Thomas Garcia

Thomas Garcia was born in McAllen, Texas. He graduated from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North High School. Garcia earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 2016, a graduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2020, and a graduate degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2023. His career experience includes founding the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP) and working as its executive director, as an instructor at the University of California at Los Angeles, and a high school teacher at the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) Independent School District.[1][2]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased September 7, 2025

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Thomas Ray Garcia is an educator, author, and entrepreneur from Pharr, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. Throughout his 12 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, Thomas has taught in the classroom and spearheaded programs focused on college readiness and family engagement.

At age 19, Thomas founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program. CSLAP offers courses and services on college readiness, financial aid, and leadership development for high school students. Through CSLAP’s near-peer mentor initiatives, Thomas empowered high school graduates to give back to their schools by providing students support on the college application process.

After incorporating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CSLAP introduced scholarship programs, expanded mentorship initiatives, and launched a five-figure community aid fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2025, CSLAP has directly impacted more than 2,000 students.

As a high school teacher, Thomas developed and taught lessons on critical writing, college readiness, and service learning. Aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), these lesson plans continue to form CSLAP’s curriculum.

Currently, Thomas is an English professor at South Texas College, where he teaches both dual enrollment high schoolers and adult learners. As a community college professor, Thomas provides his students the guidance he once needed as a first-generation college student from a single-parent household.

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?

Thomas Ray Garcia will fight for public schools. At the State Board of Education, he will improve statewide learning standards, approve high-quality instructional materials, and guide the Texas Education Agency on policies & procedures. Beyond his primary duties, he pledges to work with our state lawmakers and school board members to improve our public schools.

He supports funding increases to Texas public schools by increasing the basic allotment. He supports pay increases for school workers. He supports investing in 21st-century safety measures. He supports enhancing family engagement programs. He supports expanding access to licensed mental health professionals. He supports improving the quality of early childhood programming.Thomas Ray Garcia wants to make Texas the nation's leader in math and reading.

He will focus on K-5 math instruction that focuses on the basics: number sense, place value, fact fluency, patterns, and problem-solving. He will work to move our learning standards away from rote memorization and toward bringing math to life with practical and purposeful learning experiences.

He will improve the way our schools teach phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. He supports more early childhood reading resources for students with disabilities, including dyslexia.

He believes our statewide learning standards and textbooks should rely on research-based practices, not on political or religious beliefs.Thomas Ray Garcia believes we should be preparing our high school graduates for the 21st-century workforce. He supports moving away from high-stakes testing and toward integrating more 21st-century knowledge and skills into our core academic subjects.

He categorizes 21st-century knowledge and skills into 4 pillars:

Life Readiness Skills: soft skills, financial literacy, and digital literacy & safety.

Mental Health & Wellness: mental health literacy, emotional intelligence, and digital media & wellness.

Global Competitiveness: artificial intelligence readiness, service learning, and critical thinking.

Creativity and Innovation: creative expression, practical innovation, and digital production.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Thomas Ray Garcia is passionate about strengthening K-12 public schools. He supports high-quality academic curriculum and instruction based on research-based practices. He supports school initiatives that support and uplift all students, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners. He supports enhanced mental health support for students, including hiring licensed mental health counselors. He supports strengthening the educator workforce through higher pay & benefits and enhanced professional development. He supports building pathways to the 21st-century workforce for junior high and high school students through community partnerships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, and altruism.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a development assistant intern for the Good Samaritan Community Services nonprofit based in the Rio Grande Valley. It was my first paid position, and it was also my first summer job in 2013. Primarily, I helped the nonprofit raise money and convey their after-school and summer programs' impact to the community. Secondarily, I helped the summer program leaders with children.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Sea-Wolf by Jack London made me into a reader and writer. When I first read it at age 13, I appreciated the novel's philosophical underpinnings even if I didn't quite understand all of it. I understood that underneath the surface of the high-seas adventure narrative, there was deeper meaning to be grappled with. The book demonstrated the power of literature to me.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Mary Helen Berlanga, former State Board of Education Member for District 2 (1983-2012)

