Candidate Q&As: Texico school board, Position 5

Editor’s note: Clifford Franklin and Troy Teague are running for Position 5 on the Texico school board. The election will be Tuesday.

We asked both candidates the same five questions.

Clifford Clay Franklin

Age: 39

Occupation: Owner of Feedworks in Clovis

Running for: Texico school board, Position 5

Why are you running for the position?

I’m running for the position because Texico is such a good community with great schools and great teachers. My parents were teachers and I want to support them as much as possible. Also, I have a son that’s autistic, and I’m very supportive of the special education part, and I want to make sure those kids have an advocate on the board.

What experience do you have that you feel qualifies you for this board position?

My mom and dad were both basketball coaches and administrators in the school system in eastern New Mexico. I grew up with the ups and downs and the struggles of the position, and the challenges of that position and beyond that. I saw that on a day-to-day basis growing up. You know, the budget deal is such a critical thing right now. I’ve been in business with myself and my wife for 10 years. As small business owners, finding creative things to do with less money is something we do every day. These budgets are getting tighter and tighter every year and maybe there’s something there that I can add.

What is one issue with state education, and how would you as a board member try to solve it?

I think the biggest issue that we have is finding an effective way for teacher evaluations. We all want our teachers to be as good as they can get. I’m not sure that as cookie-cutter a method as we have now, based off of the testing, is really an effective way to do that. I can think back to the two or three great teachers that I have had that have impacted my life and it had nothing to do with the test. I just knew at the time and now I think back to stuff they taught me. It had nothing to do with a grade or a test. There has to be more local people that are closer to these teachers. You know, I have to be a bigger part of the evaluation than Santa Fe. It needs to be a little closer to home.

What is something you think schools, whether it’s your specific district or schools on a state or national scale, could do more efficiently?

My feeling is that education done right is not completely an efficient system and sometimes when you hang a little more up front for a little better end result is something worth the money. From my view, Texico is run efficiently and you know there’s not — we don’t have things that are extra fancy. One thing that we have done is invest in our teachers and I’m not sure reducing that is ultimately the best thing for our kids. And if it’s not the best thing for our kids, then that’s a tough thing for me.

What do you, as a board member, think is the best thing you can do for students at your school in the upcoming term?

As a board member, we need to make sure that we are trying to get every resource available, every thing that they need so that they can be successful, whether that’s support for our teachers or making sure we’re capturing as much grant money as we can, that those things are handled properly, and provide them with a safe environment to learn.

What do you think is the best way you can help your school’s teachers in the upcoming term?

I really feel kind of passionate of the teacher deal because of the way I grew up with my parents as teachers. Anything I can do in this evaluation issue is something I’m passionate about. We want to make sure we give credit where it is due. We want them to know that the community supports them. We’re more interested in the type of kid that they turn out rather than the test scores they turn out.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Kurt Munz-Raper

Troy Lance Teague

Age: 41

Occupation: Heavy equipment operator

Running for: Texico school board, Position 5

Why are you running for the position?

I want to be a benefit to the community, I want to be an asset to my school. I have a vested interest there, my kids are there. I served six years as a trustee for the Bovina isd and I’d like to bring that experience to Texico.

What experience do you have that you feel qualifies you for this board position?

Those six years as a trustee, plus two terms before that as a city councilman in Bovina.

What is one issue with state education, and how would you as a board member try to solve it?

I believe our finances are in a wreck in our state. The schools are going to get hit with that if we don’t take proactive measures. We have to make sure schools are maintained financially and take a conservative approach to make sure we can operate and benefit our kids the best we can.

What is something you think schools, whether it’s your specific district or schools on a state or national scale, could do more efficiently?

There are a lot of answers you could put into that. I would say finance is one thing a school can crack down on. There will be tough decisions, but in order to be successful, esepcially at a small district like Texico, you have to keep a wrap on things.

What do you, as a board member, think is the best thing you can do for students at your school in the upcoming term?

Listen to them. They’ll tel you what the needs are if you take the time to listen. They’ll want you to provide a safe environment and an environment where learning is a top priority. School isn’t just about education, it’s learning about life. If we can get a good foundation there, they’ll be successful in life.

What do you think is the best way you can help your school’s teachers in the upcoming term?

I believe the best way to help them is if they know they can depend on you and you have their back. If a teacher trusts their leadership, they can do the job with confidence and there’s a snowball effect. If a board can support a teacher, they’ll be successful in the classroom.

— Compiled by Managing Editor Kevin Wilson