Qualifications: What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position?
SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM: How should the K–12 social studies curriculum balance state, national, and world history to best prepare students to be responsible citizens in today’s world?
TEACHER SUPPORT: How can the SBOE strengthen teacher preparation, certification, and ongoing professional development to support high-quality instruction?
DIGITAL EDUCATION: How can the SBOE balance technology use with traditional instructional methods to best support student learning?
RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Should Christianity or any other religious beliefs be incorporated into the public school curriculum? Explain your position.
Tiffany Perkinz
I am a lifelong Texas educator and parent of six, with experience in public, private, and higher education. I hold a Master’s in Education and own a tutoring and independent teaching business.
K–12 social studies should ground students in a true and honest account of Texas history and frame it within a national and global context. Students should understand how events in Texas connect to larger U.S. and world events. Instruction recognizes that Texas both shapes and is shaped by the wider world, and prepares them to be informed citizens in a global society, not just memorizers of facts.
The SBOE can strengthen teacher support by prioritizing preparation programs grounded in real classroom experience, mentorship, and subject-area expertise. Certification should be rigorous without unnecessary barriers. Professional development should be teacher-led, practical, and classroom-relevant. Supporting teachers as professionals improves retention and leads to stronger instruction.
Technology should support—not replace—learning. Teachers report that overuse of AI is weakening students’ critical thinking and writing skills, which are rooted in learning how to think. Students need to read whole novels and engage in sustained writing rather than test-prep excerpts or shortcuts. Teachers should have the autonomy to decide when technology enhances versus hinders learning.
Public schools should not promote or endorse any religion. Religious topics may be taught in an academic, historical, or literary context, but instruction must remain neutral and inclusive. Faith formation belongs to families and religious communities, not the state. Maintaining religious neutrality protects students’ freedom of belief and ensures public schools serve all Texans.
OTHER ISSUES: What other issues do you believe will be the most pressing for the State Board of Education?
Public schools should not promote or endorse any religion. Religious topics may be taught in an academic, historical, or literary context, but instruction must remain neutral and inclusive. Faith formation belongs to families and religious communities, not the state. Maintaining religious neutrality protects students’ freedom of belief and ensures public schools serve all Texans.
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