Skip to content
Texas ballot
Photo of George Vachris

George Vachris

RepublicanFirst-time candidate

Engineer and teacher

George Vachris is a Republican candidate for Texas State Board of Education District 8 in the 2026 election. This is their first run for office.

From the candidate’s public filings

Background

George Vachris earned a bachelor's degree in history from Stony Brook University, bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and mechanical engineering from the University of New Haven, and a graduate degree in fire protection engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His career experience includes working as an engineer, teacher, machinist, teamster, environmental compliance technician, and laboratory assistant.[1]

Graduate:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Bachelor's:
University of New Haven

Campaign themes

George Vachris did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

blockquote{border-left:none !important;padding-left:2em;position:relative;color:#444;font-family:"Libre Franklin",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#202122;font-style:normal;}blockquote::before{content:open-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;left:-10px;top:40px;color:#ccc}blockquote::after{content:close-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;color:#ccc}

Campaign websiteVachris' campaign website stated the following:Upholding the Republican Education PlatformGeorge Vachris is committed to ensuring that the Republican Party Platform on Education is implemented to the fullest extent allowed by the State Board of Education. Where the SBOE’s authority is limited by statute, he will work to persuade the Texas Legislature to enact the necessary laws so that the platform’s principles can be fully carried out. His focus is on restoring clarity, accountability, and excellence in Texas public education.Stronger TEKS & Academic MasteryVachris believes that Texas students deserve clear, specific, and rigorous academic standards. He supports strengthening the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) by adding greater specificity to each course so students achieve mastery of essential facts and skills. In STEM education, science should be taught as an experimental, evidence-based process, while mathematics instruction at the primary level should emphasize memorization of calculation facts and methods. Career and Technical Education (C.A.T.E.) courses should prepare students for direct entry into the workforce or further training through military, technical, or community college pathways.Civic Knowledge & Patriotic EducationA strong society depends on an informed citizenry. Vachris supports expanding social studies curricula to include memorization of essential civic facts, additional founding documents, and a clear understanding of how local, state, and federal governments function. Instruction should reflect a patriotic understanding of America’s constitutional republic, contrasting it with totalitarian, centrally planned, socialist, and communist systems as required by law. The curriculum should also acknowledge the unique religious and historical foundations of the United States and Texas as promoters of liberty. Personal Financial Literacy should be a required course for every Texas student.Classic Literature, Grammar, & LogicVachris supports restoring classic American and Western literature to English curricula, giving students historical perspective beyond the immediacy of the digital age. He believes grammar should be taught at the earliest possible grade levels, with increasing emphasis on writing, composition, rhetoric, and logical reasoning in later grades. Students should graduate with a solid understanding of logic and common logical fallacies, equipping them to think critically and communicate effectively.Parental Rights & Curriculum TransparencyParents must have the greatest possible opportunity to participate in their children’s education. Vachris supports full transparency in instructional materials and the SBOE’s authority to examine all educational content, including materials used in dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. SBOE members should have unrestricted access to all instructional materials and retain the authority to challenge and remove materials containing factual errors or content prohibited by law. Texas public schools must reflect biological reality — there are only two biological sexes, male and female, and materials claiming otherwise are unacceptable.Teacher Preparation & CertificationStrong standards require well-prepared educators. Vachris supports ensuring that teacher training and certification requirements are fully aligned with the courses being taught. Teachers should be properly equipped with both subject-matter expertise and instructional readiness to meet Texas’s academic expectations.Protecting the Permanent School FundVachris is committed to responsible oversight of the Texas Permanent School Fund. Investment objectives and policies should prioritize safe, long-term returns, minimize risk to principal, and account for inflation so the fund continues to grow in real value. Proper stewardship of the fund helps stabilize school finance and reduces interest burdens on bonded debt incurred by local school districts.Expand Education ChoiceInstructional materials must accurately reflect Texas standards. Vachris supports ensuring that Standards Alignment Breakout Documents (SABD) are fully coordinated with the TEKS and that publishers clearly understand both before submitting materials for approval. Textbooks and instructional materials should teach the TEKS as written, contain minimal omissions or errors, and comply fully with Texas law.— George Vachris' campaign website (January 20, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

George Vachris did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

On the 2026 ballot

Links

Compiled from the candidate’s published profile as of September 30, 2026.

Source(opens in new tab)