Yvonne Atkins

Residents of Tyler will have the chance to vote for candidates running for the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees, with two seats — Districts 1 and 2 — up for election May 3.

Incumbent Wade Washmon and former trustee Eleno Licea are in the race to represent District 1, while incumbent Yvonne Atkins faces Carolyn Davis for the District 2 seat.

The school board is responsible for governing the district’s schools, overseeing the curriculum, budget, school taxes, staffing, and facilities, while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws.

Elected board members serve staggered 3-year terms, are elected from single-member districts, serve without pay, and must be qualified voters residing in the district.

District 1

Wade Washmon (I)

Wade Washmon has served as the District 1 trustee for 12 years, including two years as vice president and six years as president.

“In that time, we built something really special in Tyler, and we’ve brought it to a place that is as stable as it has ever been,” Washmon said. “I believe that a healthy school system in this modern climate is so very fragile, and the stability we’ve built is worth fighting for.”

For Washmon, the safety of the district’s students and staff is paramount to the board. Assuring Tyler ISD not only has the latest, state-of-the-art facilities, but a police officer on each campus and former FBI agents overseeing a team of safety and security.

“We’re always evolving, and people are always trying to find new ways to disrupt what we do,” Washmon said. “So our job is to stay ahead of those things as best we can, and identify what procedures keep our staff and students safe.”

Washmon said Tyler ISD is committed to not only the success of its students but also to fostering a community that offers opportunities and values diversity and inclusion.

“The more opportunities we can give children, the higher the chance is that they’ll find something they love and be engaged in learning,” he said. “I truly believe that Tyler ISD has more opportunity than any other district — public, private or charter — in a 100-mile radius. Whether it be through fine arts, career and technology center, choice programming, athletics, robust club offerings… every child in Tyler ISD has access to nearly endless opportunities.”

The biggest challenge facing the district, according to Washmon, is the lack of family involvement, particularly with at-risk students. He noted this is a challenge many districts in the state face; however, Tyler benefits from an engaged community, with strong mentoring and volunteer programs.

“I believe partnering with people who can bring peace, character and wisdom in the lives of our youth is essential,” he said. “Whether that be through our local churches, businesses, or nonprofits.”

He encourages parents to be involved in their schools by volunteering or being in the PTA and attending board meetings and providing kind and constructive dialogue. “We’re always happy to hear what is going on in the district and share those concerns with each other and the superintendent,” Washmon said.

Advocating for increased teacher pay, Washmon emphasized the importance of supporting teachers both financially and professionally.

“It’s the most noble profession in the world and we need to pay them like it is,” he said. “As far as funding goes, we’re beholden to the state and I encourage our representatives at the state level to adequately fund public education so we can pay teachers better.”

If elected, Washmon hopes to maintain the positive trajectory the board has established, building on its successes and continuing to improve the district’s educational programs and outcomes.

“This involves keeping good management in place and constantly looking for ways to get better academically, and in every other facet of the district,” he said. “This vote isn’t just about District 1, it’s about the stability of the entire school system in Tyler, Texas.”

Eleno Licea

Eleno Licea grew up in East Texas, graduating from Longview High School before going on to be the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Tyler Junior College with an associates degree then the University of Texas at Tyler where he received his bachelor’s degree in communications. In 2008, he formed Licea Insurance Group, an independent insurance agency.

Licea, who previously served District 1 from 2009 to 2013, said many community members asked him to run for his old seat again due to “lack of leadership and reactive decisions” from current representatives.

“Having served previously as trustee, I know exactly how the system works and how to get things accomplished,” Licea said. “I will implement our community’s agenda, not an extreme agenda driven by exterior agitators.”

Licea emphasized the district is doing a good job in keeping students and staff safe but, if elected, would look for ways to improve.

“When parents send their kids to school, they should have an expectation that they will be safe and return home safe as well,” he said. “(Tyler ISD) currently operates the third biggest (law enforcement) department in Smith County. Future funding for this will need to be addressed and discussed.”

When it comes to top priorities of district spending, Licea believes the district should focus on programs, staff or facilities that produce results.

“No pie in the sky ideas like golf facilities or school name changes that cost voters money and do not directly correlate to academic achievement,” he said. “All the district facilities have been totally rebuilt. No new debt unless we pay off existing debt. Our facilities are all updated, and we need to focus on educating now — not building or issuing bonds.”

While he believes the current curriculum meets students’ needs, Licea would like to see improvements such as credit recovery programs and collaboration with Tyler Junior College to support students who need less remedial work.

“Overall… the current curriculum is adequate but we need to look at helping at-risk kids that need more support,” Licea said. He would also implement community outreach programs to get families more involved with their child’s education.

Licea currently serves on the City of Tyler’s Half Cent Sales Tax Board, the Children’s Advocacy Center board, the Bethesda Health Clinic Board of Directors, and the UT Tyler Medical School Community Advisory Board. Licea has served as president of the Tyler ISD Foundation, serves on the Bethesda Health Clinic board of directors, is a past president and founding member of the Hispanic Business Alliance and a former board member of the City of Tyler’s Planning and Zoning Commission and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Licea received the Junior League of Tyler’s Knights of Nobility award and the W.C. Windsor Award for outstanding community service by individuals under 40. In 2014, he ran for Tyler City Council but was not elected.

“(School boards) should play a major role as they are the people held legally responsible for our children’s education,” Licea said. “Obviously, teachers, central admin and principals should be involved in this process as well to help select and implement. Everybody in the building can contribute to a child’s education.”

