Because of redistricting, all 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be up for grabs in the November 2012 elections. The results of those elections will determine whether the religious right’s corrosive influence over public education will weaken or grow as the board considers what the next generation of public school students in Texas will learn about sex education, social studies, science and other subjects. We plan to publish on TFN Insider candidate announcements for a seat on the SBOE. We will publish announcements in no particular order, and their publication does not constitute any sort of endorsement by TFN. We will redact requests for contributions or mentions of fundraising events from the announcements, but we will provide links to the candidates’ websites (if available).
Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, District 2, D-SanBenito
(Current District 2 Board Member: Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi)
Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, D-San Benito, is assistant superintendent for curriculum with the San Benito School District and is seeking the District 2 SBOE seat currently held by Mary Helen Berlanga. Berlanga is not seeking re-election. (Campaign website not yet available.)
Celeste Zepeda Sanchez of San Benito has announced her candidacy for the position of District 2 State Board of Education. Mary Helen Berlanga, a long time serving board member, has chosen not to seek re-election.
With 45 years of experience in education, Sanchez has breadth and depth of experience ranging from her early years as an elementary school teacher that followed her migrant students to Michigan providing summer classes for these Texas school children to serving as the Director of the Gifted and Talented Program at San Benito ISD, followed by a position as Assistant Superintendent with the Edgewood School District in San Antonio, Texas. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum with the San Benito School District where she has focused on curriculum innovation, technology enhancements, and successful efforts in external funding through sponsored grant programs.
This broad range of experience serves to inform her platform for seeking the position as a member of the State Board of Education. Sanchez proposes to focus her efforts while on the Board on issues of curriculum, school finance, and public school accountability measures.
Sanchez holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Texas A&M-Kingsville.
“As the grandmother of children in Texas Public Schools, I want my grandchildren and all children to attend safe schools where teachers have the resources, the technology and the environment necessary for children to learn and thrive.” says Sanchez.
She resides in San Benito, Texas, and currently serves on the City Commission as well as numerous other decision making boards.
Texas Freedom Network 
March 31, 2012 at 9:28 am
Spotted elsewhere:
Candidates answered a question about the role academic experts play in curriculum development and many said that experts should work alongside the educators. “We cannot ignore them,” Sanchez said, adding that teachers and constituents also need a role in setting the standards.
Most likely falls under Sensible Party.
March 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm
This is a little off subject, but I thought you folks (especially the atheists) would appreciate this from Tony Campolo. This is for you too TFN:
April 1, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I have an interest in this race, and if one looks beyond the surface it quickly becomes clear that the other candidates in this race have way too much baggage. Ms. Sanchez would serve all of South Texas well, and has the integrity required to listen to all sides of every argument and make the right decision for all concerned.
April 1, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I’m not in her district, but if she followed apple-pickers to Michigan to teach kids, I may commit votr fraud to help her get elected…….
April 2, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Methinks that the lady would make an ideal member of the SBOE. She’s the only one so far that seems to have a real interest in teaching children. Coragyps, can I hitch a ride with you?