Andrew Grimm is challenging incumbent Sonya Koke for place 1 on the Lingleville ISD School board election Nov. 5. He offered the following introduction on social media: “Over the past couple of years I have regularly attended our monthly school board meetings, gaining valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities our district faces. This experience has strengthened my commitment to advocating for the success of our students and ensuring the continued growth and excellence of our small school. I believe the best way to accomplish this is through service on the school’s board of trustees.
“Our family’s roots run deep in Lingleville, and we are proud to call it home. My wife and I moved back to the district a few years ago to be closer to family and to raise our children in a small-town environment with a tightknit community. Her family has resided in the Lingleville area going back generations, making our children 7th generation residents. Together we have three children —Ally in 6th, Brooke in 4th, and our soon to be Cardinal, Wyatt. Erika and I are both committed to serving our community; she is actively involved in the booster club and PTO, and coaches youth sports. We also attend Double N Cowboy Church, where our faith and values are strengthened to guide us in everything we do.
“I was raised in a rural community and was active in FFA, serving as an officer and showing livestock, which later led me to pursue an Agricultural Economics degree from Tarleton, where I graduated cum laude. Today, I work in corporate finance where my background in financial management and strategic decision-making provides me with skills I’m eager to apply in service to our district. When not behind a desk, you can usually find me out in the hay field or at one of our children’s many sporting events.
“In my career as a Project Controller, I am responsible for building budgets, forecasting those budgets monthly over several years, as well as analyzing and tracking costs to ensure they align and investigating variances. I prepare and present quarterly financials, working with budgets from ~$10 million up into the hundreds of millions for the manufacturing and installation of subsea oilfield equipment. School budgets are similarly complex; a well-managed budget not only equates to a better educational experience but can translate into a positive impact on your property tax rates, which is why budget & financial oversight by the board is key. The knowledge and experience from my career in finance is where I believe I can be an asset to the district —complimenting the backgrounds of the other trustees and creating a more well-rounded board.
“I am committed to working together to ensure that Lingleville ISD continues to thrive, and to being a voice for all families within our district, as well as for those outside our district that entrust us with the education of their children which make up nearly a third of our student body as transfers. I believe ensuring a safe learning environment, enhancing educational opportunities, and supporting our educators, all while exercising fiscal responsibility for you —our district’s taxpayers, and representing your values is an important balancing act. I believe in a collaborative approach and know that strong leadership on the board is essential to the future success of our district and its students.”