Candidate Profile: Adriana Tamez For HCC District 3

Editor's note: Some responses have been edited for clarity.

HOUSTON, TX — Harris County voters will soon make their decision on local races in the Nov. 2 election.

Adriana Tamez, who is running for Houston Community College Board of Trustees District 3, shared with Patch why she should be elected to represent the Houston community.

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Profile: Adriana Tamez

Age (as of Election Day): 57

Position Sought

Houston Community College Board of Trustees District 3

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Adam Gabriel, 10. Adam is my gift from God. He is the reason my passion for education, workforce development and our economy is greater than ever.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

Undergrad and Masters - University of Houston Central
Doctor of Education Administration - University of Texas at Austin

Occupation

Education - 30 years
Banking - 10 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Houston Community College Trustee District 3

Campaign website

N/A

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am completing my eighth year as a HCC trustee. I did quite a bit of praying about seeking re-election, and what I call God winks kept happening. I didn’t hear any mystical voice, but as I prayed to keep an open mind, I was reminded by people’s kind words, particular programs I had been part of initiating, or walking past a building for which I was on the planning and oversight committee. There is great satisfaction in these reminders, yet at the same time, I was reminded of the current state of education. As I have said before, the pandemic revealed the underbelly of education and the immense challenge presented to innovate and realign educational practices, not for the distant future, but for today. There is an urgency in the work at hand. My daily work as a PK-12 educational leader and my tenure as a trustee, have provided a deep and robust continuum of understanding of what is needed to effectuate a relevant and accessible education for all, regardless. This is a unique experience allowed to very few. Not only do I value the perspective I have, it allows me to see how one level scaffolds to support the next, and the complex system required to maintain the system. Thus, my robust experience and intimate awareness of the underbelly, the challenges to education, leave me no choice but to seek re-election.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our board is the current state of education, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe the only way HCC will survive is to adopt a new paradigm that expands its current focus to include new ways to provide effective programs and services through multi-modalities. For example, the days of thinking technology is supplemental or ancillary to education are past. We must train in the use of technology as a permanent fixture in instructional delivery. The pandemic has revealed that technology is crucial to the educational enterprise, the challenge is its use as a modality, same as a classroom, lectures, textbooks. It is incumbent upon me as a trustee to be a tenacious voice in this effort, and that includes identifying checks and balances to make sure it is happening. At the same time, HCC must take its place as essential to the Greater Houston, Harris County economic engine. I intend to continue my work on workforce development initiatives, which include expanded partnerships with industry, internships, apprenticeships, job coaches and academic coaches.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As previously stated, my daily work as a PK-12 educational leader and my tenure as a trustee, have provided a deep and robust continuum of understanding of what is needed to effectuate a relevant and accessible education for all, regardless. This includes my strengths in governance, finance, and curriculum and instruction. I am not a neophyte and am not concerned with a learning curve. HCC and the community deserve a trustee that is not coming into the position with no prior experience or knowledge. There is too much at stake.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I can only tell you what I think of how we at HCC responded. I think we did great. The time of pandemic has been unchartered and unprecedented, and no time to move slowly. There was no guide book, yet as the board and key administrators first entered discussion and action planning, there was a genuine concern for health, safety and desire to do right by the students, faculty and staff. We did not allow political ideology to govern our discourse and our plans. We were focused on being strategic at every level and in every area of the HCC system to provide the healthiest and safest environment for the HCC community. And, as federal, state and local health officials disseminated information and guidelines, we made sure we were aligned or surpassed them.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In addition to workforce development, the single issue that defines my campaign is a continued commitment to transparency in all HCC functions. Whether it be fiscal responsibility, general operating procedures, governance operations, or student services—I believe that transparency is the critical metric.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been very fortunate as an organizational leader. My accomplishments have included being a school principal whose campus earned the state’s highest recognition; a superintendent where 95% of the region’s campuses achieved the state’s highest recognition; and a nonprofit CEO who has led the organization back to financial solvency and stability, expanded its programs and services. In each position my accomplishments are grounded in my tenacious, steadfast, and detail-oriented skills and abilities.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From a young age, I was told, “be true to yourself.” Don’t let distractions keep you from staying the course. As I matured, advise has expanded to include keeping focused on helping your city and its economy grow.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

A trustee serves in a non-partisan role. My commitment remains to continue to work hard to create academic and workforce development programming, increase enrollment and graduation rate to make sure we are doing what needs to get done to fuel our city's economic engine. If the Houston Community College succeeds, we all succeed. Let's all work together to make it happen!