Monica Alaniz-McGinnis
Non-Partisan | Texas
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Monica Alaniz-McGinnis
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
La Joya ISD Board of Trustees, Place 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, PhD, 2010
University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, MA, 2003
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, BA, 2000
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - Mexican-American Studies Filed of Study Advisory Committee, Member, City of Mission Health & Wellness Committee
Member, Penitas Public Library Board, Vice Chairperson
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
La Joya AFT
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer (8/12/2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Application for a Place on the Ballot
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood provides medical services other than abortions that may be necessary for some individuals, especially those in low-income areas.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Disagree
I believe that the ideology of life beginning at conception is a religious one, and is one that I adhere to, but I also believe in the separation of church and state.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Neutral
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I strongly believe that the government should assist those that want to further there education at all levels.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Agree
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Students should not be allowed to pray in school.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
The school board should exist to ensure that there is community oversight of all aspects of the school district, whether this is economics, curricular, or operational. I believe that the school board is the voice of the community, but the individuals that are privileged enough to hold these seats must also use their best judgement to guide those voices in the right direction to ensure that students are receiving a top notch education and that faculty and staff have what they need to educate those students.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
I think that this is a collaborative effort between many members of the educational system. Teachers, administrators, parents, board members and, in some cases, students should be able to contribute to this conversation. Each of these groups brings a different perspective to the situation that should be taken into consideration.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
I do not believe that parents should be restricted from speaking at board meetings, but there should be adherence to time limits to discuss particular topics. If a topic needs more time for discussion, this should be arranged.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, American History, Physical Fitness, Art & Music, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, Social Emotional Learning, Critical Race Theory, Sexuality, Gender Identity
American civics education should emphasize our nation's founding principles of liberty and equality.
Strongly Agree
I believe that the founding ideals of liberty and equality should be part of our educational system.
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Disagree
I believe that there is basic instruction in this area that should be taught/communicated to all students.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
We know that our local educational systems are dependent on the funds that are available through federal monies, unfortunately, local needs in education sometimes get lost in the shuffle. The needs of students in one area of the country could drastically differ from those in other areas of the country.
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Agree
Just because our history contains unsavory, despicable periods, does not mean that it is not our history.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Agree
While parents should have a strong say in what education their child is receiving, there are certain basic curriculum that students need to learn. Parents should take an active role in their children's education by discussing what they are learning, even if it means a differing opinion. That is how parents should be involved.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Roman Catholic that believes in God. I believe that God, in his infinite wisdom and omnipotence, knows when an individual is truly good at heart and has righteous and good intentions.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Agree
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
I believe that the parents should have the first conversations in this regard with their children, but that it should also be part of the curriculum in schools. There is scientific knowledge that can be shared about reproduction, health, etc. I believe the appropriate age is at the start of jr. high school/middle school.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
Human anatomy/the reproductive system, physical & emotional health outcomes, consent, stages of pregnancy & fetal development, contraceptive methods including abstinence, sexual orientation & gender identity, abortion methods & side effects
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I do believe that Judeo-Christian values have framed our system of government, but other religions also have moral systems in place that are similar
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Disagree
At times there are emergencies that occur where educators/staff/administrators cannot wait for consent
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Disagree
If a family has chosen to recognize a transition, then school officials should respect that decision.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Which of the 11 objectives specified in the Texas Education Code is your highest priority?
OBJECTIVE 2: Students will be encouraged and challenged to meet their full educational potential. I believe that this one objective covers so much ground. I do not believe that our students are being challenged and encouraged to reach their full potential, many times because educators are not able to work to their full potential. They are not given the tools they need nor the ability to reach the students in the way that works best for them to succeed.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
N/A
A candidate's personal moral values should not be relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Disagree
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
N/A
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I believe that there is so much that can be done in our district to help improve the overall educational climate and outcomes. I believe that my background and dedication to education would move the school district forward in the right direction.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Disagree
I do not believe that teachers carrying guns in schools is the answer to school violence and believe it would cause more problems rather than solve the problems that we are already dealing with.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
I believe that vaccinations should be required unless a child is exempt for medical reasons. Lack of vaccinations affect all members of society, not just those that refuse to be vaccinated.
I support mask mandates.
Agree