Campaign websiteGarcia's campaign website stated the following:Our PlatformFight For Public SchoolsFrom my seat at the State Board of Education, I can improve statewide learning standards, approve instructional materials, and guide the Texas Education Agency on policies & procedures. Beyond my primary duties, I pledge to work with our state lawmakers and school board members to improve our public schools.​You deserve to know where I stand: I am against our state's school voucher program. I am against the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum. I am against using the STAAR to grade public schools’ accountability scores.​I support funding increases to Texas public schools, especially for school safety and literacy initiatives. I support pay increases for school workers. I support enhancing and expanding family engagement programs. I support expanding access to licensed mental health professionals in public schools. I support improving the quality of early childhood programming.​At its core, our campaign stands on these 4 pillars in our fight for public schools: empowering parents, uplifting students, improving public schools, and protecting public education.Empowering ParentsEmpower parents through programs and projectsAs the son of a single mother, I know the power of family engagement. That’s whyI support programs that truly empower parents, such as Dallas ISD’s “Parent University.” I also support volunteer projects that empower parents to read to students, talk about their jobs, and mentor children at school.​Communication is key to empowering parents. School districts should ensure they are reaching out to families consistently, not just during emergencies. Text messages, emails, phone calls, and parent portals all help to reach families with different needs. Bilingual communication should also be offered so no parent is excluded.​I believe parents’ voices should matter in the decision-making process at local schools. When students enroll in a school district, families should receive clear information on how to get involved with student initiatives and how to give feedback to school leaders.​The problem isn’t the book on the shelf. It’s the supercomputer in our pockets.As an author and a publisher, I understand parents’ concerns about age-inappropriate books in school libraries. I believe these concerns should be addressed to their school librarians, principals, and board members. I believe local communities should have the freedom to decide what books belong in their own school libraries. Parent empowerment happens through local power.​I’m more concerned about the supercomputer in our pockets. Smartphone addiction, social media, and online safety are much more pressing issues. These problems are linked to rising mental health problems and shortening attention spans. If the federal government isn’t going to stand up against Big Tech, we need to step up at the state and local levels.​Public schools must work with parents to protect our students from excessive screentime, inappropriate social media content, and online predators. Digital literacy should be taught in more classrooms. I also believe reading programs should help students strengthen their focus by practicing deep, distraction-free reading. Our family engagement programs should raise awareness about the mental health impacts of social media and provide families strategies to reduce screentime at home.Uplifting StudentsCollege for all? No. College access for all? Yes.After 12 years of helping students apply to college, I know a simple truth: College is not for all students. However, I do believe in college access for all.​I believe in college access for all because every student deserves a fair shot. That means every student deserves the chance to apply to college, which means receiving high-quality counseling and resources no matter their income level or zip code. That’s why I support programs that raise awareness about college, navigate students through the application process, and support students through college.​ Promote the tradesCollege isn’t the only path to a fulfilling life. I believe in promoting career and technical education (CTE) programs and destigmatizing the trades. All students should understand that these careers are crucial to our country.​I support CTE programs that enable high school students to gain internships and apprenticeships with local industries. This hands-on experience is key to ensuring our students are truly prepared for the workforce.​With the rise of artificial intelligence, our CTE programs must teach the skills our students need to work and compete with AI technologies. I support forming partnerships between public schools, community colleges, and employers to ensure our learning standards are meeting 21st-century workforce demands.​Stand against bullyingAs a former high school teacher, I understand the importance of receiving clear guidelines and rules for preventing bullying at school. The anti-bullying language in our legislation and administrative code must be followed by clear and effective implementation.​I will approve instructional materials and learning standards that educate students on bullying prevention. I will work with state lawmakers to strengthen anti-bullying standards, including cyberbullying, in the Texas Education Code. I will advocate to the Commissioner of Education to adopt rules and policies that implement these anti-bullying standards.Improving Public SchoolsPrioritize school safetyI will work with our Texas Education Agency personnel and state lawmakers to ensure school safety is a priority. School safety standards must be backed up with clear guidelines from the Texas Education Agency and funding from the Texas Legislature. These safety standards must be communicated effectively to school district leaders, and I intend on serving as the leader school board trustees can turn to for guidance and clarity from the Texas Education Agency.