FORT BEND – In a school district where community roots run deep, Fort Bend ISD School Board Vice President Rick Garcia is not just running for re-election — he’s reaffirming a mission of service, equity, and visionary leadership for the 80,000+ students and 11,000 employees who call the district home.

Garcia’s commitment is personal. He and his wife Paulina are both former FBISD teachers. Their sons are students in the district. Their community involvement is not performative — it’s generational. “Fort Bend is where we planted our roots to grow our future,” Garcia shares. “We both began our journeys here, and our commitment to this district is lifelong.”

From the classroom to the boardroom, Garcia has been a constant presence in the district’s evolution. His early days teaching history at Macario Garcia Middle School—a school named after a World War II hero and Mexican American icon—offered him a powerful lens on the intersection of heritage, education, and opportunity.

“I believe FBISD needs to be the most competitive in the state when it comes to salary and benefits for our teachers and staff,” Garcia said. “Our team must reflect this incredibly American student body. Equity and excellence go hand in hand.”

FBISD’s student body — 28% Black, 28% Asian, 27% Latino, and 13% White — represents the very definition of a 21st-century district. Garcia believes representation within staff and leadership is essential to serving this community effectively.

Having stepped away from teaching to become an IT entrepreneur, Garcia never stepped away from serving. Whether leading the PTO Dad’s Club, acting as Oakland Elementary PTO Vice President, or guiding governance through Fieldstone’s MUD and HOA boards, Garcia has lived his values of civic engagement.

In 2022, those values propelled him to victory against a 12-year incumbent. Today, as School Board Vice President, he continues to ask tough questions, push for fiscal accountability, and demand results that matter.

“We need to focus on college, career, and military readiness,” Garcia emphasized. “Since the bond passed in 2023, I’ve worked closely with community leadership to keep costs down, streamline internal processes, and secure the best return on investment for our parents and business partners.”

Garcia’s tech-savvy background is also driving smarter approaches to efficiency. “This is the largest employer in Fort Bend County,” he explains. “We need modern tools and innovative strategies to maximize taxpayer dollars and to do what matters most: educate children.”

As Fort Bend ISD stretches across 170 square miles—from Sugar Land and Missouri City to Mission Bend and north of Richmond—Garcia’s campaign reflects not only a deep understanding of the community, but an unwavering belief in the public school system as the great equalizer.

“Public schools should bring people together,” Garcia said. “It’s about more than education. It’s about unity, opportunity, and our shared future.” 

VOTER INFORMATION:

Early Voting: Begins Tuesday, April 22 (after the San Jacinto Day holiday) and

continues through Tuesday, April 29
Election Day: Saturday, May 3

For more information on Rick Garcia’s campaign, visit Fort Bend ISD Elections Page
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📸 Photo courtesy of Rick Garcia for FBISD
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