2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

Cyndi Darland

LinkedIn

Buket Urgen

EDUCATION

Texas A&M, College Station, BS, 1974

Texarkana Junior College, Texarkana, Associate, 1971

Voter Guide Profile for TX Princeton ISD School Board, At-Large candidate - Cyndi Darland

Cyndi Darland earned an associate degree from Texarkana Junior College and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in College Station.

Cyndi Darland - Princeton ISD School Board, At-Large - iVoterGuide

After a 35- year career as a teacher, newly elected school board trustee Cyn­di Darland thinks her experience gives her the tools needed to affect change in her role for Princeton ISD.

While employed as an edu­cator, Darland taught science and biology and coached soc­cer, tennis and basketball from 1979 until she retired in 2014.

She taught at Trent Middle School, Plano Senior High School and Allen High School, among others.

Teaching career guides new trustee | Princeton Herald

Cyndi Darland is a retired teacher. She taught science and biology and coached soccer, tennis and basketball at Trent Middle School, Plano Senior High School and Allen High School.

School board, council candidates field questions | Princeton Herald

Board of Trustees
Cyndi Darland
Trustee 2020 - 2026
cdarland@princetonisd.net
...
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
Live Recordings & Board Notes
Princeton ISD School Board meetings are recorded live on YouTube.

Board of Trustees | Princeton ISD

Cyndi serves as a trustee for Princeton Independent School District; the district lists her term as 2020 to 2026.

Board of Trustees - Princeton Independent School District

Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?

The School Board and the Administration as given direction by the School Board.

Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

Strongly Agree

Do you believe students should have access to materials that graphically depict and describe sexual acts?

No

Absolutely NO!!!!!!!

All print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review.

Strongly Agree

Transparency!

Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?

Parents are responsible and should step up and accept responsibility for their own children. Different ages for different information.

Supports school boards directing curriculum and instructional resources through district administration.

Supports requiring written parental opt-in consent before students receive comprehensive sex education or social-emotional learning instruction.

Opposes student access to materials that graphically depict or describe sexual acts.

Supports making all print and digital materials that are available or presented to students accessible for public review.

Said parents are responsible for teaching sexual education, with information varying by age.

- Supports school boards directing curriculum and instructional resources through district administration.
- Supports requiring written parental opt-in consent before students receive comprehensive sex education or social-emotional learning instruction.
- Opposes student access to materials that graphically depict or describe sexual acts.
- Supports making all print and digital materials that are available or presented to students accessible for public review.
- Said parents are responsible for teaching sexual education, with information varying by age.

School Curriculum

All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.

Agree

All except just routine votes, like approving minutes…

Supports recording nonroutine school board votes as roll call votes in meeting minutes.

- Supports recording nonroutine school board votes as roll call votes in meeting minutes.

School Facilities & Resources

Classical education!

No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.

Strongly Agree

I support mask mandates.

Strongly Disagree

I teach Biology. Science has shown masks don’t work.

Opposes school officials participating in a student's sexual transition, including use of alternative names and pronouns.

No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.

Strongly Agree

Classical education!

Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?

None

I support mask mandates.

Opposes allowing all licensed teachers to carry guns at school; supports restricting it to personnel selected, tested, and trained through the Marshal program.

2ND AMENDMENT

Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.

Disagree

Only personnel identified through a process and psychological tested and trained through the Marshall program ( on-going), and other criteria.

Supports requiring written parental consent before a child receives healthcare diagnosis or treatment.

Opposes school mask mandates, saying, "Science has shown masks don’t work."

- Supports requiring written parental consent before a child receives healthcare diagnosis or treatment.
- Opposes school mask mandates, saying, "Science has shown masks don’t work."

Student Wellbeing

As of October 22, 2026, Cyndi Darland’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Teachers

Wilson, Darland and Sharpe all expressed opposition to Texas’ school voucher program, although they differed on its potential effect on Princeton ISD.

“The school voucher program was a bad idea,” Darland said. She predicted its impact on district enrollment and funding would be limited but said the district must continue advocating for special needs students.

What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?

I am in favor.

Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.

Strongly Agree

School boards are accountable to parents and taxpayers.

Agree

Supports government funding for public education from prekindergarten through college.

Said parents should be able to pursue the educational options they consider best for their children.

- Opposes Texas’ school voucher program.
- Supports government funding for public education from prekindergarten through college.
- Said parents should be able to pursue the educational options they consider best for their children.

Access to Education

Charlotte Wilson

Ricky Gillespie

Starla Sharpe

- 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. 