Sean Hesterly
Non-Partisan | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Sean Hesterly
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2026
Election
May School Board & Special SD4
Race
Katy ISD Board of Trustees, Position 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas State University, San Marcos, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, -
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
American Federation of Teachers, Member, -
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Finance Report - 30th day before election (02/09/2026 - 04/02/2026) from Katy ISD
Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for educational purposes only.
OTHER INFORMATION
Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for educational purposes only.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Choose not to answer
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Education, the primary purpose of a school is to educate. Not just to educate the student who might have an unwanted or crisis pregnancy, but to also provide resources, tools, guidance, and even classes for the parents or guardians of said same students. With education everyone becomes empowered with the ability to make the most infromed decision that they feel is best for them, their family, and their community.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The separation of church and state provides a frame work for our schools to be constitutionally balanced as required by the First Amendment and remain a welcoming environment for everyone. As the American public is made up of people of many different faiths and backgrounds, our schools must be a welcoming place to the very community they intend to serve.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Neutral
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Public education is a public service. Therefore, it falls under a collective duty to serve. Our schools must serve every student regardless of their background, disability, financial situation, or social standing. Education is for everyone, and I believe every individual should have access to the quality education they need to succeed. Thus, every tax dollar needs to used efficiently and transparently to maximize the benefit to our local students and taxpayers.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Choose not to answer
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Neutral
Ultimately, parents and legal guardians are the primary decision-makers regarding how they wish to see their children raised. However, they need the proper tools and information to best achieve what they believe is right for their families. My goal is to ensure our schools provide that support while remaining dedicated to the success of every student.
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
Every student has the opportunity to learn in a classroom freed from disruption, while also providing students with the structure they need to grow into responsible citizens.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Agree
An understanding of our founding documents is essential for developing informed, engaged citizens. By teaching the principles of our democracy, we provide students with the tools to become more civic minded.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Neutral
While I believe in the importance of local and state control over curriculum and daily operations, I see the federal department as a means to ensure that all students, regardless of where they live, have the right to a free and appriopriate public education.
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) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
In no particular order or rank of importance; abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes, stages of pregnancy and fetal development
It is discriminatory for a school district to cause academically eligible students to forfeit participation in U.I.L. competition when the student opts for instruction outside of the public school system.
Neutral
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Civics, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, History, Information Technology, Art and Music, Foreign Language, Vocational Learning, Personal Finance, Physical Fitness, Social Emotional Learning (Elementary; kindness, sharing, and following directions)
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Agree
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Strongly Disagree
Public schools are not a business; they are not a for-profit model. They are a public entity whose primary purpose is to educate. They do not exist to worry about the bottom line, satisfy corporate norms, or appeal to someone’s pocketbook. Public schools are here to educate everyone, not just a few. They do not serve only those who can afford it or those with wealth and power but to serve all.
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Strongly Disagree
I am 100% committed to school safety. However, I believe that the best way to protect our students is to ensure every campus has highly trained, professional law enforcement officers on-site. Teachers should be focused on instruction, and safety should be handled by the professionals trained for high-stress tactical situations.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
What political party are you affiliated with?
Indepedent
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Choose not to answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My personal values are rooted in integrity, service, and a commitment to the community. I believe in treating every individual with respect and ensuring that our schools are places where every student has the opportunity to succeed through hard work and character.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Choose not to answer
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Agree
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Agree
I believe our school libraries should be high-quality academic resources. We must follow state law regarding harmful materials, but we also must protect the literary classics and educational texts that have been vetted by professionals for decades. My focus is on academic excellence, not political censorship
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
