In this episode of Solve for X, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes Max Rombado, Legislative Director at Raise Your Hand Texas. A proud Houstonian and Springwoods High alum, Max brings deep experience navigating the Capitol and advocating for policies that strengthen public education across the state.

From landmark teacher pay raises to the controversial expansion of school choice, Max unpacks what the latest legislative session means for educators, families, and communities. With clarity and candor, he breaks down the complexity of HB2 and HB8, and shares why the fight for public education funding is far from over.

Whether you’re a district leader, teacher, or policymaker, this episode offers insider perspective on the forces shaping Texas classrooms—and what’s at stake in the years ahead.

What You’ll Learn

● The key provisions of HB2 and what teacher retention and incentive allotments mean for salaries statewide

● Why timing and inflation complicate district budgeting despite new funding

● The creation of the ABC (Allotment for Basic Costs) and its impact on school operations

● Teacher certification challenges—and how new rules could reshape the workforce

● How HB8 reforms accountability, testing, and the STAAR system

● What Texas’ first school choice bill (SB2) means for families, districts, and the future of public education

● Why funding gaps still leave Texas far from national averages, and what it will take to catch up

Episode Timestamps

00:42 Meet Max Rombado, Raise Your Hand Texas

02:01 Legislative priorities: school funding, accountability, and choice

03:48 Teacher retention allotment explained

05:37 How much funding is allocated for teacher pay raises

07:26 The ABC allotment: covering operational costs

11:45 Inflation and the limits of new funding

13:29 Teacher certification challenges and incentives

14:58 The new three-test system: STAAR to Student Success Tool

18:21 School choice in Texas: SB2 and its implications

21:01 Private schools, charters, and shifting dynamics

22:32 Advocacy and getting involved with Raise Your Hand Texas

Connect with Us
● Host’s LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rick-fernandez-40692434/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rick-fernandez-40692434/)

Special Thanks
To Max Rombado and the Raise Your Hand Texas team for their commitment to strengthening public education and advocating for teachers, students, and communities statewide.

Stay Connected
Follow, like, and subscribe to Solve for X for more stories where curiosity meets collaboration. Until next time—keep asking the right questions, and keep solving for X.

In this episode of Solve for X, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes Russ Johnson, CEO of Tessera Technology Group and Trustee at Lorena ISD. With over 30 years in education and leadership, Russ shares how districts can strengthen school safety, sustain superintendents, and prepare students for meaningful careers—while keeping community and care at the center.

From balancing technology and trust to supporting leaders under pressure, this episode explores what it takes to lead through change and protect what matters most in public education.

What You’ll Learn

• Why school safety starts with people, not just products

• How districts can move from reaction to prevention after crises

• The rising stress on Texas superintendents and how boards can help

• Why leadership wellness should be part of every district’s accountability

• How smaller districts can create workforce pathways through partnerships

• The link between community trust, school culture, and strong leadership

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Solve for X — “Risk it to get that biscuit”
01:17 Meet Russ Johnson, CEO of Tessera Technology Group and Lorena ISD Trustee
02:10 What Tessera solves for: building safety through collaboration
03:20 The three pillars of school safety—facilities, tech, and the human factor
05:10 Avoiding reactionary decisions: the “pendulum effect” after tragedy
07:00 Balancing security and culture: keeping schools welcoming
09:10 Superintendent wellness and why it’s often overlooked
11:45 The politics of leadership—pay, pressure, and sustainability
14:20 Preparing students for the workforce through innovation and partnerships
20:00 Closing reflections—why educator voices must stay loud and united

Connect with Us

Host’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rick-fernandez-40692434/

Special Thanks

To Russ Johnson and the Tessera Technology Group team for their work advancing safer schools, stronger leadership, and sustainable education in Texas.

Stay Connected
Follow, like, and subscribe to Solve for X for more stories where curiosity meets collaboration.
Until next time—keep asking the right questions, and keep solving for X.

In this episode of Solve for X, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes Jonathan Wachtel, Co-Founder of OurCo. With a background spanning journalism, diplomacy, and public affairs, Jonathan shares how OurCo helps districts move beyond one-off surveys to ongoing, moderated community engagement—so leaders can take the pulse before big decisions, not after the backlash.

From sentiment tools and push notifications to anonymous input and district-level branding, Jonathan explains how superintendents, boards, and school teams can use real-time feedback to build trust, reduce crisis noise, and make faster, smarter calls.

What You’ll Learn

• Why continuous engagement beats sporadic surveys for decision-making

• How moderation tools keep discourse productive (not performative)

• Ways districts use OurCo for pay systems, wraparound services, and student voice

• How real-time polling informs board meetings and crisis comms

• Branding, privacy, and anonymity: building trust while getting honest input

• Using OurCo to market your district amid school choice and consolidation pressures

• Cost and time advantages vs. traditional survey consultants

• How nonprofits and statewide orgs can align far-flung members quickly

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Cold open & welcome to Solve for X
00:51 Meet Jonathan Wachtel + why the name “OurCo”
02:16 What OurCo solves: social + sentiment for real-time decisions
03:21 Use cases: HISD, wraparound services, and student voice
04:53 Moderation & controls: keeping engagement constructive
06:44 From journalism to K-12: avoiding scandals with proactive comms
09:23 What’s different about OurCo: engagement loop + live dashboards
12:36 Competing for families: branding, outreach, and community consensus
14:56 Trust & privacy: data ownership, options for anonymous input
19:26 Getting started: customization, pricing value, and broader use cases

Connect with Us
Host’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rick-fernandez-40692434/

Special Thanks
To Jonathan Wachtel and the OurCo team for helping education leaders listen first, decide wisely, and build durable community trust.

Stay Connected
Follow, like, and subscribe to Solve for X for more stories where curiosity meets collaboration.
Until next time—keep asking the right questions, and keep solving for X.