Why did you decide to run for this position? My passion is the success of the Klein community that I have lived and invested in for 25 years. Community success is directly related to the education that our students receive from Klein ISD. I am running for re-election to continue the upward trajectory of Klein ISD and our community.

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Klein ISD Board of Trustees | Spring - Klein | Community Impact

How will you prioritize students if you win this position? I prioritize students by being present. In my 21 years of volunteering with Klein ISD, I have volunteered at 23 of our schools, attended upwards of 90 Board meetings, celebrated innumerable student successes, and continue to advocate for increased student funding for safety and student opportunities from the Texas Legislature.

Dustin Qualls has lived in the Klein community for 25 years. He has volunteered with Klein ISD for 21 years, including at 23 schools.

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Klein ISD Board of Trustees | Spring

## Klein ISD

Klein Cain High School is visible Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Klein.

Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Klein ISD has one competitive race for Position 1 where the incumbent faces a challenge from a Lone Star College professor and former Aldine ISD educator.
Dustin Qualls, the incumbent, is a civil engineer who joined the board three years ago. He said the district of 51,000 students came back with an overall B rating in the state, and he wants to be a part of the board to bring it to an A.

At least 13 school districts have board elections in November. See the list.

Klein ISD News

As a result of the November 2023 election, new Board member Mr. Dustin Qualls took the oath of office
for Position 1, and returning Board member Mr. Doug James took the oath of office for Position 2.

Blocked source

Qualls, who is seeking a second term, is running against challenger Ford for the only contested seat this election cycle.

Dustin was elected as a Klein ISD trustee for Position 1 in 2023.

December 2023 Newsletter (Texas House District 126) - 2023-Newsletter-12.31.2023.pdf

2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

As of September 25, 2026, Dustin Qualls’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Curriculum

What will your attitude toward budgeting be pertaining to balancing the district’s needs with being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars? Budget funding that impacts the classroom, pathways for students, and teacher pay-raises will remain my priorities for each year’s budget workshopping. Through Klein ISD’s zero-based budgeting efforts, waste is identified and cut. The value of a tax dollar is more important than ever, with our current funding challenges from Austin.

Klein ISD has one competitive race for Position 1 where the incumbent faces a challenge from a Lone Star College professor and former Aldine ISD educator.
Dustin Qualls, the incumbent, is a civil engineer who joined the board three years ago. He said the district of 51,000 students came back with an overall B rating in the state, and he wants to be a part of the board to bring it to an A.
"In terms of some of the local aspects of being on the board, obviously budgeting is a huge issue these days," Qualls said. "Student funding is something that we continue to advocate for from the state level. Nowadays, we're looking for more and more alternative ways, or unexplored, or non-traditional ways of finding additional student funding from the (state) ... In terms of budgeting, we start with a zero-based budget every year, which helps to eliminate any kind of waste that we can find."

Advocates for increased state funding for student safety and opportunities.

Prioritizes budgets for classrooms and student pathways while using a budgeting process that starts from zero each year to identify and cut waste.

- Advocates for increased state funding for student safety and opportunities.
- Prioritizes budgets for classrooms and student pathways while using a budgeting process that starts from zero each year to identify and cut waste.

School Facilities & Resources

With recent incidents involving students bringing weapons to school, what do you believe Klein ISD should prioritize when it comes to campus safety and prevention? We must prioritize preemptive student and family support by identifying troubling indicators long before the decision is made by a student to bring a weapon to campus. Parental involvement and consistent engagement are key factors in a student’s success. We must be proactive in reaching our families that need help.

Calls for proactive student and family support to identify warning signs and prevent weapons from being brought to campus.

- Calls for proactive student and family support to identify warning signs and prevent weapons from being brought to campus.

Student Wellbeing

Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual budget planning.

- Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual budget planning.

Teachers

Please separate voucher programs from public education funding. These can and should be mutually exclusive issues, and not
bundled together in an “all or nothing” bill. If voucher programs are needed and have benefit, then they should be able to stand on
their own without dangling public education funding carrots alongside them.
Thank you,
Dustin Qualls
Klein ISD Trustee Elect
Klein, TX

Compilation of Public Comments (Texas House, Committee on Educational Opportunity & Enrichment; For Hearing Date: Thursday, November 9, 2023 9:00 AM)

Calls for separating voucher programs from public education funding.

- Calls for separating voucher programs from public education funding.

