For too long, our education system has focused on teaching our children what to think rather than how to think. As Governor, I will make education reform a top priority—starting on day one. My plan focuses on four key pillars: Strong, Spiritual, Smart and Sovereign.

1. Strong

Across the nation, children are living increasingly sedentary lives—from the moment they wake up until bedtime. This trend has a direct impact on their focus, health, IQ’s, test scores and overall academic performance.

Research shows that physical activity early in the day leads to sharper focus, improved test scores, and higher overall well-being. As Governor, I will implement a daily physical fitness program emphasizing large-muscle movement at the start of each school day.

This initiative will:

• Boost test scores and classroom engagement
  
• Reduce preventable illnesses, disease and injuries
  
• Support healthy brain chemistry—eliminating reliance on pharmaceuticals
  

A strong body supports a strong mind, and strong students build a strong future in Texas.

2. Spiritual

Education should not only prepare children for careers—it should prepare them for life. Our schools have focused too much on the external world education while neglecting the inner one.  In these modern days, if there are any behavior changes needed, kids are mostly given chemical balancing pharmaceuticals as an option to the problem. Texans know that faith, family and purpose are vital to a fulfilled life.

Our education system should help students develop emotional and spiritual resilience—teaching the values of gratitude, integrity, empathy and compassion. Lessons about healthy relationships, marriage, and family life should be basic and core components of education, helping our children grow into balanced and joyful adults.

When students understand who they are and what they value, they become leaders who strengthen our communities in the future.

3. Smart

True intelligence is not about memorization—it’s about critical thinking and the pursuit of truth. Our current system trains students to repeat facts, not to reason, question, or innovate.

What does a smart person look like? A smart person will be the one on the battlefield who lives and comes back to fight another day, doesn’t matter their equipment or training. A smart person living on the streets will be the one who figures out how to get a meal. A smart person on a sales team will be the highest earner in the company. It’s basic smarts and it isn’t being taught.

We must reform education to emphasize logic, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving. By empowering students to think independently and seek truth, celebrating the kids who think “outside the box”. We will raise a generation capable of innovation, leadership, and resilience in an ever-changing world.

Smart kids don’t just pass tests—they smartly forge the future of the State of Texas.

4. Sovereign

 The idea of being smart and thinking for yourself directly leads to the idea of being a sovereign person. Collective thinking, and following the crowd has never been a positive quality or good virtue. But helping our kids go the way they should go with their own unique personal strength is not a one size fits all public education endeavor. It requires internal soul searching that is unique to every person. Going along with the crowd, not only leads to bad decisions at times, but stalls a young person’s ability to explore the universe in the direction they want to.

In Conclusion

Strong people are harder to kill and more useful in general. Spiritual people are harder to deceive. Smart people who know how to think will grow in their God-given, unique direction leading to a Sovereign lifestyle. 

Together, we will build an education system that prepares the next generation to make Texas the strongest, smartest state in America.