For the Liberty Hill Independent School District’s board of trustees, three places are up for election this spring, but only one place, Place 4, drew more than one candidate. Incumbent Kathy Major is up for reelection against challenger Sharon Yager.
Major has served on the school board since 2018. She’s retired now, but spent a 36-year career in education, much of that in Liberty Hill. She served 16 years as a principal, four years as an assistant principal and prior to that was a teacher.
Yager has lived in Liberty Hill for two years and is also retired after spending 32 years working in education as a senior administrative assistant.
Both candidates chose to participate in a questionnaire from The Liberty Hill Independent. Their responses appear here as they were submitted -- unedited by The Independent.
LHI: What qualities do you believe best qualify you for serving on the board?
Major: My best qualities for serving as trustee are my experience and commitment to the LHISD community. Serving as teacher, HS asst. principal, Intermediate School principal and now board member, my service has spanned over 33 years for Liberty Hill. I have been part of volunteer opportunities that enriched my understanding, love, and appreciation of our community.
Yager: I spent 32 years as a Sr. Administrative Asst. in one of the biggest school districts with 18 Schools and a district budget of over 200 Million dollars, I also served as a Union President to the Classified employees for 15 years. In both rolls I learn how schools are run, what is needed to ensure student success. As president I had to negotiate with district for employees, so I know needs of employees, I was on the budget committee, Insurance committee, and on the hiring panel for Principals and Asst. Principals.
LHI: Describe your overall philosophy of education and how your role on the board ties into those views?
Major: My philosophy is rooted in love for my students. Every child will learn and grow when stakeholders just do it right, so children can achieve success. Doing things right is how we build champions. My philosophy aligns with the vision and mission of LHISD. I expect myself and others to love and respect each other, and then do the hard work that achieves success for students.
Yager: I believe it is very important to teach our future, I want to do all I can to make sure the great schools I trust my own grandchildren to attend continue to thrive. I also want to do my part to illuminate LHISD as a model of academic excellence in Texas for generations to come.
LHI: What are the district's biggest challenges at the current time the board needs to most focus on?
Major: The biggest challenges facing us are attracting and retaining quality teachers, and adequately funding our schools. Our district strives to build environments that support learning. We have to be financially smart while working with our community and state representatives to support funding that supports that excellence.
Yager: LHISD’s challenges at the current time would be space for students, It is in progress with a new high school coming next year and a new middle school. Liberty Hill is growing but we need to make sure we keep the small town values and morals no matter how big it gets. Always protect our children, they should always feel safe when at school.
LHI: As LHISD continues to grow, how can the standards of excellence the district is known for be properly maintained?
Major: Our mission, vision, portrait of a graduate, and belief statement clearly define LHISD expectations. Every campus must partner with parents and neighborhoods to build these standards into the community identity. Every employee must live them out in the classroom. We all will measure our success against our expectations. Our community must stand on those expectations, and as a trustee, I am part of the team that ensures it happens.
Yager: We should keep doing what we are doing and if we need to step it up then we should. All student should benefit, we should have classes that help students for their future. Not all students will go to college so we should have classes that teach a trade ensuring all students succeed.
LHI: If there's one thing you could change about public education, what would it be and why?
Major: My two greatest challenges lead to what I would change. By trusting and financially supporting public schools, we ensure a top notch education which retains the rights and liberties of all students as citizens. We are accountable for our children, and must work together to achieve success. Let's remember we all love Liberty Hill ISD and that is why we are here.
Yager: More money, I would love to see the state as well as the federal invest more money in public education. I believe given the resources we can get all the qualified teachers we need and pay them accordingly, and I don’t mean the ones we have are bad, they are excellent. However, they are worth more that what they get. Students would have supplies they need without having to put the burden on the parents or having student fundraise in order to do something at school.
