2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

Professionally, I bring 20+ years as a technology leader specializing in operational efficiencies, data management, and AI, holding a Master’s in Computer Science and a Certificate in AI Applications from UT Austin. This background gives me a practical, solutions-oriented approach to governance. On the board, I will work to strengthen budget oversight, identify efficiencies, protect classroom priorities, and increase taxpayer support through smart, transparent, and informed decisions.

Board: Elections | Leander ISD

I’m Chitra Nedun—a Leander ISD mom, community volunteer, technology leader, and candidate for the Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 2. We are proud parents of two LISD students: a Canyon Ridge Middle School student and a Vandegrift High School alumna studying at UT Austin. Like so many families in our district, we know how deeply our schools shape a child’s confidence, character, and future.

Leadership starts with listening and serving. I served on the LISD Curriculum Committee, working alongside educators. I volunteer at the Austin Tamil School, support the Austin Tamil Sangam, and assist visually impaired youth through VTSeva and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). These experiences reflect the values I will bring to the board: compassion, accountability, and collaboration.

Chitra Nedun has a master's degree in computer science and a certificate in AI applications from UT Austin. She is a parent of two children and volunteers at the Austin Tamil School, supports the Austin Tamil Sangam, and assists visually impaired youth through VTSeva and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Board: Elections - Leander ISD

Chitra Nedun is a technology leader specializing in operational efficiencies, data management, and artificial intelligence.

Chitra is a technology leader specializing in operational efficiencies, data management, and artificial intelligence.

If elected, what new district projects or policies would you like to see implemented?
I’ll advocate for expanding practical business, hands-on trade, and entrepreneurship programs that cultivate critical, analytical thinking across all grade levels. To support educators, I’ll champion workforce housing partnerships and reduced administrative workloads, while establishing open community forums and collaborative advisory groups to rebuild trust through transparent, two-way communication.

Q&A: Meet the candidates for Leander ISD Place 2

Coming from a technology background designing future-ready systems for large enterprises, I believe that every LISD student should be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow in an AI-driven, global workforce — and I'll bring that forward-looking, technology-informed perspective to board decisions.
I believe in championing programs that prepare students with skills that won't be replaced by automation — like entrepreneurship and the skilled trades — and equipping them with the durable skills that machines cannot replicate: critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and inference.
I believe teachers and staff must have the support and policies they need to thrive, because when educators thrive, students flourish and outcomes improve.

Chitra for LISD Board

Advocates for expanding business, skilled-trade, and entrepreneurship programs that build critical and analytical thinking.

- Advocates for expanding business, skilled-trade, and entrepreneurship programs that build critical and analytical thinking.

School Curriculum

If elected, what will be your top priorities to address district challenges?
My priorities are supporting all students through early intervention, SPED, bilingual, and advanced academic programs; balancing uneven enrollment across feeder patterns; protecting classroom funding for student outcomes; smart budgeting through strategic, long-term planning and advocating for mandate-matched state funding; and restoring public trust through transparent, two-way communication.

Prioritizes classroom funding, strategic long-term budgeting, and state funding that matches mandates.

Plans to strengthen budget oversight, identify efficiencies, and protect classroom priorities.

- Prioritizes classroom funding, strategic long-term budgeting, and state funding that matches mandates.
- Plans to strengthen budget oversight, identify efficiencies, and protect classroom priorities.

School Facilities & Resources

As of September 21, 2026, Chitra Nedun’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Student Wellbeing

Champions workforce-housing partnerships and reduced administrative workloads to support educators.

- Champions workforce-housing partnerships and reduced administrative workloads to support educators.

Teachers

Who Am I?
"I am an LISD mom, community volunteer, and problem-solver committed to preserving and strengthening the programs that help our students thrive — STEM, trades, arts, athletics, advanced academics, and leadership opportunities. These, along with essential services like special education, gifted programs, and multilingual support, are critical to student growth. I also support policies that empower teachers and staff, ensuring they have the support they need to fully educate and guide LISD students."

Chitra Nedun for LISD Board - Place 2

Prioritizes early intervention, special education, bilingual, and advanced academic programs.

Committed to preserving and strengthening career, arts, athletics, advanced academic, special education, gifted, and multilingual programs.