District 3

Yvonne Atkins (I)

Yvonne Atkins was appointed to the District 3 seat in 2020 to fill an unexpired term and was later elected. She holds a bachelor’s in education and two master’s degrees — one in community mental health and one in reading. She is certified in K-8 teaching, principal, and ESL, with additional training in special education and dyslexia.

After 38 years in Tyler ISD, Atkins retired but remains involved as a board trustee and adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Tyler. She also tutors first and second grade students and contributes to community projects, including those focused on empowering women.

“As an educator, former parent, and community member, I want to be involved in the decisions that impact students,” Atkins said. “I want to ensure that the educators are qualified, the schools are safe, and the district is being responsible with resources.”

Atkins believes the district ensures equal access to resources through 1:1 devices, interactive panels, and multi-tiered support systems. The district also provides tailored support for students through individualized educational plans.

“Every student deserves a quality education,” Atkins said. “We must ensure that we have educators in place that are knowledgeable and trained in the various learning styles. Ensure that students will have effective learning systems for their diverse ways of learning.”

Although Atkins feels the current curriculum is adequate, she believes more intervention is needed for students who struggle. “Students that are below grade level or facing challenges in reading and other areas may need extra resources and interventions beyond what the school day has to offer,” she said.

Atkins said if cuts must be made, the school district should analyze and evaluate programs, administrative structures, every department, and their use of funds to determine how budgets may be reduced.

“As a 38-year employee of Tyler ISD, I would want to ensure that budget cuts would be limited in relation to the needs of the classroom,” she said.

Atkins also emphasized the need for increased teacher pay and benefits to support retention and recruitment.

“Teachers have always been underpaid,” she said. “Teachers are paid less than comparable workers with similar educational levels. Some struggle because of low pay and are not able to afford health care. Some teachers take on a second job to help with finances. Teachers are the backbone of every other profession.”

Atkins identified funding as a major challenge for the district, particularly as it limits resources for staff and programs. She advocates for greater community and policymaker support to secure adequate funding for public education.

“Funding issues that limit resources for staff, programs, and materials are a challenge for the district,” Atkins said. “We must advocate with policymakers and our community to secure adequate funding for public schools to positively impact student outcomes. Public education needs to be fully funded, giving more monies per student.”

Looking ahead, Atkins would like to focus on the emotional health of the students and educators, asking how the district can support and what they can do to ensure they’re getting the help they need from the district.

“(We need to) invest in resources, emotional support for teachers and students, tutoring, support for students facing academic challenges, and offer support services and technology,” Atkins said. “The Tyler community has a tremendous investment in our facilities, and we must maintain those facilities.”

Carolyn Jones Davis

Carolyn Jones Davis, a lifelong Tyler resident, graduated from then-John Tyler High School and holds a bachelor of science in history, a minor in political science, and teacher certification from the UT Tyler. She also holds a master of arts in interdisciplinary studies from the UT Arlington.

With over two decades of experience in education, Davis began her career in 1988 at Chapel Hill High School and later taught in Dallas ISD, St. Louis, and Tyler ISD. She retired in 2011 after serving as a teacher and Social Studies Department chair at Townview Magnet Center and a U.S. government and economics teacher at Skyline High School. She has since worked as a substitute teacher in Tyler ISD.

“It is primarily the advocacy experience as well as some of my substitute teaching experience with Tyler ISD that has led to my decision to run as a school board candidate,” Davis said.

Davis is seeking the District 3 school board position for several reasons, including concerns about book banning, what she called a lack of communication regarding the district’s stance on potential immigration raids at school campuses, and concerns about Bluebonnet Learning for elementary students. (This curriculum was designed with a cross-disciplinary approach that uses reading and language arts lessons to advance or cement concepts in other disciplines, such as history and social studies. Critics, which included religious studies scholars, say the curriculum’s lessons allude to Christianity more than any other religion, which they say could lead to the bullying and isolation of non-Christian students, undermine church-state separation and grant the state far-reaching control over how children learn about religion, according to the Texas Tribune).

“Religious beliefs are very important to many people in Tyler,” she said. “These beliefs don’t necessarily stop at the church house but can and do flow into the school house. This can be a good thing. However, if the K-5 Bluebonnet Curriculum uses Christian beliefs and/or stories more than any other religion or without consideration to students who practice no religion, that presents a problem.”

Davis is also troubled by issues surrounding school vouchers, the role of volunteer chaplains versus school counselors, and the district’s resolution regarding Title IX.

Davis said she regularly emails the board and superintendent, receiving responses that often explained current situations and hinted at potential changes. However, she feels little has improved. “Consequently, I see this election as my opportunity to try and position myself to become part of the decision-making body by becoming a board member,” she said.

Other key concerns of Davis’ include the performance of minority students on standardized tests, starting with Head Start students, the hiring of non-certified teachers, and the need for more minority teachers.

“Oftentimes when students can culturally identify with their teacher and others in positions of authority, they serve as role models that students can aspire to be,” Davis said.

Davis also emphasized the need for Tyler ISD to focus more on hiring certified teachers. Nearly 18% — or 208 of 1,162 teachers — in Tyler ISD are uncertified, according to 2023-24 data from the Texas Education Agency.

“I have always realized that being certified does not automatically make a person a great teacher,” Davis said. “However, given the educational courses and the student teaching requirements to obtain certification, I believe it increases one’s chances of being successful from day one upon walking into a classroom.”

Voting information

Residents needed to register by April 3 to vote in this election. Early voting runs from April 22. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day on May 3.