Eanes Parents Unite

We wrap up the final episode of our 2026 trustee candidate series with a real powerhouse leader . Yale-educated attorney Kate Ivers joins Aaron Silva to explain why the Board desperately needs someone who actually reads the fine print . From the WACC legal dumpster fire to the "silent erosion" of academic rigor in our middle schools, Kate outlines a path for principled governance and "No More Surp...

Eanes is treating a $6M deficit like a mystical puzzle, but for healthcare executive Swasti Apte, it’s just arithmetic. Swasti joins Aaron Silva to discuss how she recouped $2M in lost revenue at Kaiser Permanente and why she’s bringing that forensic eye to our Board. From the "Skittles for breakfast" communication gap to a 10-year plan to save our feeder schools, it's time for adult supervision....

You don’t keep the same mechanics when the engine is smoking. HR expert Jennifer Blackman joins Aaron Silva to bring private-sector discipline to a district facing a 20% teacher exodus . We discuss her SALT framework and the cold reality that teachers need rent money, not more bagels and tacos. Learn how Jennifer plans to restore fiscal health and liberate the EEF to fund excellence, not deficit h...

Join guest host Brad Swail as he interviews Aaron & Ivana Silva about their efforts to pass the RESTORE Act into Texas law. They delve into the Westlake Athletic Community Center (WACC) scandal and discuss how Eanes missed a $210 million endowment opportunity. Aaron also discusses the closures of Valley View and Eanes Elementary as the district adapts to declining enrollment. The couple provid...

The promise of an affordable and practical college education has been decaying for years.  Many parents are worried about saddling their student or family with tons of debt and low employment opportunities.  Eanes should keep the 4-year train going full speed yet add vocational opportunities to the curriculum so students can have an option to leave high school for a high-paying career if they want...

I've been signing the front of paychecks since my early 20s.  When you are an entrepreneur and CEO, you develop a creative way of thinking and solving financial problems.  This is experience and thinking you cannot get from a nurse or career government bureaucrat (my opponents).   We need a business leader on the board of trustees that can approach our budget differently.  I will bring a new diver...

Yes, we can pay our best teachers $100,000 or more.  It starts with a new way of thinking and a strong partnership with Eanes Education Foundation.  Measuring excellence will be easy considering the top-talent we already have in the district.  We must end 20% attrition by thinking differently about compensating teachers and keeping them here long enough to build a new legacy.  I will lead this eff...

Look around.  Westlake is not growing.  Young families can't afford $2 million homes.  Parents and grandparents aren't moving out either.  Our student population is in decline yet we must upgrade our facilities to contemporary standards, for sure.  However, do we bring on as much as $1 Billion in bond debt to pay for a school district that is too big for our population...or do we build the future...

There are many parents in our community that do not feel seen, heard or included.  I intend to change that dynamic and bring people together like I have done over the past 2 years with this podcast.  Viewpoints from all sides on all issues.  Unafraid to communicate and a natural curiosity in what taxpayers, parents, teachers and students want to share.  The current board of trustees must do a much...

Eanes has officially broken the Texas Public School Finance System (aka "Robinhood") and the implications of a potential "Success Failure" are more probable today than ever before in our history.  Join host Aaron Silva as he discusses the major financial issues facing Eanes that every parent should know about and how new leadership on the Board of Trustees can make a difference in ensuring the leg...

Join Host Aaron Silva as he interviews new Police Chief Matt Greer about his career in the Austin PD, anti-terrorism and anti-gang task forces.  Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Trimble discusses the challenges in standing up their first ever police force - a response to the tragic events in Uvalde and now ordered by Texas Law.  Discover the details of how this armed police force will operate on ev...

Join host Aaron Silva as he grades the legislative triumphs and shortfalls of Eanes ISD in the 2023 season. In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Arnett joins Aaron for an insightful house call to discuss the wins and challenges; school choice, future bonds and the success of the Spanish immersion program and the fate of Valley View Elementary. However, issues such as protecting children from s...

