Im running for re-election for Brock ISD School Board Place 7.

I was reminded recently why I chose to serve on this board—it’s because of the deep love and gratitude I have for this school and our community, a place I had the absolute privilege to grow up in. When you grow up as a teacher’s kid, the school and, by extension, the community is your family. Your dad’s not just your coach; he’s everyone’s coach, and your mom is just as loving as Mrs. Farmer (IYKYK). The school board president talks a State Trooper into letting him take you home after he picked you up for driving without a license to golf practice on 1189 cause your dad was scoutin when you’re 14 (might or might not be true). You celebrate wins together, you grow closer through tragedy and loss; this community raised me, and for that I am eternally grateful.

We talk a lot about excellence and culture. To me, excellence in Brock is pretty simple: You get up each day and, whatever task or commitment you have made, you give it 100% effort and look to improve every day. Over time, excellence is not about state championships or outcomes in general…it’s the little things. Good governance starts with the little things. So yes, I have strong opinions about the little things, because I know that over time, through discipline and continuous improvement, these little things are the foundation that our culture is built on.

This foundation of excellence is only half the story. You see, the Brock that I grew up in loved and supported me in every way. They chose kids over themselves, they showed up to the gym and packed it out, they let tennis players go to open gym the day before the regional tennis tournament and break their arm(might or might not have happened), every mom was simply called “mom”. I was loved. It’s that simple. We have to choose to love and support not just every kid in this district but also every Teacher, every Coach, every Community Member.

This is who I am. This is why my wife Missy and I chose to come back and raise our 4 boys here in Brock. This place gave me a foundation of excellence and love that pushed me out into this world full of curiosity and tenacity to continuously progress. I’ve had an incredible opportunity to build products that billions of people use every day at Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn. I’ve contributed to UN resolutions on preservation of language with AI, I’ve worked on constitutional issues for the sovereign San Carlos Apache Nation, spoke at UNESCO about the impact of technology on the world. Although I didn’t get into teaching, I lectured in Georgia Tech’s master’s in computer science program on Artificial Intelligence policy and fairness. I’ve gotten to work on some really exciting and hard problems…and I have this place to thank for that foundation of love and excellence.

Education is changing and evolving. The strategic direction and governance will be more important than ever over the next 10 years. I am here for it, and Brock continues to remain the best place in Texas to get an education. But we must still continually push to get better with excellence. Here is how I intend to lead:

Love & Excellence = Every Kid leaves this place with the necessary skills to succeed in an ever changing world with a foundation of Love and Excellence.

Excellence In Governance – its doing the little things right, by the law, fully transparent, grounded in our Constitution and Oath as Trustees. Fiscally responsible stewards of taxpayer and this community’s funds in supporting the goal and mission of educating our kids.

Love in our Decisions – We must wholeheartedly love and support every single kid in Brock. Every kid matters. Period. This is our choice, this community is made up of us, and its our Love that can build that foundation for every kid. Support Each Other. Love Each Other!

Every kid deserves to feel like a teacher’s kid..

Elections matter. Brock matters.

Love & Excellence,
Toby Farmer