Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Board of Trustees, Place 1

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Leander ISD
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Serenity CoatsNonpartisan
Gerald PraterNonpartisan
On ballot as
Serenity Coats
Gerald Prater
Current role
Accredited Financial Counselor and National Certified Counselor (per campaign)
Full-time voluntary ministry for the past 17 years (per candidate)
Background
  • B.B.A. in operations and supply chain management, University of Cincinnati (per campaign)
  • M.S. in school counseling, Capella University (per campaign)
  • College and career readiness facilitator, Harvard University rural education center (per campaign)
  • Financial coach; personal financial counselor at Camp Mabry (per campaign)
  • Military spouse; family moved to Texas in 2020 (per candidate)
  • Two Leander ISD graduates and two current students (per candidate)
  • Associate degree in applied communications (per candidate)
  • Bachelor's in management of computer information systems; MBA (per candidate)
  • U.S. Air Force, 20-year career (per candidate)
  • Military intelligence: Spanish linguist and communications analyst (per candidate)
  • Internal audit, GTE (later Verizon), about 10 years; rose to audit manager (per candidate)
Experience
  • Served on Leander ISD District-wide Educational Improvement Council (per her candidate bio)
  • Served on Leander ISD Community Based Accountability System Committee (per her candidate bio)
  • Parent representative, Leander High School master plan design and site-based planning committees (per her candidate bio)
  • Ran for Leander ISD Place 5 (November 2024); lost to incumbent Sade Fashokun
Top priorities
  • "I'll engage with legislators to secure adequate state funding for the district."
  • "I'll prioritize operational and fiscal efficiency, while balancing the utilization of campuses, so resources reach classrooms."
  • Says she will "focus on enhancing campus safety and security measures and increasing the enrollment and attendance rate"
  • "I will support policies that help retain, reward, and recruit our teachers."
Not found
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Community Impact Q&A: "I'd like LISD to expand its academic programs and course offerings and incorporate career exploration as part of the financial education curriculum across all campuses."
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Community Impact Q&A: "I'll engage with legislators to secure adequate state funding for the district."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Williamson County Democratic Party
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

Serenity Coats

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Serenity Coats
Current role
Accredited Financial Counselor and National Certified Counselor (per campaign)
Background
  • B.B.A. in operations and supply chain management, University of Cincinnati (per campaign)
  • M.S. in school counseling, Capella University (per campaign)
  • College and career readiness facilitator, Harvard University rural education center (per campaign)
  • Financial coach; personal financial counselor at Camp Mabry (per campaign)
  • Military spouse; family moved to Texas in 2020 (per candidate)
  • Two Leander ISD graduates and two current students (per candidate)
Experience
  • Served on Leander ISD District-wide Educational Improvement Council (per her candidate bio)
  • Served on Leander ISD Community Based Accountability System Committee (per her candidate bio)
  • Parent representative, Leander High School master plan design and site-based planning committees (per her candidate bio)
Top priorities
  • "I'll engage with legislators to secure adequate state funding for the district."
  • "I'll prioritize operational and fiscal efficiency, while balancing the utilization of campuses, so resources reach classrooms."
  • Says she will "focus on enhancing campus safety and security measures and increasing the enrollment and attendance rate"
  • "I will support policies that help retain, reward, and recruit our teachers."
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Community Impact Q&A: "I'd like LISD to expand its academic programs and course offerings and incorporate career exploration as part of the financial education curriculum across all campuses."
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Community Impact Q&A: "I'll engage with legislators to secure adequate state funding for the district."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Williamson County Democratic Party
Campaign website
serenity4education.com

Gerald Prater

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Gerald Prater
Current role
Full-time voluntary ministry for the past 17 years (per candidate)
Background
  • Associate degree in applied communications (per candidate)
  • Bachelor's in management of computer information systems; MBA (per candidate)
  • U.S. Air Force, 20-year career (per candidate)
  • Military intelligence: Spanish linguist and communications analyst (per candidate)
  • Internal audit, GTE (later Verizon), about 10 years; rose to audit manager (per candidate)
Experience
  • Ran for Leander ISD Place 5 (November 2024); lost to incumbent Sade Fashokun
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found