Board: Elections

I am proud to announce that I am running for Leander ISD School Board, Place 1. The military relocated our family to Texas in 2020, and I immediately enrolled my kids in LISD schools. I have two LISD graduates and two students who are currently in the district. I have been an active volunteer with Leander ISD and have served as an Educational Ambassador, a District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) member, and on the Community Based Accountability System (CBAS) Committee. I was the parent representative for Leander High School’s Master Plan Design Committee and Site Based Planning Committee and an engaged member of the PTSA at LHS. I have also supported students through Leander High School’s Blue Belles Booster Club and Running Brushy Middle School’s Silver Stars Booster Club.

My career background includes education policy and research, school counseling, and financial counseling. I hold a BBA in Operations Management and an MS in School Counseling. I am also an Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I have over two decades of experience in educational, community, and military family advocacy, and I’m ready to contribute that same experience and perspective to the school board.

Through years of involvement in our district, I’ve come to know both its strengths and where we still have room to grow, from classroom support to operational efficiency. I am running for Leander ISD School Board, Place 1, to advocate for all students, support teachers, and increase family and community engagement across the district. I am committed to policies that promote college, career, and military readiness, strong student support systems, and real-world postsecondary readiness opportunities for every student in LISD.

My four children have experienced the full range of what LISD offers, from special education to Advanced Placement, CTE, and dual credit courses, while staying active in the arts, athletics, and several community organizations throughout the district. My own experiences in public education gave me the ability to navigate multiple military transitions and successfully advocate for my children, military families and students. Public education helped shape who I am, and I want every LISD student to have a strong foundation and the tools to succeed.

After graduating high school, I enlisted and began a 20-year career in the US Air Force. I served in Military Intelligence as a Spanish linguist and communications analyst. During the culmination of career, I served as a senior organizational manager for Strategic Planning and Readiness. Part of the implementation of Total Quality Management in the Air Force, I helped subordinate units implement strategic process controls that included identifying, establishing and monitoring key business processes that ensure the satisfaction of customers, and a continuous improvement. I also developed exercise plans to evaluate the comprehensiveness of the units’ strategic plans and tested the effectiveness of their process controls.

After retiring from the Air Force, based on my experience and education, I was recruited by GTE (who later became Verizon) to come work in their corporate Internal Audit Department. My role as an internal auditor was closely related my duties in the Air Force related to Quality Management. I quickly progressed to Audit Manager where I would help our Audit Department develop our annual audit plan for the company. Then I would develop and oversee specific audit engagements where we traveled to various company locations and business units to evaluate their financial and technical controls. My fluency in Spanish also allowed me to work closely with our company affiliates and partners who were located in Spanish-speaking areas and countries in the Caribbean. I spent another 10 years working in this audit career.

Education: My initial training in my Air Force career included the language training to make me able to speak, read and write Spanish proficiently. In addition, I received a lot of additional training in organizational and personnel leadership and management. Finally, I took advantage of all of the available educational benefits and retired with 3 college degrees, including an Associates degree in Applied Communications, a Bachelors in Management of Computer information systems, and an MBA with an Information Systems concentration.

And now for the past 17 years, I have worked here in the community in full-time voluntary ministry, using all of these skills to serve and give back wherever possible (a servant leader).

Meg Dean moved to Leander ISD in 2015 and has three kids in LISD schools. Meg spoke against school closures at many LISD board meetings during 2025. She has volunteered at the district and school levels here.

A New Orleans native, Meg has a BA from Colorado College. She taught writing to underserved youth at New Orleans Charter Middle School before Hurricane Katrina and was an artist. After Hurricane Katrina, she became a technical writer.

Technical writing gave Meg access to a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, transportation, aerospace, and now quantum computing. Professionally, she excels at distilling complex information, often in R&D environments. Personally, public education is a priority for Meg.

She would like to see each student succeed on their own path. In addition to her undergraduate degree, Meg has completed extensive coursework in accounting, design, and quantum computing—forging a career that is grounded in continuing education. Meg Dean lives in Cedar Park with her husband, sons, and stepsons.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins is living proof of the American Dream. When Perla was homeless, her  public schools were safe havens loaded with opportunity. She graduated high school with a 4.0 Ranked #1of 253. At age 18, Perla enlisted in the USAF (4 years) and continued serving our country as a military spouse for the past 25 years. 

