Experience
Experience Overview
- AISD School Board Trustee, Place 4
2019–Present - Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Partners in Education Committee
2018–2019 - Arlington ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors
2014–2018 - AISD Financial Futures Committee
2011–2018 - Arlington ISD 2009 Bond Oversight Committee
2010–2013 - AISD Capital Needs Steering Committee
2013–2014 - Arlington ISD 2014 Bond Oversight Committee
2014–2018 - Instructional Model Selection Committee
2012–2013 - Butler Dads Club Board of Directors
2003–2011 - PTA Life Member
2016
Over 22 years serving AISD
David has served on the AISD Board of Trustees for the last six years but began serving the district in 2003. His work in AISD over the last 22 years gives him the financial, operational, and academic knowledge needed to steer AISD to our goal of becoming premier school district.
Financial Futures Committee
Before joining the board, David served on the district's Financial Futures Committee (FFC) and chaired the committee for the last four years of his tenure. FFC is charged with setting the major priorities for the district's operations budget.
FFC members must gain a detailed knowledge of Texas school finance and the major cost drivers in the district's budget. The committee identifies major challenges facing the district and makes recommendations to the board of trustees.
From the start of his service on FFC, David championed the need for a comprehensive gifted and talented program at the elementary level. His tenacity paid off and the district started rolling out the new program six years ago.
Capital Needs and Bond Oversight
David also served on both the district's 2009 and 2014 Bond Oversight committees. He is most proud of his work on the Capital Needs Steering Committee that put together the details of the 2014 bond package that transformed the district and provided a wide variety of choice for our students.
Academic Services
David has also helped on several district-wide academic initiatives. David served on the district’s Instructional Model Selection Committee, provided feedback on the district's curriculum audit, and other academic priorities from the district's 2012–2015 strategic plan.
AISD Education Foundation
In addition, David served on the board of the Arlington ISD Education Foundation including a term on the executive committee. The foundation is an independent non-profit that awards classroom grants to teachers across the district. Over the five years David served on the foundation, he delivered grants to classrooms in the majority of campuses in AISD.
Values
Conservative Financial Stewardship
As trustees, we owe it to our taxpayers to be good financial stewards of their tax dollars. Waste and overspending are not an option. In the eight years before joining the board, David served the district's Financial Futures committee to look for efficiencies and eliminate programs that were not justified.
In addition, David fought at the state level to change the reliance on local property taxes to finance our schools and force the state to pay its equal share of funding. The legislature responded in 2019, but more is needed to provide real property tax relief when it comes to school financing.
Student Outcomes Focus
David has always pushed the board to adopt goals focused on student outcomes and make sure we monitor the district’s progress towards those goals.
He is currently working on prioritizing our efforts improving early childhood literacy scores across the district.
We owe it to ALL students that they graduate exceptionally prepared for college or career.
Innovative Classrooms
Over the last 10 years, David has fought as a parent and taxpayer for specialized programs and the ability of parents to choose the type of school that is best for their child.
Today, AISD is a model of school choice with tailored programs across the district. Gifted and Talented, Dual Language and Fine Arts, International Baccalaureate, STEM, and Early College High school are just a few of the choices our students now have.
Our network of great schools gives parents choice and has expanded the number of top rated campuses across the district.
Support Teachers
The greatest impact on student outcomes is from the teachers in our classrooms. AISD is blessed with great teachers. It is no secret they are overworked and overburdened — and many are leaving the profession for good.
We must do everything we can to lighten teachers' loads by eliminating the administrative burdens and distractions that keep them from their primary task — teaching.
In addition, we must tackle disruptive discipline issues headon and continue to make teachers safe in their classrooms.
About David
David Wilbanks is a seventh-generation Texan and has resided in Arlington for over 30 years. He is married to Esther (Herbie) Aguilar-Wilbanks and is a father of two children. His daughter graduated from AISD and is currently working on her PhD in Space Physics at the University of Michigan where she is member of a research team studying solar winds and space weather. His son graduated from the STEM Academy at Martin High School with honors and is majoring in Computer Science at UTA.
Education
David is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. After graduating UT, David started work towards his MBA from UTA but left early to pursue his dream as a product manager in Silicon Valley.
Work
After a successful career in Silicon Valley, David and Herbie moved back to the metroplex and chose Arlington to raise their family. A few years later, David founded his own software company which he successfully sold in 2003. Currently, David is working as a consultant for a local private equity firm.
Community Service
David is a past member of the Rotary Club of Arlington and has volunteered at serveral schools in AISD. Until recently David was on the Executive Committee of the Arlington ISD Education Foundation and served on its board for the last five years. David also volunteers with the national non-profit Reading Partners providing reading intervention to help at-risk elementary students read at grade level by third grade.
Support Our Campaign
Financial Donations
We need your financial support!
We need people like you to support David's campaign to make AISD a premier school district. Please consider donating using the form to the left (or above if on a mobile device). Your investment of funds, time, and support will help him advocate for the students and teachers of AISD.
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Volunteer & Support SignupContact Info
- Phone:
- 817-458-8514
- Email:
- david