The Purpose of Education

The purpose of education is to ensure every child leaves school prepared to be a lifelong learner—ready to think critically, solve problems, and succeed in higher education, a vocation, or everyday life.

But today, that isn’t happening.

For 14 years, I have been in the trenches of Texas public schools. I have seen how students behave, how classrooms function, and how overwhelmed teachers struggle to meet expectations without the tools they need. Instead of improvement, we have witnessed decline—students leaving classrooms without permission, exhibiting disruptive behavior, and facing no consequences.
This must stop.

Texas Students Are Falling Behind

In reading, 30–40% of students are performing three grade levels below where they should be. A seventh grader reading on a fourth-grade level carries that gap for years.

In math, many students cannot perform basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division—or even count back change.

We often hear phrases like “raise the bar,” but the truth is simple:
We cannot raise standards when students cannot meet the current ones.

Texas ranks in the lower half of national academic performance—despite being the world’s eighth-largest economy. Something is deeply wrong.

Who I Am

My name is Rachel Hogue. I am a Christian, a wife, a daughter, an educator, a seventh-generation Texan, and someone who has dedicated more than a decade to public education.

I’m not a politician.
I am a teacher, a reading interventionist, a SPED resource instructor, an instructional coach, and a principal-certified leader. I have taught kindergarteners and high-schoolers, built intervention systems, closed learning gaps, trained teachers, and supported campuses from the inside out.

I believe every child deserves a strong foundation—reading, writing, and math—and every teacher deserves support, not endless mandates.

Why I’m Running for State Board of Education

Texas is not creating excellence. We are raising expectations without ensuring 80% mastery of foundational skills. We are widening achievement gaps and watching students slip through the cracks.

Our children deserve better.
Our teachers deserve better.
Parents deserve transparency and a real voice.

I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. And I’m ready to fight for policies that put students and educators first.

A Final Word

I am running because I have lived this work.
I have sat in reading circles, supported struggling learners, and stood beside exhausted teachers who still show up with heart.

Education is not political.
It is the foundation of our families, communities, workforce, and future.

Join me, and let’s rebuild Texas education together.