Amber Elenz, a former broadcaster and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leader, will replace school board president Mark Williams as the AISD trustee in District 5. Elenz easily defeated technology consultant Charlie Jackson in a school board district that covers downtown and the relatively affluent areas west and southwest of the urban core. With 20,000 votes counted, Elenz led 62 percent to Jackson's 38 percent.
“What I’m really bringing to the table is a true embedded knowledge of District 5 and our school district,” Elenz told us in a pre-election interview. “I’ve been working directly with these parents and teachers for 13 years. And through that, you know what is important. You know how to work within the system, and really bring about change.”
After serving two terms, Williams said he would only step down from the school board if a candidate he could support entered the race. Elenz says she didn’t know that before deciding to run. Williams has been an articulate defender of education reforms championed by AISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
Elenz was president of the Austin Council of PTAs for two years. She currently sits on the District Advisory Council, which gives advice to the school board and superintendent. Elenz has said she hopes to increase parental involvement in school board decisions.
