Two new members have been appointed to the State Board of Education to represent parts of Tarrant County.
Democrat Tiffany Clark represents District 13, while Republican Brandon Hall represents District 11. Hall defeated incumbent Pat Hardy in the 2024 Republican primary, and Clark succeeded Democrat Aicha Davis, who resigned her position to run for another office.
Hall, a resident of Parker County, holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral theology. Clark earned a Ph.D. from Abilene Christian University and has served as an adjunct professor and small business owner, according to Ballotpedia.
The two have starkly contrasting views on how they approach education.
Clark emphasizes “equitable rights for students,” while Hall is focused on parental rights, according to the Fort Worth Report.
“We have to continue to have discussions about what is happening on the state level and how that rolls over to our local school districts every day,” Clark said, reported FWR.
“It’s important to recognize that parents are the primary stakeholders in their child’s education with every single decision that we make. It’s not lobbyists, not publishers, not left-wing teachers’ unions, but parents,” Hall explained. “It’s just really listening to that voice and not allowing other interests to drown them out.”
Hall is also focused on removing inappropriate books from school libraries.
“I hear from a lot of parents about any indoctrination that might be taking place inside the schools,” Hall told FWR. “And, also inappropriate library books, those are two big concerns I hear from parents literally all the time.”
A focus for Clark is mental health.
“We have to protect the mental health of our students, staff and teachers in our public system,” Clark said, reported FWR.
Despite their differing focuses, both officials agree on keeping taxpayers informed and engaged.