Perla (former LISD Teacher) and husband are proud parents of LISD graduates. Their 3 children are now UT Longhorns. Perla’s a lifelong public servant. LISD & School outreach has included loading heavy equipment, leading, and participating w/groups for UIL, Bands of America, Teacher Appreciation, Festival of Bands, Key Club (sponsor), Food Drives via HCCM, Project Grad Fundraising Chair, Band Booster, PTSAs, Freedom Week, Senate Bill 10 & 797 donations, Clothes Closet, Overnight/Homecoming/Prom chaperone/tickets/set-up, Career Fair Presenter, Robotics, Quiz Bowl, Mathletics, Speech & Debate Clubs, RE and VBS.

Since 2019, Perla has served Texas students and their families free-of-charge by representing them in front of School Boards, Superintendents, Senators, Representatives, SBOE, and Governor’s Staff. Perla’s Top Priorities:

• Academics: Foundational Reform, Best Practices & Students First! Proficient Readers & Writers, STEAM, Orchestra Program, Quality Instructional Materials and Curriculum aligned with TEKS.
• Safety: 24/7 Mandated Reporters —TEAOIG. Secure Bus Transportation, Terminate LISD Police Dept (under investigation) —continue partnerships with LISD Corridor Police, Constables, Sheriffs, SROs, LISD Marshalls —see House Bill 3. 
• Educators’ Code of Ethics: Personnel will honor 19 TAC 247. Up-to-date Appraisals, [Incident] Reports officially submitted to TEAOIG and SBEC as mandated.
• Parental Rights: TEC Chapter 26, Parents are Partners in Education. Return to 3 minutes versus 90 seconds testimony at school board meetings. Respect and Parental Consent will be common practice.
• Teachers/AuxStaff: The Pillars of LISD! Guaranteed annual raises and incentives for Personnel to meet/exceed the national average and cost-of-living in Greater Austin. TRS advocacy for Teachers and Retirees.
• Fiscal Responsibility: We must Reduce the Budget and Provide Tax Relief to LISD Families. Apt volunteers are at the ready to eliminate Fraud, Waste and Abuse. 
• Transparency: Finances/Budget/Expenditures. FOIA Public Information Requests efficiently provided, Posted Check Register/Transactions, Board Books & Agendas to be published for the Public in accordance with TOMA regulations. 
• Accountability: LISD runs smoothly when the Superintendent/Administration performs under Education Codes, Policies, and Procedures. Trustees ensure that the Superintendent executes high standards of instruction, a guaranteed and viable curriculum and safety across all 49 Campuses and Facilities.
• Legislative: Student-Focused. Special Education, G/T, CTE, Mil-Kids, Quality IMs and Classroom Learning. We will NOT push the agendas of lobbying and consulting firms.

In 2020, teachers spoke to Perla as they didn’t receive their yearly raise. An $800 payment was allotted by December. Perla also advocates for auxiliary staff experiencing low-pay and dire working conditions. 

Perla has taught PreK-12 at public schools in Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Department of Defense in Germany. She’s facilitated Higher Ed courses via MSU and ACC. Perla holds 3 master’s degrees in Teaching, Adult Education, and Spanish.

Perla, Your Voice & Partner in Education!

I’m Chitra Nedun—a Leander ISD mom, community volunteer, technology leader, and candidate for the Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 2. We are proud parents of two LISD students: a Canyon Ridge Middle School student and a Vandegrift High School alumna studying at UT Austin. Like so many families in our district, we know how deeply our schools shape a child’s confidence, character, and future.

My commitment to Leander ISD comes from years of hands-on involvement—cheering from the stands, volunteering in classrooms, coordinating school clubs, mentoring youth robotics, supporting Science Olympiad, and serving as a proud band mom. These experiences keep me close to our campus communities and strengthen my belief that excellent schools are built through partnership, trust, and consistent support.

Professionally, I bring 20+ years as a technology leader specializing in operational efficiencies, data management, and AI, holding a Master’s in Computer Science and a Certificate in AI Applications from UT Austin. This background gives me a practical, solutions-oriented approach to governance. On the board, I will work to strengthen budget oversight, identify efficiencies, protect classroom priorities, and increase taxpayer support through smart, transparent, and informed decisions.

Leadership starts with listening and serving. I served on the LISD Curriculum Committee, working alongside educators. I volunteer at the Austin Tamil School, support the Austin Tamil Sangam, and assist visually impaired youth through VTSeva and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). These experiences reflect the values I will bring to the board: compassion, accountability, and collaboration.