​Bring the community into the classroomI support programs that enable parents and community leaders to give back to local schools. I believe bringing the community into the classroom would enable students to receive mentorship, wraparound services, and extracurricular experiences that enhance their education. From mental health services to career talks, these programs improve our public schools.​Treat school workers like heroesOur public schools are run by community heroes: teachers, counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, nurses, bus drivers, and so many more people. Yet, so many of our school workers are not treated like heroes.​I will work with our state lawmakers to stand up for our school workers. These community heroes deserve higher pay, better working conditions, fewer administrative tasks, and more respect from our elected officials.​Make Health class a high school graduation requirementStatewide, health courses are considered optional for graduation. I support legislation that would require make Health a mandatory credit for high school students. These health courses should contain at least one unit on mental health.​Make Ethnic Studies courses count as Social Studies creditsMexican American Studies, African American Studies, and Native Studies help students achieve a more complete history education. However, they are only considered elective credits. I support legislation that would make Ethnic Studies courses count toward the Social Studies credits required for high school graduation.Protecting Public EducationReject school vouchersI do not support Governor Abbott’s school voucher program. This voucher program does not have enough guardrails to ensure students are receiving a high-quality education. I support school choice in the form of open-enrollment public schools. Rural schools across Texas can struggle with implementing open-enrollment policies for a range of reasons, from transportation to staffing. These are the challenges we should be addressing. The solution to improving our public schools is to invest more, not to defund them through voucher programs.Make The Texas Miracle A RealityIn Texas, too many students fall behind in math and struggle to read at grade level. It’s time to change that. Other states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi have made reforms. And they worked.​In 2022, Alabama passed a new law focused on improving math instruction. The state trained K–5 teachers on best math practices, approved high-quality instructional materials, and funded math coaches for schools. The result? Alabama significantly improved in 4th grade math on the Nation’s Report Card.​In 2025, Louisiana received national attention for improving reading scores after the pandemic. How did they do it? Louisiana used reading programs based on the science of reading. Educators practiced phonics skills, helped students in differentiated groups, and worked together each week by sharing student data.​Starting in 2013, Mississippi went from close to the bottom in reading to one of the top states in the nation. How? They focused on training educators in the science of reading and approved learning tools that are proven to work. Their success has been called the "Mississippi Miracle."​Texas can do the same. It’s time for our Texas Miracle. Here's my plan to help make that happen.Focus On Foundational Math SkillsOur students need a strong foundation in math to succeed in the 21st century. Our approaching to teaching math should be based on bringing math to life with practical and purposeful learning experiences.​That's why I'll ensure K-5 math instruction focuses on the basics: number sense, place value, fact fluency, patterns, and problem-solving. I'll support learning tools that make math come alive to students through touching objects and visualizing concepts. I'll work to move our learning standards away from rote memorization and toward applying math to real-world situations.Prioritize Early Reading Success For All StudentsWe need to teach our students to read at grade level. Our approach to teaching reading should be based on what works, not on political or religious beliefs. Our students have different learning needs, and our efforts must help all students succeed at reading.​That's why I’ll ensure our learning standards and textbooks rely on research-based practices. I'll focus on improving the way we teach phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. I’ll fight for more reading resources for students with disabilities, including dyslexia.​I’ll support early screening and extra help for students struggling with reading. I’ll ensure training is appropriate for each grade level. I’ll advocate for training that supports students who speak more than one language.Reform Reading AcademiesOur reading training should help educators teach effectively, not just raise STAAR scores.​That's why I’ll fight to reform the Reading Academies so they actually help educators improve reading outcomes. I’ll advocate for better training rooted in real coaching and useful resources. I’ll support phasing out online-only modules in favor of skilled trainers who can work directly with educators across the state. I’ll also support training that helps educators to become master teachers.Engage With FamiliesWhen elected to the State Board of Education, I intend on spearheading projects and programs in District 2 year-round. Just as I have done throughout my career in education, I will involve families in my efforts to increase math and reading proficiency.