Hey there, Leander ISD neighbors! I'm Nekosi Nelson– a family man with my awesome wife, Helynn, and our two amazing daughters, Sydney and Sloan. We're all about exploring new places and bonding over board games.
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I have over 23 years of experience in program and product management in various industries including finance, tech, and public education. My career once focused on K-16 education and youth development. My profession was service, but I did not live in the communities I served. Although I was making an impact on people’s lives and their communities, I desired to serve closer to home.
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I volunteer regularly in my daughters’ schools (CC Mason and LHS), serve in my church (Summit Worship Center), and continue to help nonprofits achieve their missions. I am excited about the potential opportunity to serve on the Leander ISD Board of Trustees.
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Let's make our community thrive together!
Canidate Interview
(All in LISD) Q: What specific steps will you take to support and retain teachers, given the increasing demands and challenges they face in today’s educational climate?
(Nekosi Nelson) A: Educators are the heart and soul of Leander ISD. They inspire our children, shape their futures, and foster a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Our teachers deserve more than just our admiration—they deserve to feel respected, supported, and deeply valued. Like many districts, we face challenges in attracting and retaining great teachers. I am eager to partner with the district to implement research-based solutions to address pay disparities, burnout, and turnover.
Competitive pay is key, especially for our experienced teachers. By prioritizing fair compensation and well-being initiatives, we can combat burnout and retain the exceptional talent we have.
Equally important is reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, giving teachers the time and space to focus on what they do best—teaching. By listening to their needs and involving them more in decision-making, we can build a school culture where every teacher feels heard and empowered.
As a community, we must champion the full funding of public schools. With Texas currently ranking 44th in per-pupil funding, we are asking our educators to do more with less, and that is simply unsustainable. Our students deserve smaller class sizes, and our teachers deserve resources that match their dedication.
I envision Leander ISD becoming the district where educators aspire to build lifelong careers. By investing in professional development, we will cultivate a culture of continuous growth and leadership. Through LISD’s “It’s Different Here” program, we can provide real opportunities for teachers to develop their skills, collaborate meaningfully, and grow their practice.
Together, we can make Leander ISD a place where educators not only stay but thrive—because when our teachers succeed, our students do too.
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Q: How will you advocate for mental health resources and social-emotional learning support for students and staff within LISD?
A: As a parent in Leander ISD, I’ve seen firsthand how important mental health support is for our students and families. Like so many others, my family has faced challenges with adolescent mental health, and I understand how critical it is for our schools to provide strong, research-based support systems.
Our students today are dealing with unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Leander ISD must take a comprehensive approach to support their mental health and well-being. This includes ensuring access to mental health professionals, regular mental health screenings for all students, and programs that promote social-emotional learning (SEL) for both students and staff.
SEL is about more than just classroom behavior—it's about equipping students with essential life skills like self-awareness, empathy, and responsible decision-making. These programs not only help improve academic performance but also foster stronger relationships and emotional resilience. The overall goal of LISD’s Social Skills Learning is to “increase student instructional time by helping students stay on task and decreasing behaviors impacting learning.” This program creates a school environment where every student feels supported and engaged.
It’s also vital to focus on the well-being of our educators. Teachers who teach and practice SEL themselves report lower levels of burnout, lower job-related anxiety, and greater job satisfaction. By expanding initiatives like LISD’s 1You wellness program, we can prioritize the mental health of our staff, ensuring they have the resources needed to care for themselves and their students.
I fully support continued investment in Student and Family Support Teams (SFST), which provide critical short-term therapy services to students and families facing significant challenges. These teams work collaboratively with families to ensure students have the mental health care they need, regardless of access barriers.
Ultimately, promoting mental health and social-emotional learning in our district isn’t just about addressing crises—it’s about prevention and early intervention. By supporting the whole student, we improve classroom behavior, school engagement, and peer relationships, all of which lead to academic success.
Q: What role do you believe the community and parents should play in shaping the direction of LISD, and how will you engage them in decision-making processes?
A: Strong family and community partnerships are essential to student success. Research consistently shows that when schools, parents, and communities work together, students experience improvements in grades, attendance, behavior, and overall engagement.
In Leander ISD, we must prioritize partnering with families in three key areas identified by the National PTA as predictors of student achievement: 1) creating home environments that encourage learning, 2) communicating high expectations for student success, and 3) actively involving families in the school community.
To better support our families, LISD should offer more tools and resources to help parents engage with their child’s learning. This can include reading strategies, math assistance, and clear guidance on academic expectations. It’s crucial that teachers and families align on these expectations and work together to set academic goals for students.
Targeted family outreach is another area where we can make a difference. Regular check-ins for families of students facing academic challenges can offer individualized support, connecting them with community resources like tutoring, counseling, or enrichment programs.
Beyond supporting their child’s learning, parents should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making within the district. We need to ensure that committees, advisory groups, and volunteer opportunities are representative and welcoming to all families. More frequent community meetings can also open up dialogue on important topics and strengthen trust between families and the district.
Engaging the broader community also plays a vital role in enriching our schools. Programs like the district’s Legacy Program and Community-Based Accountability System are excellent tools to deepen partnerships, link learning to real-life experiences, provide additional support to our students, and create shared goals with community.
Building community and fostering partnerships is one of my strengths and top priorities. Parents and community members are critical partners in our students’ success, and their involvement positively impacts every aspect of development. Leander ISD must continue to provide diverse, inclusive resources to create strong, effective partnerships between schools, families, and the broader community.
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Interview 01 Oct 2024