Access to Education

LinkedIn

Dustin Qualls

How will you prioritize students if you win this position?
I prioritize students by being present. In my 21 years of volunteering with Klein ISD, I have volunteered at 23 of our schools, attended upwards of 90 Board meetings, celebrated innumerable student successes, and continue to advocate for increased student funding for safety and student opportunities from the Texas Legislature.

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Klein ISD Board of Trustees

Dustin Qualls has volunteered with Klein Independent School District for 21 years, including at 23 of its schools.

Dustin Qualls
Incumbent
Website: http://www.Qualls4Klein.com
More: 25-Year Klein resident and Klein ISD volunteer, currently serving as a Klein ISD Trustee.

The details
KISD officials said newcomer Dustin Qualls will be taking over Position 1 on the district’s board of trustees following the November election. Position 1 Trustee Georgan Reitmeier opted not to run for re-election.

Klein ISD cancels November trustee election due to uncontested races | Spring - Klein | Community Impact

Dustin currently serves as a Klein ISD trustee in Position 1.

Prioritizes classroom funding and student pathways in annual budget workshops.

Calls for early intervention, family engagement, and proactive outreach to prevent students from bringing weapons to campus.

Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual budget workshops.

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Klein ISD board of trustees

Through his consulting business, Qualls said he's made a lot of contacts within the district and has made it a habit to attend district meetings, and as a result, feels he has a perspective on district needs.
"What it comes down to is being aware of what is going on around you," Qualls said. "I think I can be a lot more proactive, rather than reactive to provide this kind of insight."

Growth hot topic in Klein ISD board race

Dustin Qualls has operated a consulting business.

The details
KISD officials said newcomer Dustin Qualls will be taking over Position 1 on the district’s board of trustees following the November election. Position 1 Trustee Georgan Reitmeier opted not to run for re-election.

The background
KISD is governed by a seven-member board of trustees. Each member is elected to an at-large position for three years in a nonpartisan election.

Klein ISD cancels November trustee election due to uncontested races

Dustin currently serves as a Klein ISD Trustee in Position 1.

Prioritizes funding for classrooms and student pathways while using zero-based budgeting to identify and cut waste.

Advocates for increased state funding for student safety and student opportunities.

- Advocates for increased state funding for student safety and student opportunities.

With recent incidents involving students bringing weapons to school, what do you believe Klein ISD should prioritize when it comes to campus safety and prevention?
We must prioritize preemptive student and family support by identifying troubling indicators long before the decision is made by a student to bring a weapon to campus. Parental involvement and consistent engagement are key factors in a student’s success. We must be proactive in reaching our families that need help.

Calls for early identification of warning signs and proactive family support to prevent students from bringing weapons to campus.

- Calls for early identification of warning signs and proactive family support to prevent students from bringing weapons to campus.

What will your attitude toward budgeting be pertaining to balancing the district’s needs with being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars?
Budget funding that impacts the classroom, pathways for students, and teacher pay-raises will remain my priorities for each year’s budget workshopping. Through Klein ISD’s zero-based budgeting efforts, waste is identified and cut. The value of a tax dollar is more important than ever, with our current funding challenges from Austin.

Dustin Qualls
Klein ISD
Please separate voucher programs from public education funding. These can and should be mutually exclusive issues, and not bundled together in an “all or nothing” bill. If voucher programs are needed and have benefit, then they should be able to stand on their own without dangling public education funding carrots alongside them.

Thank you,
Dustin Qualls
Klein ISD Trustee Elect
Klein, TX

Calls for separating voucher programs from public education funding in legislation.

- Calls for separating voucher programs from public education funding in legislation.

Dustin Qualls has volunteered with Klein Independent School District for 21 years, including at 23 schools.

Klein ISD News
Swear Inand Elect Officers
Klein ISD News
As a result of the November 2023 election, new Board member Mr. Dustin Qualls took the oath of office for Position 1, and returning Board member Mr. Doug James took the oath of office for Position 2.

December 2023 Newsletter (Texas House District 126) — 2023-Newsletter-12.31.2023.pdf

Dustin was elected to the Klein Independent School District Board of Trustees, Position 1, in 2023.

Prioritizes classroom funding and student pathways in district budgeting while using a process that reviews each budget from scratch to identify and cut waste.

- Advocates for increased state funding for student safety and opportunities.
- Prioritizes classroom funding and student pathways in district budgeting while using a process that reviews each budget from scratch to identify and cut waste.

Calls for early identification of warning signs and proactive support for students and families to prevent weapons from being brought to campus.

- Calls for early identification of warning signs and proactive support for students and families to prevent weapons from being brought to campus.

Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual district budget planning.

- Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual district budget planning.

