Jessica Wark for GISD School Board

I've waited a week after the elections to speak, to give time to process what I witnessed. There is still a lot more to process, but I have something my heart needs to say at this time.

Watching Hood County be so vile has been a heartbreaking experience. I've lived in Granbury for 40 years and this is not Granbury. This is new. This is inhumane. Growing up in a small town, there have always been gossip circles. Watching gossip grow wings is nothing new to Granbury. But seeing folks eat gossip up as truth and regurgitate it with vile, hate-filled, inhumane, threatening sentiment is something new to Granbury. It doesn't match the Granbury spirit, and as far as I'm concerned, it has no place here. Without regard to "which side" you're on, if you're treating other humans without basic human decency, you do not get my ear. My thoughts will not follow your thoughts. My words will not follow your words. I will remain above this toxic trend that has our beloved Granbury in its grips right now. I will make a real human effort to love my enemy and pray blessings over their lives and truth, knowledge, understanding, and clarity over their minds. I will listen and speak with anyone who wants to talk in good faith, in the spirit of growth and community. And I will not give my ear, my thoughts, my energy, or my time to those who want to calumniate or threaten.

We can discuss issues in our community without propagating enmity in our community. I say, with courage, love, and confidence, that there are issues in our county and there are issues in our schools that need correction. This statement is not negativity. This is not refusal to acknowledge good things. This is not attacking. I've seen and been honored to be part of our community coming together to discuss and find solutions for our issues. This is healthy, mature, adult behavior. Our prognosis as a community is hopeful because we are willing to have these conversations.

Granbury, let's get back to being the best parts of Granbury. 💜💛

Congratulations to my opponent, Stuart Neal. I pray that our students and our staff will be well taken care of under his term. And thank you to Hood County voters for coming out to vote today. 14,000+ voters on an off-year election is pretty impressive.

Today is Election Day! Today is your last chance to vote for Jessica Wark for GISD School Board Trustee, Place 7.

✔️Nurturing and Protecting Students
✔️Welcoming and Encouraging Parents
✔️Supporting and Advocating for Staff

■ I have been here supporting our district for 22 years. I didn't just show up at election time.
■ I am right here in Granbury during weekdays and available to participate in board activities. No out of town obligations to keep me from participating.
■ I regularly attend and participate in school board meetings, not just at election time.
■ I am here because I care deeply and want to make a positive impact on GISD. This is not a springboard for a different elected position for me.
■ I ran a clean campaign. I followed campaign laws and campaign ethics. I did not engage with mudslingers lies or vitriol that was thrown during this campaign.

Vote today from 7am-7pm at any polling location. Let's bridge GISD together again!

Daylight savings time and my internal alarm clock have me awake early this morning! I used my extra quiet time this morning to "praise God from whom all blessings flow". I sang the Doxology yesterday with our church and it is still playing in my heart this morning. 😊

This election season has had many gifts. I've met so many amazing people on the campaign trails. I've received so much inspiration and encouragement from my supporters. I've grown considerably in my ability to let lies, slander, and libel roll off of my back without engaging. Personal growth and public speaking skills are developing through this campaign. I've developed new relationships with people I had met but didn't know before election season. I've experienced my husband, my rock, step up and wrap me in love, prayer, and support in new ways that I hadn't experienced before. Our kids have had a front row seat to see how communities work. Our community has wrapped us in support from nearly every angle, from folks showing up to help, to people praying for us continuously, to folks donating to help fund the campaign, to so many more blessings. Memories have been made. It's been long days and long nights and seemingly endless weeks and months of hard, hard work and dedication. I'm looking forward to just having time to clean my house the way I want to again later this week! But it's also been a great campaign with so many blessings.

I'm looking back on all of the years and years that I've been involved in our schools and the precious experiences I've had throughout the years. The lifelong relationships I've gained with some of my favorite people. The things I've learned. The ways I've been able to help and give myself to support our community. The hundreds of thank you cards and notes, texts, posts from staff and parents. The hand-drawn cards and pictures from the sweetest kiddos. Endless hugs and smiles when I run into our kiddos in the grocery store, etc. All of the faces of all of the parents and community members who have jumped in to help with me. Oh the memories and the laughter we've made together!

I have so, so, so many blessings to praise God for from this election season, and just from my experiences serving in our schools in general. I suppose I just caught up with my extra hour from the "fall-back" with an extra hour of reflection and prayerful thanks this morning! Thank you, sincerely, to our community for pouring and sowing into me throughout this election season. As we cross our campaign finish line tomorrow on Election Day, I will carry the encouragement and inspiration from this community with me into the next season. THANK YOU. 💚

[Pictured is one of the hundreds of fun favorite memories that crossed my mind this morning. Our pto board went in late one night (with permission, of course) and decorated the teacher's lounge to surprise the staff the next morning with food, drinks, decor, and all sorts of love! We had the BEST time blowing up balloons and making special little gifts! The staff were surprised and felt so loved. And there just so happened to be a few extra cupcakes for us to get rid of after we filled the cupcake towers! 😜]

Precinct Chair Tim and I had a great morning meeting voters with Region 11 State Board of Education Member Brandon Hall. This man works tirelessly for the children and families of our region and our state. Very honored to have earned his endorsement for GISD Trustee.

This gentleman has been asking questions and paying attention to each candidate's words and actions. The decisions on this ballot are important to him, and he cares to make informed decisions. He's been paying close attention to detail. I am honored to have earned his endorsement.

Another first time voter! Had a fun time chatting about his engineering path. This young man is going places! So exciting! What a beautiful family!

How can YOU score an invitation to this awesome civic duty citizen party too?? Come down to Hood County Annex 1 today and VOTE, and you too could receive one of these beautiful PERSONALIZED invitations!! 😁😁

All kidding aside, a sincere thank you to everyone who exercises your right and your duty to vote. Our local elections have a high impact on our daily lives. Thank you for making your voice heard.

Question: "The legislature has tied the Teacher Incentive Allotment to student performance on the STAAR test. If a student opts out of the STAAR test, the TEA automatically records that grade as a zero, which impacts both the campus accountability rating and the measurement used to calculate the TIA. How would you balance these conflicting interests as a trustee to advocate for our teachers so student progress can be measured and communicate to parents the impact of their decision to opt out?"

Response: Student needs will always take priority over teacher bonus incentives for me. So in this case, I would advocate first for the student and their parent, and then for the teacher. Many parents across the state are choosing to opt out of STAAR testing due to its flaws. Many educators stand in solidarity with this decision, and voices are being heard on this topic in Austin. When a parent decides that it is best for their child to opt out of STAAR testing, it would not be my place as a board trustee to pressure them into going against their decisions for their child. As a board trustee, I could work to help make sure our parents have all of the information they need ahead of time to make an informed decision about the STAAR test for their child.

There are many factors that make up the TIA Rating. The overall effect on this rating of a student opting out of STAAR is very, very minimal. If I recall correctly, it would be less than two one-hundredths of one point. We could certainly include the impact figures in the parent information to help parents make a fully informed decision. But I would not support overstating the impact in order to pressure or guilt parents in their decision making.

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My kinda teacher! 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Fhdq59Ezt/

he was right 👀