Katy Sassara, Co-Content Editor
On Nov. 7, Spring Hecht won the election for VISD board director Position no. 4 against incumbent Steve Ellison.
A clinical social worker and therapist, Hecht has long been passionate about advocating for youth and their families, and has previously been closely involved with schools.
“In my former work … I was collaborating and partnering with families, and mostly it was working with youth who had [Individualized Education Plans] or 504 plans,” Hecht said. “I had a lot of experience partnering with school counselors and school staff and teachers on behalf of those kids.”
Her background in social work has given her a unique insight into the needs of students beyond their academics.
“I’m really concerned about the social-emotional needs of students,” Hecht said. “So much of education isn’t just the curriculum and what students learn. It’s about the learning environment we’re able to create and what students want and need.”
Hecht is also a firm believer in student equity, and the beginnings of her interactions with the district were as a founding member of the educational advocacy group Parents and Friends for Racial Equity (PFRE).
“When I began working with the district a couple years ago, it was all volunteer-based,” Hecht said. “It was myself and a group of parents and community members, all volunteers, that decided to approach the district with lots of questions and really wanted to know more about what was the achievement rates of our kids of color. We already knew this was a great school … but when you look closer, you see the data, and there’s an achievement gap and an opportunity gap.”
The group began working with Superintendent Michael Soltman and the district leadership, prompting the development of a separate equity group integrating the existing VISD group and PFRE.
Hecht is also a strong supporter of providing vocational education for students who desire it, and access to the right path for each student.
“Not only are we needing to meet the social-emotional needs of students,” Hecht said. “But [also] the educational and vocational needs — really making sure that all students feel like they have a path to success.”
