Nichole Bentley (Place 6)

What inspired you to run for Place 6?  

Three years ago, I was inspired to run for School Board because I am passionate about all CISD students having access to an amazing public education – one that our family experienced by attending 4 different campuses throughout their CISD careers, including both CHS and New Tech. Many of my immediate family members are educators, administrators and past school board members. The impact all those people have on the trajectory of a student’s life is incalculable. I discovered my enthusiasm for every student’s experience by serving in numerous capacities that gave me a broad perspective of Coppell ISD, including the CISD Education Foundation Board and Presidency and more than 14 committees such as facilities and iLead, booster clubs and PTOs.  Those opportunities gave me a deep understanding of the unique way a Texas school district operates and the boundaries put in place by the legislature.  

What experiences prepared you for the role of Place 6?  

Certainly, my vast volunteer experience in CISD helped to prepare me and lessened the learning curve during my first term. I am undoubtedly more qualified now that I have been a trustee for 3 years, served as an officer for more than half of that time and graduated from Leadership Texas Association of School Boards (LTASB). LTASB alone helped me develop relationships with trustees across the State and that network is an invaluable resource to draw from as we create the vision for CISD for the next 5-10 years and when we have challenges to tackle. Beyond that, though, my business experience helps me bring a perspective different from my fellow trustees who have expertise in other areas and I’m invested in our community in a different manner than other trustees as a local business owner and Leadership Coppell alum. With the Board operating as a body corporate, different experiences, skill sets and perspectives certainly help us collectively best serve the students and families in CISD. I am able to see CISD through the various perspectives of our community members in addition to the lens of a parent.

What are the biggest issues currently facing CISD?  

The biggest issues facing CISD are:
1) the decreasing growth that is slowing our enrollment and the transition that requires operationally; 2) school finance, especially as it pertains to the significant budgetary impacts of recapture and unfunded mandates by the State legislature following legislative sessions; 3) the social and emotional well-being of our students, faculty, staff and families as we move out of the COVID crisis; and 4) harnessing the diversity in our community so that we can ensure everyone not only has a seat at the table but that their voices are heard and it is safe to be authentic.

What are your plans to address these concerns?  

I do my homework for each Board meeting and workshop; talk to other ISDs having similar experiences due to similar factors; serve on committees where people have various perspectives and opinions; listen to and have conversations with community members, staff and students; advocate for Coppell ISD; serve on CISD’s Visioning and Inclusivity Committees and make decisions.

How would you describe Coppell ISD to a stranger?  

I have had the privilege of doing this many times across the State and I consistently share that we are a diverse community united by our passion for outstanding education. We are unique because we live in a district small enough that my kids bump into their teacher in the grocery store and we are large enough to have the opportunity to choose from many educational and extracurricular opportunities. A stranger would know in a heartbeat that I am still proud to live in a community where athletes can also be singers, a grade schooler can start a club to fuel a passion like kindness and students graduate equipped to attend a top university, head to trade school or begin a job. And, they would know that in Coppell ISD, we are unstoppable when we come together for a common cause because we care about people.