Euan Blackman, candidate for Richardson ISD trustee, opposed the district's $750 million school bond election in 2021. Joining him in opposition was Lynn Strawn Davenport (LSD), herself a candidate for trustee in 2017. She lost. Despite their efforts, the district's voters passed the school bonds. In a 2022 article ("Forever InDEBTed"), LSD wrote, "My friend Euan Blackman and I have made the rounds speaking out against the big business of school bonds." In return, Blackman hosted LSD on his own podcast ("Euan, Me & ISD"), which went pretty much like you'd expect — a mutual admiration society meeting.
Lynn Davenport has been pretty much against everything related to RISD for years. In her 2016 testimony to the state legislature, she complained that school boards use words that "do not resonate" with her. Words like "global citizens, TASA vision, future-ready, global economy, 21st century learner, human capital, global future, social-emotional learning, rubrics, global workforce, outcomes, data-driven, college & career ready, rigor, blended learning."
Surprisingly, despite Euan Blackman's own opposition to "the big business of school bonds," in 2025 he supported most of a $1.4 billion Richardson ISD bond election. He just recently gained US citizenship, which made him eligible to run for RISD Board of Trustees himself. There's no evidence beyond that coincidental timing to suggest that his change of heart on school bonds might have been to curry favor with RISD voters, who have always supported school bonds. In any case, lately he's been sounding less like the Euan Blackman who used to attend RISD board meetings and sit with the protestors who wore "Firestone" t-shirts. When the audience became noisy and were warned to be quiet, he took to supporting the critics by waving "jazz hands."
After guiding the district through COVID in 2020-2021, when Dr. Jeannie Stone resigned as superintendent, this was how Euan Blackman greeted the news.
If this is who he is at heart, then RISD will be torn apart again if he's elected. This time the disruptions will come from the dais of the school board itself. The man who wrote those words lacks the temperament needed in a school board trustee.
Who was a candidate Euan Blackman wanted to see on the Board of Trustees? None other than Sherry Clemens. (Oh, and he wanted LSD for trustee of Dallas College.)
There were many reasons why Sherry Clemens was wrong for RISD. If you want to go back down Memory Lane, you are welcome to. From the archives:
Dealbreaker #1: She's Extreme Even for Conservatives
Dealbreaker #2: She's Turning the RISD Into Southlake
Dealbreaker #3: She's Aligned with Lauren Davis
Dealbreaker #4: She Fought Against COVID-19 Mitigation Policies
Dealbreaker #5: She's Against Books with Serious Themes
Dealbreaker #6: She Lies about CRT
Dealbreaker #7: She Thinks She Speaks for All Christians
Dealbreaker #8: She Thinks RISD is Better Without Dr. Jeannie Stone
But that was then. Has Euan Blackman changed? As a director of something called Innovative Teachers of Texas, Euan Blackman still has his own long list of topics that don't resonate with him. "Topics such as Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), Critical Race Theory (CRT), Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), etc." Oh, and "mask mandates and mandatory vaccines." In short, he is still triggered by a lot of things. That's a dealbreaker for me. Just because he supported the 2025 school bond or teacher raises doesn't mean he's changed, a judgment he would probably agree with.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
"Allies on a mic.
A long catalog of things
that 'don't resonate.'"
—h/t ChatGPT
3 comments:
On Facebook, Zach Bullard posted a screenshot showing that Euan Blackman donated money to the "Richardson ISD Families First" PAC in 2022. When I did NOT endorse Sherry Clemens in 2022, this is what I wrote about the "Richardson ISD Families First PAC".
"She is endorsed by and has made multiple contributions to the Richardson ISD Families First PAC, which, when endorsing Clemens and Jan Stell, also promoted a movie that calls teachers "mind polluters." The movie accuses public schools of indoctrinating children into "a worldview of rampant sexuality, homosexuality, and transgenderism normalized through the use of pornographic and pedophilic materials." It shouldn't have to be said, but this is false. It damages the reputation of every teacher in RISD."
This is the PAC Euan Blackman was contributing money to in 2022.
Euan Blackman posted this comment to my share of this post:
===================
Part 1.
Continuing the Conversation: Principled Leadership for Richardson ISD Students
I welcome continued community dialogue about the future of Richardson ISD, especially as we head into the final weeks before the election. Honest discussion about our district’s history, bonds, and priorities helps voters make informed choices.
The latest commentary attempts to paint my record as inconsistent or disruptive, particularly with regard to the 2021 and 2025 bonds. Let’s clarify the facts with context.
In 2021, I opposed the proposed bond package because it launched a major restructuring, moving sixth grade out of elementary schools into a middle school model, while committing the district to a long-range, multi-bond plan projected to exceed $1.3 billion, plus interest. My concern then, as now, was straightforward:
Was this the best use of taxpayer dollars?
Did it truly prioritize academic excellence and fiscal responsibility, or did it lock us into an expensive path without sufficient safeguards?
When invited to participate in the 2025 Bond Steering Committee, we had a real opportunity to address some of those earlier decisions. The 2025 bond package totaled $1.4 billion and included critical fixes to facilities, safety, and infrastructure needs that had grown more expensive over time. I supported it because sometimes we must invest to correct past shortcomings and move forward in the best interest of our students. That’s not flip-flopping, it’s learning from experience and putting kids first when the district presents a responsible path forward.
My record on these issues has always been driven by the same questions:
Does this serve academic success?
Is it fiscally sound?
Does it respect the community’s values and resources?
The article also revisits my service on the Innovative Teachers of Texas leadership team. As I’ve stated before, ITTexas works to liberate educators so they can focus on teaching core academics rather than being pulled into expansive, ideologically driven mandates around SEL frameworks, DEI initiatives, and related topics. This does not mean ignoring real classroom challenges like bullying or disruptions. Teachers handle those every day through sound discipline policies, character education, and support systems grounded in shared community standards. The false choice presented, that opposing certain mandated programs equals rejecting basic kindness or social skills, remains overly simplistic and reductionist.
Part 2.
During my 23 years in the classroom and 10+ years actively involved in RISD, I’ve consistently advocated for students. I’ve spoken up about leadership decisions under previous administration, including those of Dr. Jeannie Stone, that I believed created unnecessary division and failed to prioritize safety and learning. I stand by that advocacy. Good leadership means listening to parents, teachers, and community members, not doubling down on contested policies or resorting to legal battles with state officials. We don’t need to relitigate every past remedy, but clarity matters when old narratives are revived.
As someone who has served on multiple district committees and helped numerous residents navigate issues in RISD, I’ve shown a willingness to roll up my sleeves and work for practical, positive change. No organization or individual is perfect, Lord knows we are all human and flawed. I don’t apply litmus tests or purity tests. What matters is a shared commitment to strong academics, safe schools, parental involvement, and fiscal responsibility.
As a leader in the classroom and now in educational organizations, I will bring real experience to the board. Voters in District 3 deserve trustees who focus on what unites us in support of our 36,000 students rather than amplifying division.
In the coming weeks, you will choose the direction for Richardson ISD. I’m proud of my record fighting for our kids over the past decade in this district and I ask for your support to continue that work with integrity and focus on excellence.
I remain open to constructive dialogue with all who care about outstanding public education in Richardson.
Euan Blackman
Candidate, Richardson ISD Board of Trustees, District 3
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