Political Lens
Candidates/Houston ISD Board of Trustees, District III/Patricia Okafor
PO
School Board

Patricia Okafor

Unclaimed
Office sought
Houston ISD Board of Trustees, District III
Jurisdiction / district
Houston, Harris County, Texas — District III
Election date
November 4, 2025
Election type
Nonpartisan (nonpartisan)
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Candidate bio

Patricia Okafor is a public health nurse and longtime Third Ward resident. She has volunteered as a school health advisor and helped lead community vaccination drives at HISD campuses during the 2020-2022 school years.

Top 3 priorities

  1. 1
    Expand school-based mental health and counseling services
  2. 2
    Improve campus safety planning in coordination with families
  3. 3
    Increase parent communication in Spanish, Vietnamese, and other home languages

Questionnaire answers

Background
In one or two sentences, describe your professional and community background.

Public health nurse, Third Ward resident, and longtime school health volunteer.

Motivation
Why are you running for this office?

I am running so District III students can come to school healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Priorities
What is the single most important issue facing this jurisdiction, and how would you address it?

Mental health support. I would push for more counselors and clearer referral pathways at every campus.

Budget & Finance
How would you approach the office’s budget priorities and fiscal oversight?

I support directing more general funds toward sustained student support staff rather than one-time programs.

Constituent Services
How will constituents be able to reach you and provide input?

I will hold listening sessions in partnership with neighborhood civic clubs and offer interpretation in multiple languages.

Transparency
What measures will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in this role?

I will publish a quarterly report on every committee assignment and how I voted on each policy.

Experience
What relevant experience or qualifications prepare you for this office?

My background as a public health nurse gives me direct experience with the issues affecting students’ readiness to learn.

Collaboration
How will you work with colleagues, agencies, or community members who disagree with you?

I have led multilingual coalitions through difficult conversations about COVID protocols and school health policy.

Last updated May 10, 2026

Other candidates in this race

Angela Johnson
David Nguyen