Ted Tredennick, Courtney Anderson emerge as best choices to lead SBISD at CPTA candidate forum

Last Thursday, April 2nd, the Council of PTA’s held its annual forum for candidates seeking election to the SBISD Board of Trustees. Ted Tredennick, running for the open Position Two seat, distinguished himself from his opponents with his sincere and thoughtful responses to audience questions.

Throughout the one-hour forum, Mr. Tredennick reached out to the broad Spring Branch community, noting that whether voters have children in SBISD or not, they have a vested interest in the school district. He said “Strong public schools benefit all of us, from property values to economic opportunity. Supporting SBISD schools is really about investing in the future of Spring Branch.”

The most direct question asked by the audience pertained to potential budget cuts, which the district faces in 2026. Candidates were asked what items they would certainly protect from budget cuts.

Mr. Tredennick gave the most specific answer of the Position Two candidates, saying that he would “not cut security, athletics, or teacher pay” and added that he would work diligently with the private sector to raise money for other critical programs that were at risk for budget cuts.

He was the only candidate to make this commitment.

Mr. Tredennick is endorsed by County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, State Rep Mano DeAyala, and Mayor Jim Pappas of Hunters Creek.

Sally Cone and Jeri Spence are also running for Position Two on the SBISD Board. Jeri Spence has lived in SBISD for only nine months and does not warrant serious consideration for election to the board.

Sally Cone is the wife of Matt Cone. Matt Cone ran for trustee in 2024 but was not elected. Since 2024, the Cones have menaced SBISD's senior staff, employees, contractors and trustees with frivolous and unfounded accusations of corruption and malfeasance too numerous (and ridiculous) to detail here.

Ms. Cone, in her responses at the forum, read extensively from a binder of prepared notes. Her canned statements rarely addressed the questions the candidates were actually asked. Ms. Cone appeared very uncomfortable addressing the audience of approximately 40 attendees, likely because the audience included some of the staff and employees Matt had spent the prior two years disparaging without cause.

Current Trustee Courtney Anderson is the Position One incumbent seeking re-election this May. Ms. Anderson has served on the board with distinction, spending her first term leading the literacy committee to adopt a new K-8 language arts curriculum based on science of reading. Ms. Anderson has also engaged the private sector to raise funds for additional campus security.

At the forum, Ms Anderson gave crisp, complete answers to every question asked by the audience, as one would expect from a sitting trustee. Regarding potential budget cuts, Ms. Anderson cited instructional specialists and campus counselors as areas she would protect.

Ms. Anderson is opposed by Steve Smelley, a three year resident of the district. Mr. Smelley’s responses, while not objectionable, were overly broad and generic, showing his lack of understanding of the specific issues facing SBISD.

Early voting begins April 22, and Election Day is May 2.