For the first time since 2020 COVID-era voting, school board elections align with statewide elections and are being held in November. The change, brought to the board by Trustee Angie Hanan, was approved on Dec. 15, 2025, in a 4-2 vote, with one abstention.
Prior to early voting, the Fort Bend Falcon sent out a questionnaire to all available Position 1 and Position 4 candidates*. Each candidate received the same questions, and was allowed a similar 40 word count restriction. Questions focused on priorities, student outcomes, financial stewardship, school closures and boundaries, transparency and accountability, governance and leadership, and qualifications and perspective. The word count was an intentional choice to encourage candidates to be intentional with their message to the community. Any responses exceeding the 40-word limit were cut at the 40th word. Candidates were not penalized for leaving questions unanswered or submitting responses shorter than 40 words. Answers are copied from survey responses, and were not fact-checked. Shirley Rose-Gilliam and Robert Dominguez did not send in a response.
The responses will be shared in two parts, so voters can compare candidate responses relevant to their intended position. The candidates for Position 4 are incumbent Shirley Rose-Gilliam, Robert Dombrowski, Robert Dominguez, Dan Matthews, Shirisha Mudhireddy, and Eric Pursley. Candidates are listed incumbent first, then in alphabetical order.
Relevant Background:
Dan Matthews: Engineer and Texas Real Estate Broker
Shirisha Mudhireddy: Architect & Lead for Data, Cloud & AI projects. I bring strong leadership, budget management, problem-solving, and mentoring expertise to district governance. Committed to 100% transparency, fiscal accountability, and practical execution to ensure student and teacher success.
Eric Pursley: I am a current classroom teacher with a background as a practicing attorney. I understand both the educational and legal duties of the board.
What do you consider the most pressing issue facing FBISD, and what specific steps should the Board of Trustees take to address it?
Matthews: FBISD’s biggest challenges are declining academic performance and financial problems. The Board must focus on improving student learning, supporting teachers, spending money wisely, making better use of school buildings, and setting clear goals to bring excellence back to every classroom
Mudhireddy: Managing tight funds while keeping community trust is the most pressing issue. I will conduct rigorous audits to eliminate waste, redirect every dollar into classrooms, and partner openly with families to guide decisions transparently.
Pursley: We have been identified as one of the most fiscally stressed districts in the nation. We need to audit our technology and administrative expenses as well as looking for creative solutions to increase funds.
How should FBISD measure student success, and what should the district prioritize to improve academic outcomes for all students?
Matthews: Student success is more than test scores. We need to see how well students are learning, improving, and preparing for their future. FBISD should focus on strong teachers, helping struggling students early, setting clear goals, and providing teachers and parents […]
Mudhireddy: FBISD should measure success through standardized testing, CCMR metrics, and individual growth tracking. The district must prioritize closing achievement gaps, expanding advanced courses, and directing targeted interventions toward special education and economically disadvantaged students.
Pursley: Student success is measured by students reaching their individual goals. A combination of CCMR results, college acceptance rates, and student satisfaction should be the measures of this. At lower grades, measurable annual growth is the path to this success.
What principles should guide the Board’s decisions when balancing the district’s financial resources, classroom needs, staffing, and long-term facilities costs?
Matthews: The Board should put students, teachers, and education first. Then spend taxpayer funds wisely and cut wasteful spending. Have a vision and improve the performance. The ISD must better use school buildings, support classroom needs, and reduce the district’s financial […]
Mudhireddy: Board decisions must be guided by 100% transparency, rigorous audits to eliminate waste, and equal opportunity for all. Every dollar must flow directly into classrooms, teacher support, and quality facilities, protecting taxpayer trust and student success.
Pursley: We must balance financial stability with the need to put student outcomes first. Investing in education pays huge dividends to a community, and we must not sacrifice our childrens’ futures for short term savings.
What factors should carry the most weight when the district makes decisions about school closures, consolidations, and attendance boundaries, and how should affected communities be involved?
Matthews: Student learning and academic performance should be the key focus. School closures and zoning decisions should consider enrollment, financial impact, and student needs. Parents, teachers, and communities should be informed and consulted before decisions are made, with all alternatives explored.
Mudhireddy: Ensure closures or boundary changes do not place an unfair, disproportionate burden on low-income neighborhoods or students with disabilities. Communities must be involved via an 18-month notice, independent advisory committees, and public hearings.
Pursley: Student outcomes and retention must come first. If a decision made due to budget loses students, it is unlikely to be money positive. We must listen closely to the community on all these decisions.
What does meaningful transparency from the Board of Trustees look like, and how should trustees be held accountable to the community for their decisions?
Matthews: The Board should be open and honest with parents, teachers, and taxpayers. When needed, important decisions should be explained before they are made. Trustees should listen to the parents and community; answer questions, take responsibility for their decisions, and deliver […]
Mudhireddy: Meaningful transparency requires 100% open decision-making, publishing all facility audits and data online, and holding dedicated public hearings. Trustees are held accountable through open community engagement and mandatory post-closure progress audits.
Pursley: The board owes the community a full understanding of the process and reasons for decisions. Restrictions on board members speaking publicly are counterproductive and should be repealed.
What do you believe is the most important responsibility of an individual trustee, and how should trustees navigate disagreements with fellow board members or district leadership?
Matthews: The trustee’s most important job is to put students and their education first and keep a close watch on academic performance. Trustees won’t always agree ln everything, but they should listen, speak up when something is not right, and work […]
Mudhireddy: A trustee’s most important responsibility is acting as a faithful steward for students and taxpayers, ensuring fiscal responsibility and equal opportunity. Trustees navigate disagreements professionally, relying on objective data and transparent audits while respecting final board votes.
Pursley: Or greatest responsibility is to put students first and fight for the welfare of our schools. Disagreements should be handled through respectful debate and listening to the opinion of the community.
What experiences, skills, or perspectives do you bring to the role of school board trustee, and how would they inform your service to the FBISD community?
Matthews: I bring over 25 years of engineering experience, managing large budgets, tracking key performance indicators, and improving overall performance. My 20 plus years in local real estate have given me a strong understanding of our community. As a longtime FBISD […]
Mudhireddy: My core assets of integrity, problem-solving, planning, and execution—backed by my background as an architect and data lead—enable me to evaluate complex facility and fiscal data rigorously, ensuring transparent, data-driven governance for our community
Pursley: I am fluent in both legal and educational matters, and experienced in quickly becoming well versed in any problem. I am also a proven problem solver with a unique perspective that finds solutions to complex issues.
Shirley Rose-Gilliam has run and won election for school board Position 4 in 2020 and 2023. Dan Matthews has run for U.S. House, District 22 in 2020, Texas House District 76 in 2022, and Texas House District 28 in 2024, but was unsuccessful in each.
Early voting began Oct. 19, 2026, and ends Oct. 30, 2026, with the final day to vote being Nov. 3, 2026. Voters across Fort Bend ISD can vote on all positions for school board as long as they reside within district boundaries. You can find your polling place here.
*Candidate for Position 4, Robert Dombrowski, was unable to be reached. If we are able to make contact, we will update the appropriate story. Addie Heylinger is running for Position 5 and is unopposed; no survey was provided at the time of this article, but may be updated in the future.