Dustin Qualls
Klein ISD
Please separate voucher programs from public education funding. These can and should be mutually exclusive issues, and not bundled together in an “all or nothing” bill. If voucher programs are needed and have benefit, then they should be able to stand on their own without dangling public education funding carrots alongside them.
Thank you,
Dustin Qualls
Klein ISD Trustee Elect
Klein, TX

Compilation of Public Comments (PDF) — Committee on Educational Opportunity & Enrichment (Hearing Date: Thursday, November 9, 2023 9:00 AM)

Klein ISD has one competitive race for Position 1 where the incumbent faces a challenge from a Lone Star College professor and former Aldine ISD educator.
Dustin Qualls, the incumbent, is a civil engineer who joined the board three years ago. He said the district of 51,000 students came back with an overall B rating in the state, and he wants to be a part of the board to bring it to an A.

The details

KISD officials said newcomer Dustin Qualls will be taking over Position 1 on the district’s board of trustees following the November election. Position 1 Trustee Georgan Reitmeier opted not to run for re-election.

Precincts Reporting 1,064 of 1,064 = 100.00%
Party Candidate Absentee Early Election Total
Klein I.S.D., Trustee, Position 6, Vote For 1
Paul Lanham 152 65.80% 1,333 56.41% 2,787 51.67% 4,272 53.48%
Dustin Qualls 79 34.20% 1,030 43.59% 2,607 48.33% 3,716 46.52%
Cast Votes: 231 75.74% 2,363 78.87% 5,394 77.16% 7,988 77.61%

Cumulative Report — Official Harris County, Texas — Joint Election — November 05, 2013 (cumulative.pdf)

Cumulative Report — Official Harris County, Texas — Joint Election — November 05, 2013

"In terms of some of the local aspects of being on the board, obviously budgeting is a huge issue these days," Qualls said. "Student funding is something that we continue to advocate for from the state level. Nowadays, we're looking for more and more alternative ways, or unexplored, or non-traditional ways of finding additional student funding from the (state) ... In terms of budgeting, we start with a zero-based budget every year, which helps to eliminate any kind of waste that we can find."

Advocates for increased state student funding for safety and student opportunities, including alternative funding approaches.

Prioritizes reviewing the budget from scratch to identify and cut waste.

- Advocates for increased state student funding for safety and student opportunities, including alternative funding approaches.
- Prioritizes reviewing the budget from scratch to identify and cut waste.

Calls for proactive student and family support to identify warning signs before students bring weapons to campus.

- Calls for proactive student and family support to identify warning signs before students bring weapons to campus.

Prioritizes funding for teacher pay raises.

- Prioritizes funding for teacher pay raises.

House of Representatives Compilation of Public Comments

Calls for separating voucher programs from public-school funding rather than bundling them in an “all or nothing” bill.

- Calls for separating voucher programs from public-school funding rather than bundling them in an “all or nothing” bill.

Asked about balancing district needs with stewardship of taxpayer dollars, Qualls said: “Budget funding that impacts the classroom, pathways for students, and teacher pay-raises will remain my priorities for each year’s budget workshopping. Through Klein ISD’s zero-based budgeting efforts, waste is identified and cut. The value of a tax dollar is more important than ever, with our current funding challenges from Austin.”

In a 2026 interview about the Klein ISD Position 1 race, Qualls said: “In terms of some of the local aspects of being on the board, obviously budgeting is a huge issue these days. Student funding is something that we continue to advocate for from the state level. Nowadays, we're looking for more and more alternative ways, or unexplored, or non-traditional ways of finding additional student funding from the (state) ... In terms of budgeting, we start with a zero-based budget every year, which helps to eliminate any kind of waste that we can find.”

Supports reviewing the district budget from the ground up to identify and cut district waste.

- Prioritizes classroom funding and student pathways in annual budget workshops.
- Supports reviewing the district budget from the ground up to identify and cut district waste.

- Prioritizes teacher pay raises in annual budget workshops.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Linda Ford

- A trustee is an elected member of a local school board who helps govern a public school district.

- Trustees represent community interests and are responsible for setting policies that guide how the school district operates.

- The board of trustees hires and evaluates the superintendent, who manages the day-to-day operations of the district.

- Trustees approve the district’s budget, monitor spending, and may set the local tax rate or call for bond elections to fund schools.

- The board also oversees educational programs, district goals, and overall performance.

- In Texas, trustees are elected to four-year terms, often on a rotating basis, so not all seats are elected at the same time.

- Trustees serve without financial compensation.

An official who sets policy for a local school district. 