Place 7: Jobby Mathew

What inspired you to run for this office?

There are two main reasons I wanted to serve on the Board of Trustees. First, I was inspired by supporting my wife’s (Santhi Mathew) 19 year career as a public school educator. Helping her get her classroom ready every summer, meeting her students and hearing the challenges she and her fellow teachers have faced and will experience was a huge motivator. As a CISD Board member, I can help the teachers and students in CISD and help foster a positive learning environment in this district. Secondly, given my experience as an active volunteer in this community and as a legal professional, I wanted to continue to serve CISD in this new capacity, be a part of the district’s future, continue its great tradition of a high quality public education and help the district grow to new heights.

What experiences prepared you for this role?

My five plus years of volunteer experience in Coppell ISD, Cub Scouts and Communities in Schools of North Texas. And, more than twelve years of experience as an attorney advising clients in high stakes litigation, complex international technology transactions and strategic commercial decisions has given me a unique skill set for this leadership role. Additionally, as both an American-born child of Indian immigrants and brother to a special needs child, I have life experience navigating the same issues that face many of the families in Coppell ISD. I will use these life experiences to guide my decision making. 

What do you think are the biggest issues currently facing CISD? 

Being able to maintain efficient district operations and build the educational programs the district needs to prepare our learners for the future with limited financial resources all while remaining focused on rewarding and retaining our incredible teachers.

What are your plans to address these concerns? 

By being a trusted advisor to the district, with my primary advice being to treat CISD’s budget and performance as a business with our primary product being the quality of a CISD education. If this is the goal, every financial decision for salaries, resources, and facilities will be tailored to achieve the highest quality education for our children in CISD. Additionally, in my oversight role, I advise the district on community feedback and encourage the district (and community at large) to treat everyone with respect, assume positive intent and use a fact-based approach to all decisions.

How would you describe Coppell ISD to a stranger? 

It is a perfect blend of small-town and city sensibilities where families and students can experience a wide range of cultures, be in a school district that values them as individuals and know the district will tirelessly work to deliver the highest quality education and educators possible.  

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Students today face so many more challenges than I did. Good leadership meets people where they are; so rather than rely on my nostalgia, I will continue to listen and learn from the teachers, students, administration, and families of CISD to hear their stories/reality and understand what they experience every day. This will mean my advice to the District will be timely, empathetic, and effective.

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