Biography
Texas Roots
Pam Little, a proud 5th generation Texan, hailing from the conservative community of Bryan-College Station, Texas. The military influence of Texas A&M and my father’s naval service in WWII instilled within me a profound love for America and a deep appreciation for the liberties we cherish today.
I am happily married to my high school sweetheart, and together we are blessed with two children who attended the public schools of McKinney, alongside four beloved grandchildren.
Upon graduation from Texas A&M, our journey led us to Houston where I co-founded Ace Fence Company within the confines of our garage. In the early 80s, we relocated the business to the bustling metroplex, and today, it proudly stands as one of the largest fence companies in the great state of Texas. For over two decades, our cherished home has been nestled in the heart of Fairview, serving as the anchor of countless fond memories and achievements.
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I embark on this professional endeavor, drawing from a rich tapestry of experiences and a deep-seated commitment to God, values and excellence.
Teaching & Publishing Executive
During my time in Houston, I taught business courses in the vocational area of the Lone Star College System. This experience provided me with valuable insights into the significance of the numerous career and technology courses now offered in the state through the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). I am genuinely thrilled to witness the array of opportunities available to our students as they transition out of high school.
Throughout my career in educational publishing, which began in the late 80s and culminated in my role as a regional vice president of Houghton Mifflin until 2008, I had the honor of closely collaborating with the State Board of Education. Our collaboration focused on the development of educational standards, and subsequently, creating tailored materials to meet those standards while securing the State Board approval. Following this, I spearheaded the introduction of these materials to local school districts, working alongside educators to ensure successful implementation. My diverse roles, spanning from Sales Representative to Marketing Manager and ultimately Regional Vice President, provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the State Board of Education pivotal role in standards development and approval of instructional materials.
Community Involvement
Following my retirement, I have enthusiastically dedicated myself to community service, undertaking prominent roles such as serving on multiple boards and leading as president of the Samaritan Inn board, a homeless facility in Collin County. As an esteemed alumna of the Allen-Fairview leadership class 24, my commitment to public service was recognized through my election to the Fairview Town Council in 2016, along with the honor of receiving the Spirit of Fairview Award.
My passion for public service extends to my active involvement on the board of the Texas Federation of Republican Women as the Scholarship Chair, as well as my dedicated five-year tenure as the treasurer for the local club, Republican Women of Greater North Texas. Notably, I have collaborated with Robbi Hull, Legislative VP for TFRW, to enhance the language in HB1605 concerning Open Education Resources. Additionally, my husband and I are steadfast members of the Heritage Ranch Republican club, proudly contributing as major donors to various Texas A&M projects and local non-profits. We are fortunate to have been so blessed and feel it is our responsibility to give back to the community.
State Board of Education
In 2018, I had the honor of being elected to the State Board of Education (SBOE) following an invitation from Tincy Miller, a distinguished figure with significant tenure on the SBOE and renowned for her advocacy for children with dyslexia. Throughout the last 5 years, including 3 years as the Vice Chair, appointed unanimously by my colleagues, I have steadfastly devoted myself to advancing strong core Texas educational standards.
Accomplishments and Future Goals
During my time on the Board, I have successfully led various initiatives, such as implementing phonics-based reading standards, reintegrating cursive writing into the curriculum, approved new science standards that included engineering practices, stopped a set of social studies standards that contained woke ideologies and watered down U.S and Texas history, voted against gender identities in all the standards, kept social justice out of the science standards, rejected a biology book referring to a pregnant person when they refused to make the change to pregnant woman, and advocating for charter schools with specialty programs such as dyslexia programs, amongst many other relevant issues currently being faced in our education system.
Looking ahead, the Board is preparing to assess Math and Social Studies standards, with the goal of aligning them with the skills needed by school districts and fostering in students a profound appreciation for American and Texas history. Additionally, I aim to work closely with legislators to enhance the STAAR test, ensuring it accurately reflects accountability.