paschal is a registered Democrat and voted in the 2020 Democratic primary election.
Paschal has dismissed concerns regarding inappropriate books and Critical Race Theory noting that Frisco “cannot allow our District of excellence to be torn down by drive-by political disruptors who want to see FISD make national headlines for all the wrong reasons.”
Paschal was endorsed by The Dallas Morning News.
Soto says that if elected his top priority will be recruiting teachers and administrators. He also values curriculum transparency.
CANDIDATES
Place 2
Marvin Lowe is a father of four and a real estate broker.
Lowe is a registered Republican and voted in Republican primary elections in 2018 and 2016.
Lowe wants to “unify the students of our school by curtailing race-based programs” and “advocate for “merit-based awards.” He also wants to “end programs that combine on-level and advanced students by re-establishing ability-based classes that meet every student’s learning capabilities.”
Lowe said he was motivated to run for the Trustee position after reaching out to the Board for their position on hot-button issues and not receiving a straight answer.
Lowe has been endorsed by the group “Families 4 Frisco.”
Kelly Karthik is a technology sector executive and mother.
Karthik is a registered Democrat.
Karthik is endorsed by the Democratic Party of Collin County Texas.
Karthik has dismissed concerns about age-inappropriate and controversial material available in school libraries.
Karthik posted a flyer suggesting she stands with teachers “who are being threatened by parents” for teaching history and literature.
Karthik recently highlighted the confirmation of President Biden’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, as a “great day.”
Karthik promotes a 7-point platform for her campaign.
Natalie Hebert is a Frisco ISD teacher and a current FISD Trustee elected in 2019.
Hebert is a registered Republican and voted in Republican primary elections in 2018 and 2020.
Hebert’s reelection has been endorsed by The Dallas Morning News.
Hebert stands by a FISD decision where the Board refused to sign a pledge regarding the purchase of books from vendors who had provided age-inappropriate materials to school libraries in the past. She instead pointed to a process in place where students or parents can flag materials that may be inappropriate for review.
CANDIDATES
Place 1
Gopal Ponangi is a father and a current FISD Trustee elected in 2019.
Ponangi is a registered Republican and voted in Republican primary elections in 2016, 2018, and 2020.
During his time as a School Board Trustee, Ponangi has met with Governor Abbott.
Ponangi points to many endorsements including Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, several City Council Members, educators, State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-HD66), and more.
His reelection campaign vision includes a focus on better entrepreneurial courses for students, reduced class sizes, strengthened mental health programs, among other priorities.
Angela Dunford is a FISD mother who wants to bring an outsider’s perspective to the Trustee Board.
Dunford is a registered Democrat and voted in the 2020 Democratic Primary election.
Dunford promotes a five-priority plan for Frisco ISD.
In a September 2021 board meeting Dunford pushed the Board on the 1-minute limit to the public comment portion of meetings.