I am running for Place 2 to bring a collaborative, common-sense, students-first voice to the Leander ISD Board. My priorities:

• Improve Student Outcomes: Prioritizing growth, achievement, and student well-being.
• Support & Retain Teachers: Ensuring educators have the tools and retention incentives to thrive.
• Protect Classroom Funding: Directing resources where they matter most—straight to students and teachers while reducing waste.
• Strengthen Fiscal Responsibility: Enhancing budget oversight and transparent use of funds to reduce taxpayer burden.
• Ensure Family Confidence: Rebuilding trust through open communication and collaborative partnership.

I would be honored to earn your trust and serve our LISD community.

I have served as a Leander ISD Trustee for Place 6 since November 2025. I intend to keep working hard to represent our whole LISD community.

My involvement in this district began well before I joined the board, as the mother of two Leander ISD elementary students navigating what it means to be a family that needs something different from their school. I became an active volunteer through PTA and site-based committees, and I served as Advocacy Chair of the Special Programs Advisory Council Executive Board.  In this role, I worked alongside special programs and special education administrators to gather feedback from families, strengthen support for students, and equip parents with tools to advocate for their children.  

By profession, I am a child and adolescent psychologist and a school psychologist. I have spent my career working with kids, families, and educators to meet the needs of students who require something more, building systems that work for every learner, and supporting the well-being of youth-serving professionals. That professional background, combined with my experience as a parent in this district, shapes how I approach every decision as a Trustee.

As a Trustee, my work has focused on making sure every student has a sense of belonging and gets what they need to succeed, regardless of background or how they learn. I supported new board goals and superintendent guardrails aimed at closing achievement gaps while also extending learning for our gifted and advanced learners. I supported new high-quality instructional materials for K-3 phonics and elementary math. I have also been part of the board’s recommitment to evidence-based Professional Learning Communities as our engine for continuous improvement.  I have informed a new district-wide comprehensive long range planning process designed to bring the whole community to the table. Moving forward, I will use my background in collaborative problem solving and data analysis to ask questions and support strategies that will produce positive outcomes for all students. 

I am a strong proponent of public schools. My kids attend Leander ISD elementary schools, and I remain the only elementary parent currently serving on the board. As a parent and a Trustee, I have advocated directly to our state legislators about the financial needs of our district. I believe strong public schools require both careful stewardship and innovation to shape the future of Leander ISD.

I look forward to continuing this work, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep serving the students, families, and educators of Leander ISD.

Jason Embry is the parent of two Leander ISD students and a small-business owner with a long track record of public service and community engagement.

Jason has long worked at the intersection of education policy and the legislative process. He is the Co-Founder of New West Communications, a strategic communications firm focused on helping clients tell their story to the Texas Legislature and other targeted audiences. Through this work, he has been on the front lines of advocating for additional school funding and opposing private-school vouchers. He is a former journalist at the Austin American-Statesman and served as Communications Director for then-Speaker of the House Joe Straus.

Jason will bring a pragmatic approach to the LISD Board of Trustees. His priorities include:

• Increasing enrollment. Jason wants to reverse Leander ISD’s enrollment decline by offering a greater variety of academic programs and learning models. Leander ISD’s enrollment has declined approximately 600 students over the past year. Bringing students back into the district is the most efficient way to increase funding, allowing LISD to maintain academic programs and improve student-teacher ratios. A higher enrollment will also reduce the amount of money that LISD must send away through Robin Hood, allowing more local tax dollars to stay in local schools.

• Scrutinizing classroom technology. Jason knows that students must be prepared to thrive in a world that is driven by technology and AI. However, Jason believes that technology should support learning, not replace it or distract from it. Jason will push for greater scrutiny of how laptops and other devices are used in the classroom, especially in early grades.

• Restoring trust and holding administrators accountable. As a parent with two kids in LISD for the past 10 years, Jason knows how much trust families invest in our school district. Jason wants to ensure that the school district provides exemplary customer service to families, from open communication with teachers to reliable bus service to transparency in major decisions. He believes parents should always have a significant voice in the direction of LISD.

Jason has been actively involved in Leander ISD and the broader community. He served on the Steering Committee of the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee and was a PTA Vice President at Winkley Elementary and Running Brushy Middle School. He is also active in youth athletics as a longtime youth basketball coach and Vice President of the Leander Youth Basketball Advisory Board. Jason and his wife, Amanda, have lived in Cedar Park or Leander since 2010. Their twin sons are freshmen at Leander High School.