Enjoy this in-depth interview with board of trustee candidate Chandler Hatchett. Mrs. Hatchett is a Texas native and 100% product of EISD attending elementary, middle and High school, now with her own 2 elementary aged children enrolled.  Hear her and Aaron discuss a wide variety of topics including library books, DEI, paying teachers more and reestablishing trust in the trustees by improving comm...

Join Aaron as he explores and unwraps the 2023 mega-BOND proposal made up of 3 propositions - A, B and C along with the help of Eanes' CFO Chris Scott and Asst. Superintendent Jeremy Trimble.  Rising property values have inflated EISD property tax coffers, helping the district to retire the 2019 $80M Bond early - but just as tax relief is in sight the school board sends another bond to the voters...

As we approach the midpoint of our second season, we are bringing back by popular demand our election coverage interviews which cover the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees candidates and the 2023 Bond. Join Aaron as he previews what is upcoming in the next few weeks!

Eanes ISD has been embroiled in a non-stop discussion about parental rights vs. an educator's right to teach what they think is important for students.  But what are parents' legal rights over education?  Where do the rights of educators in Texas begin and can they ethically or legally assume the role of teaching their morals or political psychosocial standards to students - or is turning out grea...

The Eanes Education Foundation (EEF) has done incredible things for our children's education for many years.  However, their annual $3 million gift has morphed from a "nice to have" to a "need to have" as the EISD board of trustees saddles the district with a $2 million deficit for this school year.  What would happen to our quality of education if EISD remains insolvent?  Are your donations finan...

WARNING: This episode contains passages read from actual EISD library books. Parental discretion is advised. The debate about pornography In School Library Books may be national but the controversy here is unique only to Eanes.  Aaron explores the 3-way tug of war between trustees’ inaction; parents pro-porn and parents anti-porn and frames a struggle that puts innocent students and teachers in th...

Following the Safety and Security Town Hall meeting hosted for parents by EISD in September, Aaron interviews Assistant Superintendents Jeremy Trimble and Molly May as they strengthen physical deterrents and monitor the mental health of our students - but some parents at the meeting feel it may not be enough in the aftermath of the Uvalde tragedy.  Hear about the hard work our leaders are performi...

Join Aaron as he introduces Varsity Football Head Coach Tony Salazar in his first year at the helm following three straight Texas state championships.  Coach Salazar discusses how our football program and culture reinforces accountability, responsibility and leadership in Eanes' students ultimately shaping them to be outstanding leaders after they graduate high school.  Part two of this episode in...

Join Aaron as he interviews Superintendent Dr. Jeff Arnett and Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jeremy Trimble about the safety status of our children in the wake of the Uvalde tragedy.  Dr. Arnett also details his community engagement and communication plans known as "CAFE" - Conversations About Furthering Excellence - that will openly discuss with all parents in a town hall format: Safety...

For nearly the entirety of this podcast season we have been focusing on what EISD administrators, leaders and parents believe is best for their kiddos - what WE THINK, THEY NEED.  Now, hear a perspective from one of the brightest and most accomplished students in our entire school district - the Senior Class President of Westlake High School, Mr. Mark Sayegh.  Mr. Sayegh has an incredible sense of...

Eanes ISD Board of Trustee Public Square Candidate Forum sponsored by Eanes Parents Unite Podcast held on April 20, 2022 at 7:00PM with challenging candidates Jim Withers, Jay Lamy, David Barrutia at Riverbend Church in Westlake, Texas. Event moderated by Aaron Silva. Not present: Incumbent candidates Ellen Balthazar (ill) and Heather Sheffield (declined).

Meet Jay Lamy a challenger to incumbent Ellen Balthazar for place #7 on the EISD Board of Trustees. Mr. Lamy is a native Texan and has grown up in Westlake. His children attend EISD and he is a successful local businessman who believes he can bring a positive energy and level of fiscal responsibility and creativity to the board that it needs to solve the teacher attrition problem and over-dependen...

Listen to challenger Jim Withers discuss why he believes that his experience, expertise and creativity will unite the community over what we have in common rather than dwelling on our differences.  Mr. Withers challenges incumbent Heather Sheffield for place #6.  Jim believes he is a better choice in this election because he will remain hyper-focused on EISD issues for our kids rather dividing his...