Alma Allen*

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Survey Responses

HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE 2024 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY.

Did not respond to the 2022, 2020, 2018, or 2016 ATPE Candidate Survey. 

Below are the candidate's responses to the 2014 ATPE Candidate Survey:

1. Is there a need to increase funding to meet the needs of our student population? If so, how would you recommend securing more revenue for public education?

There is a need for securing more funding for public education. Although the legislature has limited the amount of funding that can be collected locally, state budget writers have failed to adequately offset the loss of local funding. Texas' population is growing at a rapid rate, and with that, so is the student population. The legislature needs to look at addressing loopholes that allow big business to avoid paying their share.

2. Regardless of the level of funding, do you believe that Texas public education dollars are being spent in an appropriate manner, or should the funds be reallocated and spent in different ways?

Although reviewing inefficiencies is an important step, I believe that school districts have done all that they can to make up for funding cuts that occurred in 2011. In order to provide a quality education, and attract high quality teachers and administrators, Texas must invest more money in public education to meet the workforce demands of the future.

3. Would you vote to spend public tax dollars on a voucher, tax credit or scholarship that allows students to attend non-public schools in grades K–12? Why or why not?

No. I believe vouchers, tax credits, and scholarship programs are a way to divert money into the private sector, that will be unaccounted for. Additionally, it is a way to avoid the real problem, which is the lack of adequate funding in our current system. These schemes will only serve to divert money, and further burden the free public education that we have a duty to provide.

4. Do you believe the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) should be maintained as a traditional defined benefit pension plan for all future, current and retired educators, or would you vote to convert TRS to a defined contribution plan that is more like a 401(k), in which future benefits are not guaranteed? Why?

I believe that we must maintain the defined benefit pension plan. As a retired educator, I understand the importance of maintaining the defined benefits, and the security that it provides future educators. A defined contribution plan benefits those that are attempting to line their pockets with the hard earned money of Texas' educators, while leaving educators with subpar coverage.

5. Local decisions on whether to continue a teacher's employment and how much to pay each teacher are often based on evaluations. To what extent, if any, should a teacher's evaluation be based on his students' scores on state standardized tests? If you believe student test scores should factor into a teacher's evaluation, how would you recommend evaluating teachers in grades or subjects for which there are no state standardized tests?

I do not believe linking student performance on standardized tests to teacher evaluations is an appropriate way to measure their performance.

6. Would you vote to maintain a hard cap on the number of students per class, or should school administrators be given more flexibility to increase class sizes? (Currently, the law imposes a cap of 22:1 in grades K–4 but allows schools to obtain a waiver, a step many of them routinely take.)

I will vote for a hard cap on student class sizes, and I believe that the waiver system has been abused. Teachers need classes small enough to provide quality and individualized time with students. The State has essentially given districts a blank check to exceed the 22:1 cap.

7. If a public school in your district failed to meet state accountability standards for two or more consecutive years, would you support allowing a private entity to take over the management of that school, essentially converting it to a charter school?

I do not support allowing a private entity to take over a public school. I believe the State of Texas, as well as the districts, have a duty to provide every tool that campus needs to succeed.

8. Do you believe charter schools in Texas have been largely successful? Should their presence be expanded? Why or why not?

I do not believe charter schools has been as successful as some believe, and data shows that traditional public schools often out perform charter schools. However, the point of charter schools was always to provide flexibility and learn what works, and what does not, and then take that information and apply it to the traditional public schools. Although we know what works, the State has not allowed schools the proper flexibility. Instead, outside entities are attempting to dismantle the system, in favor of privatization. I did not support SB2. The state had never reached the charter school cap before, and I believe that expanding too rapidly could cause more problems with ineffective charters coming into the state.