​That's why I’ll work with schools and community groups to give families access to math and reading resources at school and at home. I'll partner with nonprofit organizations to host math and reading workshops for the entire family. I’ll collaborate with community groups to place more books in households.Advocate For Funding At The LegislatureMy work at the State Board of Education will include working with state legislators on meaningful reforms and funding to make the Texas Miracle a reality. I believe the role of Member is more than showing up at board meetings; it's about showing up for District 2 at the Texas Legislature.​That's why I’ll advocate for funding for math and literacy coaches, math and literacy training for teachers, and high-quality instructional materials rooted in what works.Teach For Tomorrow, Not To The Test“I wish I had learned this in school.” I hear people say this all the time, and I bet you do, too. So why aren’t our students gaining the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce, in college, or in the military?​Because our schools are teaching to the test. STAAR scores heavily influence how the Texas Education Agency grades public schools. As a result, our learning standards and instructional materials are focused on helping students raise their STAAR scores.​I believe we need to stop teaching to the test. But it’s not enough to move away from STAAR. I have a vision for what knowledge and skills our students should learn to succeed in the 21st century. Here are my 4 pillars of knowledge and skills that I will advocate for while updating our Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and approving instructional materials: Life Readiness, Mental Health and Wellness, Global Competitiveness, and Creativity & Innovation.Life ReadinessNo matter their life paths, students need a core set of skills to thrive in the 21st century. The good news? These skills can be taught in public schools. The bad news? They are taught inconsistently across academic subjects, and educators lack support from the state to teach them effectively. It’s time to set learning standards and approve instructional materials that focus on life readiness.​Soft Skills: Enhancing conversational skills, maintaining eye contact, communicating across varying mediums to diverse audiences, and managing time and deadlines.​Financial Literacy: Simulating budgeting scenarios, comparing loans with varying interest rates, understanding credit scores, and learning about stocks and investing.​Digital Literacy & Safety: Monitoring screentime, identifying factual vs. biased information, understanding algorithms, and practicing online safety.Mental Health and WellnessMental health education is often vague, unhelpful, and optional at many Texas public schools. Mental health is mentioned throughout our statewide learning standards, but we need more detailed and grade-appropriate instruction. It’s time to integrate more mental health topics into our academic subjects and help students improve their wellbeing. Mental Health Literacy: Understanding depression & anxiety, learning how to prevent suicide, and reviewing how drugs and alcohol affect mental health. Emotional Intelligence: Regulating emotions & learning coping strategies, reducing stigma & developing empathy, and managing conflict. Digital Media and Wellness: Understanding social media’s impact on mental health, protecting attention spans, and reducing digital distractions.Global CompetitivenessOur Texas students are competing for jobs not only nationally, but also globally. We need to update our learning standards and transform our instructional materials to prepare our middle school and high school students for global competition. It’s time to teach 21st-century skills in the classroom.​Artificial Intelligence: Using AI tools ethically & responsibly, practicing prompt engineering to improve learning, and identifying AI hallucinations. Service Learning: Connecting classroom lessons to issues in local communities, learning about local community service organizations & initiatives, measuring qualitative and quantitative impact, and presenting on impact & reflections to a general audience.​Critical Thinking: Practicing perspective-taking skills, analyzing information from varying sources, and identifying & overcoming cultural barriers.Creativity and InnovationThe ultimate goal of public education is not to produce good students and workers; it’s to produce good learners and human beings. Teaching students to love learning must be our top priority. It’s time to prioritize creativity and innovation in our teaching and learning.​Creative Expression: Writing across genres, producing visual narratives, and performing narratives.​Innovation: Designing projects to address school or local issues, practicing design thinking and prototyping solutions in STEM, and producing business or product plans.​Digital Production: Storytelling through multimedia formats, producing digital artifacts like websites or podcasts, and coding to create games or animations.— Thomas Garcia's campaign website (January 16, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an educator who has uplifted hundreds of students through intensive writing and college lessons. I am an entrepreneur who founded and leads the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP). I am a writer who publishes stories about the Rio Grande Valley and its rich history. I am a scholar pursuing my PhD in English after becoming the first in my family to go to college.

