Place 4: Sharon Hirsch
What are the top three reasons you want to serve as a Plano ISD School Board Trustee?
Since our family moved to Plano in 1996, I have served the district in a supportive role as a parent,
volunteer, employee, and active community member. I have been a member of numerous PTAs and
district committees and have been engaged in the political issues that pertain to education. I am ready
to leverage these experiences and move from a supporting role to a leadership position.
In addition, my family has made a major investment in the school district in terms of our work. My
husband ended his exemplary 39-year career in education as the Associate Superintendent of Academic
and Technology Services for PISD; my daughter Stephanie is a facilitator at Academy H.S.; and my
daughter-in-law Andee teaches at Haggard M.S. We have a two-year old granddaughter who currently
benefits from the employee childcare center and will soon enroll in Plano schools. Serving on the Board
of Trustees is another way for me to contribute to Plano ISD and invest in the future.
I believe our schools function best when we encourage the active participation of all of our
stakeholders. I plan to use my role as a trustee to tirelessly seek ways to make our learning community
more inclusive.
What do you feel are the most important responsibilities of a trustee?
A trustee must work in collaboration with the other members of the board and the superintendent to
set goals and priorities that align with the district’s mission to provide an excellent education for all
students. Trustees should be knowledgeable about all concerns of the district and should work hard to
establish a strong relationship with the public.
Another important function of the board is to adopt a budget that reflects the values and priorities of
the community. All decisions regarding goals, policies and budget should directly benefit the learning
experiences of our students, staff, and parents. Every effort should be made to encourage and consider
input from staff members and the community when making decisions.
What do you see as the top opportunities and challenges in Plano ISD?
With the selection of a new superintendent, Plano ISD has the opportunity to create a vision with a
strong emphasis on learning. It is important to have a superintendent who resides in the PISD
attendance area and has the capacity to build strong relationships with community members. Dr.
Binggeli has the opportunity and the challenge to lead the district forward with a clear focus rather than
manage it day-to-day and keep the status quo. I am looking forward to working with him as a member of
the Board of Trustees.
Plano ISD’s mission is to provide an excellent education for all students. The district has worked hard to
develop curriculum and instructional strategies to meet the needs of our current students. However,
with the increasing number of students entering schools from low socio-economic backgrounds, it is
imperative that the district make appropriate changes that address the needs of students coming to us
with fewer developmental learning opportunities. Developing new strategies and adapting curriculum to
enrich the learning experience of those students must start occurring now in order to ensure future
success.
In addition, we must give our teachers and staff the time and resources to engage in productive
professional learning that enables them to address their students’ needs. Encouraging the active
participation of families and community partners is another key component to continued success.
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Place 4: Sharon Hirsch
Why are you qualified to hold the position of trustee?
First and foremost, I believe strongly in the value of public education and have been an active and vocal
advocate for our students and schools for decades. I have twelve years of experience working for the
district as an Office Manager in our elementary, middle, and high schools. This gave me the opportunity
to work on a daily basis with students, staff, parents, and community members to ensure the smooth
operation of the campuses I worked on. I was able to celebrate many successes and was also made
aware of the challenges our PISD community members face.
I am the parent of four adults who benefited from a great education in Plano schools and I volunteered
countless hours in support of the work being done in their classrooms. Five years ago, I returned to
school myself and earned my Bachelors Degree from UNT in December 2014. My coursework prepared
me for future work in the public or non-profit sector and made me keenly aware of challenges facing
students today.
My roles as a parent, employee, volunteer, student, and wife of a career educator uniquely qualify me
for the position of a trustee. I intend to bring all of these experiences and a broad perspective of the
school district and public education to the board. I also have the time and energy to be an active,
engaged board member who will go above and beyond the core responsibilities of a trustee.
What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
As a member of the Plano ISD Board of Trustees, I will work to ensure that ours is a premier learning
community by:
 Offering engaging learning experiences for all students.
 Creating a supportive work environment for staff.
 Encouraging active participation of all family members.
 Developing meaningful partnerships in the community.
 Planning for future instructional and capital needs.
 Budgeting our limited dollars for the greatest benefit of students, staff, and parents.
As a member of the school board, I will ensure that the decisions concerning district goals, policy, and
funding always focus on improving our learning community.
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