- Prioritizes early intervention, special education, bilingual, and advanced academic programs.
- Committed to preserving and strengthening career, arts, athletics, advanced academic, special education, gifted, and multilingual programs.

Access to Education

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Chitra Nedun

- Committed to preserving and strengthening career, arts, athletics, advanced academic, special education, gifted, and multilingual programs.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

Alejandra Gracias

A New Orleans native, Meg has a BA from Colorado College. She taught writing to underserved youth at New Orleans Charter Middle School before Hurricane Katrina and was an artist. After Hurricane Katrina, she became a technical writer.

I moved to Leander ISD 11 years ago. As a parent, I was a guest teacher in school classes. I have volunteered for school events, a school committee, and a district committee.

Meg Dean for Leander ISD School Board Place #2

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Meg has completed extensive coursework in accounting, design, and quantum computing—forging a career that is grounded in continuing education. Meg Dean lives in Cedar Park with her husband, sons, and stepsons.

Place 2
Meg Dean
Meg Dean moved to Leander ISD in 2015 and has three kids in LISD schools. Meg spoke against school closures at many LISD board meetings during 2025. She has volunteered at the district and school levels here.

Meg Dean is originally from New Orleans. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College and has volunteered for school events, a school committee, and a district committee. She lives in Cedar Park with her husband, sons, and stepsons, and has three children in Leander Independent School District schools.

My background is in technical writing, design, and analysis for technology, healthcare, aviation, and finance sectors. I currently work in quantum computing. My diverse work history shapes my approach to problem solving and positions me to hear the full range of needs voiced by parents and others in the district.

Meg Dean currently works in quantum computing. She previously taught writing at New Orleans Charter Middle School and worked as an artist and technical writer.

Meg currently works in quantum computing. She previously taught writing at New Orleans Charter Middle School and worked as an artist and technical writer.

As of September 21, 2026, Meg Dean’s website did not contain information on this issue.

If elected, what will be your top priorities to address district challenges?
I want to secure district financial planning to (1) prevent school closures and (2) prevent other cuts that would greatly compromise district quality. If elected, I would reach out to other officials about the need to repair funding shortfalls. In general, my focus is on excellence for K-12.

About Meg

I will carefully consider Leander ISD issues. I have been impacted by the risk of school closure in LISD, which can devastate neighborhoods, local economies, students, and faculty. I am against school closures because they jeopardize student learning and destroy communities that were built over time.

If elected, what new district projects or policies would you like to see implemented?
I would like to stop the threat of school closures. Most school closures would save very little money (if any), degrade district quality by overcrowding schools into portable buildings, and potentially result in a net loss of Leander ISD student population and, therefore, a net loss in district funds.

Plans to pursue financial planning for the district and outreach to other officials to prevent closures, avoid cuts, and address funding shortfalls.

Opposes school closures, saying they jeopardize student learning and communities and may overcrowd remaining schools without meaningful savings.

- Plans to pursue financial planning for the district and outreach to other officials to prevent closures, avoid cuts, and address funding shortfalls.
- Opposes school closures, saying they jeopardize student learning and communities and may overcrowd remaining schools without meaningful savings.

I spoke at many LISD board meetings last year in an effort to keep schools open. Each child has a distinct and unique path; I’d like for the district to meet each child’s educational needs while operating on a sustainable budget.

Wants the district to meet each child's educational needs while operating within a sustainable budget.

- Wants the district to meet each child's educational needs while operating within a sustainable budget.

Meg Dean

- Opposes school closures, saying they jeopardize student learning and communities and may overcrowd remaining schools without meaningful savings.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins brings experience as a former Leander ISD teacher, U.S. Air Force veteran, parent of LISD graduates, band mom, and school volunteer. She holds three master’s degrees in adult education, secondary teaching, and Spanish literature.

About | Perla Hopkins

Perla (former LISD Teacher) and husband are proud parents of LISD graduates. Their 3 children are now UT Longhorns.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins holds three master’s degrees in adult education, secondary teaching, and Spanish literature. She and her husband are parents of three children who are graduates of Leander ISD.