I grew up in a single-parent household. Through many financial hardships, my mother and I persevered by believing there was a brighter future we could work toward. My mother believed the pathway out of poverty was education, so she instilled in me a passion for learning at a young age. Despite being a first-generation college student who struggled during college applications, I worked hard to get accepted into Princeton University on a full-ride financial aid package.

After graduating from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North High School in 2012 as class valedictorian, I felt a strong desire to give back to my community. I didn't want to wait until after college to make a difference. After meeting with PSJA ISD administrators, I founded CSLAP in 2013 at age 19. It all began with a group of PSJA alumni who wanted to give back to their schools - all on a volunteer basis.

With over 6 years of teaching experience, I have now incorporated CSLAP as a 501(c)3 nonprofit to teach college access lessons at Rio Grande Valley high schools and connect students to near-peer mentors from the region.

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?

21st Century Learning Standards: To truly prepare our students for the 21st century, we must expand curricula and programs involving digital literacy, computer science, dual language, ethnic studies, and service learning. On the SBOE, I will advocate for updated TEKS, practical implementation plans, and funding that will allow school districts to introduce and/or expand these initiatives.Mental Health and School Safety: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of our students, families, teachers, and staff. On the SBOE, I will be a vocal advocate on this issue by soliciting input from school districts to ascertain which resources are necessary and fight to secure them. In addition, I support funding initiatives that reduce the administrative workload of teachers and counselors, many of whom are experiencing burnout, leaving the profession, or retiring early.Transparency and Oversight: We need more transparency on how tax dollars are spent in our public education system and easier accessibility to this information. Families need to be engaged by the state on bureaucratic decisions involving school funding and academic standards. Families must be provided more relevant, accessible information on what these standards mean for their children. I will work hard to do so on the SBOE.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply interested in curriculum development, college access and persistence, and 21st century academic subjects like digital literacy and computer science.

Since age 19, I have learned pedagogical methods involving reading and writing, creative writing, and service learning through my college access nonprofit. Near-peer mentorship is central to my work; I believe in high school graduates mentoring high school students so more post-secondary pathways can be made available to our young people. I believe in college access for all, which means I will work hard to ensure college is an option for all students no matter their background; college access for all means a student's choice not to attend college would not result from a lack of resources, but rather the student making an informed choice based on quality mentorship.

In the classroom, digital literacy should be integrated into our learning standards. We must actively teach our students how to discern facts from fake information on the internet, from statistics on websites to misleading news articles. Moreover, programming languages like JavaScript and Python are becoming increasingly necessary to learn. Our students must get ahead so they can fully participate in the 21st century and achieve high-paying jobs. I support expanding Mexican-American Studies and African American Studies to more schools. I also support making ethnic studies courses eligible for social studies credits, not just elective credits.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my single mother, who worked long and hard hours at convenience stores to provide for me as I focused on my academics at school. Because of her, I had a fighting chance to succeed. She motivated me to work hard and give back to the community I loved so much. She always emphasized to live my life doing what I loved doing - to never get a job for the income. I am a public servant because of her.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first paycheck came from Good Samaritan Community Services - Rio Grande Valley. I was a development assistant intern, planning and organizing an annual gala event that produced nearly half of the nonprofit's revenue. I applied for this position in summer 2013 as I founded and ran the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP) at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) ISD. Both opportunities gave me a platform to serve students, from children at Good Samaritan to high school students at CSLAP.

Campaign website

Garcia's campaign website stated the following:[3]

MENTAL HEALTH

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of our students, families, teachers, and staff. I believe the Texas Education Agency must do more to address this growing mental health crisis in our schools by granting more financial, educational, and professional resources.

On the SBOE, I will be a vocal advocate on this issue by soliciting input from school districts