Darlene Breaux

Darlene Breaux is a member of the Alief Independent School District in Texas, representing Position 4. She assumed office on November 20, 2017. Her current term ends in 2029.

Breaux (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 149. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary runoff on May 26, 2026.

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?

I am a lifelong educator, community advocate, and school board president who has spent decades solving real problems alongside families in District 149. I understand how decisions made at the Capitol show up in classrooms, neighborhoods, and kitchen tables. I’m running to bring proven, community-rooted leadership to Austin; leadership that is shaped by listening, accountability, and results.Public schools are the heartbeat of our communities. I have fought for fully funded public education because schools are more than buildings; they are places of safety, opportunity, and hope. My experience leading one of the most diverse districts in Texas gives me firsthand knowledge of what families and educators need to succeed, and I will take that voice directly to the Texas House.District 149 is a community full of potential. I believe in creating pathways to opportunity by strengthening small businesses, expanding workforce training, and investing in infrastructure that protects families and supports growth. I’m running to make sure every family has a fair shot and that our community’s future is shaped by those who live and work here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about public education, economic opportunity, and community well-being. This includes fully funding public schools to meet the diverse needs of students, supporting educators, and ensuring access to learning resources. I care about policies that grow small businesses, expand workforce development, and create economic stability for working families. I am also committed to healthcare access, affordable housing, and infrastructure investments that protect neighborhoods and strengthen communities because when families are supported, communities thrive.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Darlene Breaux is an educator, author, and visionary leader, driven by scientific research and the science behind learning. With more than 20 years of progressive experience, Dr. Breaux has expertise in Special Education, Dyslexia, 504, Response to Intervention (RTI), and Differentiated Instruction Darlene’s academic credentials include a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Conflict Management from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston Clear Lake, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Southern University.

Dr. Breaux was elected to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Board of Directors, representing TASB Region 4, Position B. Dr. Breaux also serves the Alief community as Vice President of the Alief ISD School Board and Chair of their Policy Committee. She served as a board member of her community’s YMCA, has an affiliation with the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society, and has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a community service organization.

Additionally, Dr. Breaux was featured in Texas School Business magazine as a “Thought Leader and Innovator in Education.”

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?

Our students deserve a leader who values all of the unique skills and talents that they bring to school beyond being able to bubble in the circle on a test. Alief ISD should provide our children with a sense of civic duty, compassion toward others, and the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the 21st century. Our community needs, students who can communicate, collaborate, negotiate, and create! Alief students will communicate ideas and messages clearly, collaborate with others from diverse cultural backgrounds to solve real world problems, negotiate multiple ways to solve authentic, everyday situations that will help them in LIFE, and students who can use their unique talents to create new and innovative works.One of our board goals is to recruit, develop, and retain highly qualified and effective personnel. Alief has an outstanding record of recruiting and developing hundreds of passionate personnel. I will support the district by supporting their efforts in retaining our jewels and see our best stay in Alief.I know that there has to be a certain amount of structure that is needed to ensure consistency and integrity within an organization, but as a parent of three very different children, I also know that there is not a “one size fits all” approach to educating a child, therefore, all students deserve the resources and support they need to reach their full academic potential. And finally, as a taxpayer, we have the right to expect results for the investment we make in our kids.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

To support her goal of closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students reach their academic potential, Dr. Breaux has led school districts to the forefront in implementing a “hands-on” collaborative effort between general education and special education.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Varying personalities and perspectives of individual board members add to the strength and diversity of thought that is needed for the growth of any group or organization, and school boards are no different. Harnessing this diversity in a collaborative way will ultimately lead to positive outcomes for program and project goals.

A good board member must be:

1) A critical thinker – someone who can critically analyze and reflect on situations or issues and provide insightful feedback

2) Collaborator – possess the ability to work with others in order to achieve a collective goal.

3) Effective communicator – one that can clearly articulate an identified need, obstacles, and opportunities as well as a potential solution.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Alief ISD must understand the evolving needs of our students, faculty, families, community, and businesses. Having opportunities where they can become involved in providing perspectives into future programming is important. As a board member being visible and a part of community groups ensures that people see that they have access to the individuals whom they have elected to lead the district. I believe that keeping a pulse on the needs of our parents and families will continue to drive programming offered that will meet their needs.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I would say that I have a broad range of supporters starting with students and parents,

educators, community members, educational organizations, and state and local officials.

Anyone that knows me knows that I rely on data and research to inform my decisions.

My supporters know that I am open to diverse perspectives on issues and that I prefer

a collaborative approach to address issues as I believe that there is power in diverse

voices and perspectives around the table. Being an educational advocate at the

national, state and local level has allowed me to be seen as an educational resource

which has allowed me the ability to influence legislative decisions.

What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?

1.

Student safety – School safety was a top priority of the last legislation with several bills addressing school safety and mental health priorities for students. Parents expect to send their children to school where they are kept safe and have well-trained staff who know how to respond appropriately in a crisis such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19.

2.

The critical shortage of teachers – The key to successful student outcomes is an effective and well-trained teacher in the classroom. Across the state and the nation, a teacher shortage has been highlighted as a critical issue. In Texas, with their large population of second language learners, districts are hard-pressed to find highly qualified and certified bilingual and ESL teachers. Additionally, the teacher shortage in key content areas such as math, science, CTE and special education proves to be an even greater burden in providing a high-quality education for our students.

3.

Over Reliance of Standardized Assessments in Texas for grades 3-8- while there are meaningful reasons to include standardized assessments in the education of students, Texas has completely abandoned the valid reasons to use these types of assessments and made the decision that a single standardized assessment (STAAR) can and will be used to determine the ultimate success or failure of a student, teacher, principal, staff, campus and district in grades 3-8.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Over 50 million, or 90 percent of children in the U.S. attend public schools. It is imperative that we invest in public education to move the nation forward. This investment should include modernizing and improving schools, improving student learning, investments in personalized learning, and creating a more equitable learning experience for all students. This cannot happen without a substantial investment of federal and state funds.