Garcia at Cine El Rey: Public education is under attack, but our people are powerful

It is a good day to gather in a flourishing way.”

Thomas Ray Garcia, educator, author, and entrepreneur.

McALLEN, Texas — Marking his 33rd birthday surrounded by community members, educators, and grassroots supporters, South Texas College English professor Thomas Ray Garcia laid out a passionate defense of public education during a "People for Public Schools" campaign rally at the historic Cine El Rey in McAllen.

Garcia, an educator, author, and entrepreneur running as a Democrat for the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) District 2 seat, framed the upcoming election as a defining moment for public education across South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Addressing a full auditorium, Garcia detailed his personal journey from growing up in a working-class, single-parent household to attending Princeton University and returning home to serve his community.

“The power of public schools is the power to uplift students, not just educate students,” Garcia told the crowd. “When a student walks into the classroom, they sit next to a stranger... and as they learn from each other, their stories intertwine.”

Garcia stressed that the power of education lies in its ability to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, belief systems, and cities, allowing them to flourish and return to uplift their respective communities.

Key Takeaways from the Address

• A Grounded, Personal Narrative: Growing up in a single-parent household without books at home, Garcia credited public school classrooms and libraries with giving him "his only shot." He highlighted his early work in education access, including founding the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP) at age 19—an initiative that has grown into an independent nonprofit serving thousands of students across the region.
• Pushback Against State Curriculum Changes and Privatization: Garcia voiced sharp criticism over recent actions taken by state leaders, pointing to controversial rewrites of social studies standards, the erasure of civil rights history, and thin-margin votes approving state-developed curricula. He pledged to resist efforts by outside "puppet masters" and right-wing mega-donors attempting to privatize public education or inject political agendas into classrooms.
• Focus on Real-World Outcomes: Rejecting high-stakes "teaching to the STAR test," Garcia outlined a platform focused on core reading and math proficiency, strong career and technical education (CTE) pathways, support for the skilled trades, clear routes for military enlistment, and mental health resources.
• Regional Representation in Austin: Pointing out that Hidalgo County has not sent a representative to the 15-member SBOE in nearly 45 years, Garcia emphasized the necessity of having a local educator represent the 14-county district, which encompasses nearly two million residents.

Grassroots Mobilization in a Competitive Race

Garcia framed his bid for District 2—a seat decided by fewer than 1,400 votes in 2022—as a community-driven movement. Refusing to focus solely on political attacks, Garcia declared his strategy is to "target the strings" behind partisan special interests by mobilizing local voters, teachers, and high school volunteers.

Closing the event in true professor fashion, Garcia issued two "exit tickets" to attendees: encouraging supporters to pick up door-knocking toolkits to reach neighbors directly or contribute small $10 grassroots donations to power the campaign through the final weeks before Election Day.