Perla has taught PreK-12 at public schools in Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Department of Defense schools in Europe. Her background also includes teacher mentoring via MS State, curriculum development, library programs, military-family advocacy, school fundraising, and participation in state education-policy discussions.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins

Perla Muñoz Hopkins is living proof of the American Dream. When Perla was homeless, her public schools were safe havens loaded with opportunity. She graduated high school with a 4.0 Ranked #1of 253. At age 18, Perla enlisted in the USAF (4 years) and continued serving our country as a military spouse for the past 25 years.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins previously taught PreK–12 students in public schools in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, as well as in Department of Defense schools in Europe, and served as a teacher in Leander ISD. She served in the U.S. Air Force for four years.

Perla previously taught PreK–12 students in public schools in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, as well as in Department of Defense schools in Europe, and served as a teacher in Leander ISD. She served in the U.S. Air Force for four years.

If elected, what new district projects or policies would you like to see implemented?
An avid STEAM supporter, I’m for Orchestra Programs at secondary schools throughout LISD. Parents are Partners in Education; I’ll strongly support overturning the 2021 Clear-Bag and policy which limits the parent voice at school board meetings to ONLY 90 Seconds. I’ll continue advocating for Public Education at the TX Capitol.

PERLA'S PRIORITIES FOR LEANDER ISD
Priorities

Academics: Foundational Reform, Best Practices & Students First! Proficient Readers & Writers, STEAM, Orchestra Program, Quality Instructional Materials and Curriculum aligned with TEKS.

Supports orchestra programs at secondary schools throughout Leander ISD.

Supports Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills-aligned curriculum and quality instructional materials.

- Supports orchestra programs at secondary schools throughout Leander ISD.
- Supports Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills-aligned curriculum and quality instructional materials.

Fiscal Responsibility: We must Reduce the Budget and Provide Tax Relief to LISD Families. Apt volunteers are at the ready to eliminate Fraud, Waste and Abuse. LOWER TAXES!

Transparency: Finances/Budget/Expenditures. FOIA Public Information Requests efficiently provided, Posted Check Register/Transactions, Board Books & Agendas to be published for the Public in accordance with TOMA regulations.

Calls for reducing the district budget and providing tax relief to Leander ISD families.

Proposes publishing district financial records, including check registers, transactions, board books, and agendas, and promptly responding to public-information requests.

- Calls for reducing the district budget and providing tax relief to Leander ISD families.
- Proposes publishing district financial records, including check registers, transactions, board books, and agendas, and promptly responding to public-information requests.

Safety: 24/7 Mandated Reporters —TEAOIG. Secure Bus Transportation, Terminate LISD Police Dept (under investigation) —continue partnerships with LISD Corridor Police, Constables, Sheriffs, SROs, LISD Marshalls —see House Bill 3.

Proposes terminating the Leander ISD Police Department and continuing partnerships with corridor police, constables, sheriffs, school resource officers, and marshals.

- Proposes terminating the Leander ISD Police Department and continuing partnerships with corridor police, constables, sheriffs, school resource officers, and marshals.

Teachers/AuxStaff: The Pillars of LISD! Guaranteed annual raises and incentives for Personnel to meet/exceed the national average and cost-of-living in Greater Austin. TRS advocacy for Teachers and Retirees.

In 2020, Leander ISD teachers spoke to Perla when they didn’t receive their yearly raise. An $800 payment was allotted by December, thanks to the countless parents that stood up for our teachers. Perla also advocates for auxiliary staff experiencing low-pay and dire working conditions. She is a public servant,  a voice for Parents, Students, and Teachers.

Supports guaranteed annual raises and incentives for district personnel to meet or exceed Greater Austin cost-of-living averages and national averages.

Advocates for auxiliary staff experiencing low pay and “dire working conditions.”

- Supports guaranteed annual raises and incentives for district personnel to meet or exceed Greater Austin cost-of-living averages and national averages.
- Advocates for auxiliary staff experiencing low pay and “dire working conditions.”

Plans to continue advocating for public education at the Texas Capitol.

- Plans to continue advocating for public education at the Texas Capitol.

Perla Muñoz Hopkins

- Supports Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills-aligned curriculum and quality instructional materials.

- 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. 

Texas Trustee, Leander ISD, Position 2

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School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Access to Education