Place 4: Ranna Raval

Tell our readers a little about yourself.

I feel honored and excited to have this opportunity to campaign, to introduce myself and share my views. Through my 14 years of volunteering at five campuses within CISD, I have crossed paths with many parents, community members and teachers. This community has given me a wealth of great friendships.

We are a family of five – my husband Anand and I, our two kids Rudra and Dhanushi and our dog. We have been here in Coppell ISD for 14 years. My son graduated from Coppell High School last year and is a freshman at UT. My daughter is a freshman at CHS9.

I have a college degree in electrical engineering, but I chose to be a Montessori educator by profession. My journey in the education industry started around 2006. I have been in various roles like teaching, mentoring and administration since then. I love what I do and I am passionate about high quality education that is accessible to all children. This is one of my strongest reasons to run for the position at Coppell ISD School Board.

What inspired you to run for this office?

• My passion for high-quality public education that serves and benefits the entire student population. I believe these are the pillars for a robust education system – comprehensive education, financial stewardship and community collaboration.
• I believe “schools are people.” It is us as a community of children, families, teachers and administrators who make CISD the most sought-after school district. To be able to volunteer at a school board level would be a privilege and a way of giving back to this community.
• After 14 years of volunteering at five campuses across the district, the knowledge I have attained and the connections I have built are priceless and helped me in a way that I feel I am ready to take this further. As an involved parent and a community member here, I have been in various parent teacher organization roles like event coordinator, webmaster, secretary and president. At the district level, I have participated in committees like community visioning, social emotional learning and bond steering. The district’s iLead program has given me valuable insight into the working of CISD.
• I believe we have built something good here, and I want to contribute and further this high-quality education in CISD for future generations.

What experiences prepared you for this role?

I am an accomplished Montessori educator with 15 years of experience in teaching and administration.

• Fourteen years of volunteering at five schools within Coppell ISD
  • Valley Ranch Elementary PTO
    • Event coordinator
    • Webmaster – managed platform change for the PTO website.

•  Middle School East PTO
  • Social committee – planned four school-wide socials each year

•  Middle School West PTO
  • Webmaster
  • Secretary
  • PTO President

• CHS9 PTO
  • Membership coordinator

• Coppell High School PTO
  • Membership coordinator for 2023-24
• Board member of Coppell Education Foundation – since 2022
• Committee member, Bond Steering Committee 2022/23
• Committee member, Community Visioning Committee 2021
• Served on CISD Social-Emotional Learning Research Team 2021
• Coppell ISD iLead 1 & 2 participant
• Boy Scout – Assistant Scoutmaster, Merit Badge Counselor

What do you think are the biggest issues currently facing CISD and what are your plans to address these concerns?

• Teacher recruitment, retention – Coppell is an attractive district for instructors and I will work to determine what makes it appealing to new and existing instructors so that we can, as a school board, build on those strengths to bring in and retain the level of educators our community expects. In addition to pay raises, some creative ideas to address the quality of life and work-life balance for our teachers as well as data from stay and exit interviews will help provide insight into this issue.
• School safety, security and addressing substance abuse – for the best learning outcomes, this is one of the most important and basic needs. The current proposed Bond has provisions for some security enhancements. The district is working hard educating the community on substance abuse. While the school district is doing its part, I will proactively work to bring the community on board to address these issues.
• Mental health for students and teachers – after two years of pandemic-related stressors, including continued uncertainty, isolation and safety risks, mental health issues are affecting the classrooms. I will help the district evaluate programs that will de-stigmatize mental health issues and provide easy access to students and teachers in need.
• Learning loss – this loss has been a concerning after-effect of COVID-19. I will work with the district to provide the needed support, whether in the form of faculty and staff, instructional resources or other interventions to help students recover from the learning loss they have experienced.

How would you describe Coppell ISD to a stranger?

Coppell ISD is a public school district in Texas that serves the city of Coppell and parts of Dallas and Irving. It is well known for:

1. High academic standards: The district has received numerous accolades for academic achievement, including an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency. The district offers choice programs like IB and project based learning as well as special education, career and technical education (CTE) and STEM.
2. Innovative technology programs: a 1:1 technology initiative that provides each student with a personal laptop or tablet. The district also offers advanced technology courses and has a state-of-the-art STEM center.
3. Strong extracurricular programs: CISD offers a variety of extracurricular programs, including athletics, fine arts and various clubs.
4. Support for special needs students: CISD is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for students with special needs. The district offers a range of services and programs for students with disabilities, including special education services and a transition program for students with disabilities who are transitioning to postsecondary education or employment.
5. Community involvement: CISD has a strong partnership with the community and encourages parental involvement in the schools and at the district level. The district has active parent teacher organizations, district committees made of stakeholders, iLead program and parent university that offers many involvement opportunities for parents and community members.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

I believe that we all as a community, school board and as administrators share the same utopian vision here at CISD. A financially responsible robust public education system that serves the entire student community is proactive in addressing issues. My commitment record shows, I have been working towards this vision by understanding the system and finding ways to contribute.

I am confident that when it comes to our children’s education and our money being spent for the betterment of this future generation, we are all on the same page. I commit to brainstorming ideas, asking meaningful questions, and collaborating with the community to provide the best learning environment for our children.

 Elections are approaching soon and I look forward to earning your vote. Thank you.

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