Abigail Gray

Abigail Gray earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from LeTourneau University in 2017 and a master's degree in curriculum and instructional design from the University of Texas in 2023. Her career experience includes working as a graduate research assistant, curriculum reviewer, instructional coach, and third-grade teacher. Gray has also reported on Texas education policy through social media and podcasting.[1]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Educators and students deserve access to useful and high-quality instructional material, free from ideological bias. SBOE members should be able to rely on their own expertise in the field of education, as well as the reports of review committees, when choosing instructional materials to adopt for Texas. My 7 years of public school teaching and instructional coaching, specialization in curriculum and instruction, and experience reviewing curriculum for the State Board of Education, put me in a prime position to make well-informed and educated adoption decisions. I plan to take an active role in analyzing submitted instructional materials and push for revisions to be made when materials do not meet the high standards we expect.When new knowledge and skill standards are developed, they should reflect the learning needs of students, not the ideological agendas of specific groups. I will vote for committee experts who prioritize data and evidence-based research over personal ideologies and contribute to standard development with my own insight into grade-appropriate standards. My focus is on ensuring that our state standards focus on knowledge and skills that educators, community members, and experts agree are essential to equip students for their lives ahead. This in itself is a massive task, and we have no time to waste on sneaking in partisan distractions.The SBOE makes critical decisions that impact every public school, but the process often moves so quickly that the public is left out. I plan to act as a bridge between the board and the community, using my media platforms to research and report on the board's complex inner workings in real-time. By announcing opportunities for public involvement and breaking down board actions, I will ensure that parents and educators have the transparency they need to have their voices truly represented.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education Policy

Campaign websiteGray's campaign website stated the following:My PrioritiesThoroughly Vet and Approve High Quality Instructional MaterialsWhy it Matters: When the State Board of Education adopts instructional materials, schools receive extra funding for using them. These materials are approved and adopted for an 8-12 year period. Schools should be able to trust that the SBOE and its reviewers have micro-analyzed these materials before they are adopted for this extensive amount of time.​​What it looks like: 🔍  Delving into materials myself to analyze instructional quality📑  Using data and analysis from the experts hired to review materials✅  Recommending adjustments to how instructional materials are rated to make sure lessons are using principles of the science of learningFight for Academic Standards Backed by Experts, Not IdeologyWhy it Matters: The standards for a subject area are analyzed and revised about every 8-15 years. Teachers are required to teach all of the standards for their grade level- also known as TEKS.Curriculum experts, educators, and community members weigh in on how the TEKS should be changed. The SBOE elects experts to lead committees to make these changes.What it looks like: 🗳️  Voting for committee experts who make decisions based on data and the science of learning, rather than their own ideologies🗓️  Staying up to date with committee discussions and suggestions📑  Make recommendations based on my knowledge of appropriate grade-level standardsMake the Decisions and Inner Workings of the SBOE TransparentWhy it Matters: The SBOE's decisions impact families, students, and educators across Texas. The public deserves to have its thoughts represented in the decision-making process. Opportunities to get involved exist, but are often not well publicized.The SBOE makes decisions quickly, and the public often does not realize it until after the vote.What it looks like: 💻  Utilizing my media platforms to make information accessible to the public📑  Researching and reporting on complex processes of the SBOE🎤  Announcing opportunities for the public to get involved in decision-making🗒️  Breaking down actions taken by the board during SBOE meetings— Abigail Gray's campaign website (January 16, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.