TISD District 7 At-Large

We all say we support teachers, students, and taxpayer dollars.

What makes me different is how I think. I bring an outside perspective shaped by years of analyzing systems, improving processes, and asking hard budget questions. I want to help TISD empower teachers, equip students, and protect taxpayers with reasoned, steady leadership.

Father of a TISD student Husband of a school counselor 14+ years improving systems Budget and accountability mindset
Matthew Anderson portrait
Not a Parent?
I do not have kids in school, so why should I care about the school board?
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For Everyone in TISD

School board decisions do not stay inside school walls.

They affect whether families want to move here, whether employers see Texarkana as a place to invest, how responsibly taxpayer dollars are handled, and what kind of future neighbors, workers, and citizens our community is raising.

If you care about jobs, property values, taxes, and the direction of our city, then you have a reason to care about this race.

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Jobs

Strong schools help towns compete for better employers and help businesses trust the local workforce pipeline.

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Property Values

School reputation affects what buyers are willing to pay and whether families feel confident planting roots here.

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Taxes

School boards oversee major spending, debt decisions, and long-term stewardship of taxpayer resources.

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Community Direction

Today's students become tomorrow's neighbors, coworkers, and local leaders. Direction now matters later.

Why Matthew

Strong Schools Build a Stronger City

I believe a strong school system lifts the whole community, including citizens whose children are already grown. School quality affects families, neighborhoods, workforce strength, property confidence, and whether people see Texarkana as a place to stay, build, and invest.

This campaign is personal. We grew up in this area, moved into this district in 2007, attend Church on the Rock, and care deeply about the future of this community. I love our schools, our neighborhoods, and the chance to serve others with a servant's heart.

Why I Am Running

I am running to bring a practical outside perspective, ask thoughtful questions, understand what teachers need, and help address issues before they become long-term patterns. I am not coming to complain, but to help fix.

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Watch a Quick Message

A short campaign update for anyone who wants to hear directly from me. For more signs, updates, and campaign news, visit the news page.

The Three Pillars

Empowering Teachers, Equipping Students, Protecting Taxpayers

These three pillars are the heart of this campaign and the standard I want to bring to the board.

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Empowering Teachers

Back the people doing the work with practical support, fewer avoidable obstacles, and systems that help instruction instead of slowing it down.

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Equipping Students

Protect strong academic foundations while preparing students for the world they are entering with good judgment, readiness, and opportunity.

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Protecting Taxpayers

Ask harder questions before major spending and expect plain-language answers about cost, value, timing, and measurable return.

Address Problems Early

Direction Matters

By now, most of us have heard that Westlawn and Theron Jones are being taken over, with more campuses showing warning signs for future intervention. These decisions are not only about this school year. They are about direction. If we do not solve challenges early, what will our high school look like in eight years? What will our city feel like in twelve?

Lasting Change > Short Fixes

We need to heal schools with lasting change.

TISD has real strengths, but some campuses are under real pressure. Your concern is my concern. We need proposed solutions that create durable, lasting improvement. We do not want to simply buy time without fixing root causes.

That is why one of the biggest questions is what happens after a short-term intervention ends. A district needs long-term answers, long-term support for teachers, and a plan that leaves TISD stronger when the headlines fade.

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Lasting Change Over Short Fixes

If a plan only buys time without solving the root problem, the district may look better for a moment while still heading the wrong direction.

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Support the People Doing the Work

Teachers and staff need stable support, clear expectations, and a district structure that helps them keep students moving forward.

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Ask What Year Four Looks Like

Any major intervention should come with honest answers about what happens after the partnership, the subsidy, or the special structure ends.

"I am here to provide an outside perspective, ask where improvement is needed, see what teachers need, and work toward solutions that leave students and TISD stronger, not just temporarily stabilized." - Matthew Anderson
Family

Rooted in Texarkana

This campaign is personal. We grew up in this area, moved into this district in 2007, attend Church on the Rock, and care deeply about the future of Texarkana and TISD.

Our daughter is in TISD, and these decisions matter to us not just as voters, but as a family invested in our schools, our neighborhoods, and the next generation.

Sending our daughter off on a school field trip
Sending our daughter off on a school field trip
Family at a school event
Showing up for school events
Family at a Christmas event
Invested in family, community, and the next generation
Three Easy Ways to Help

Vote. Share. Volunteer.

Local races are often decided by a small number of people. A vote, a conversation, or one yard sign can make a real difference.

1

Vote

Make your plan now for Early Voting, April 20 - 28, or Election Day, May 2.

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2

Share

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3

Volunteer

Request a yard sign, help pass out door hangers, or reach out if you want to support in a practical way.

Ways to Help
Vote

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Early Voting

Dates: April 20 - 28, 2026

Why it matters: Early Voting gives you flexibility and helps avoid missing Election Day.

Election Day

Date: May 2, 2026

Reminder: Local races matter. Please make a plan now, tell a friend, and help make sure this election is not overlooked. Local district and city matters are also voted on this day.

Make your plan now.

You still have time. Save the date. Tell a friend: Click here