By Rachel Tucker
When Stephanie and Jared Elad moved to Frisco, they never intended to seek office. Fast forward 13 years, and both are elected officials in one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas.
Both political newcomers, Stephanie is currently in her first year of her second consecutive three-year term as a member of the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees. Jared was elected in June 2025 to his first three-year term on the Frisco City Council.
The Elads represent something unique: a Jewish couple holding office at the same time who were not expected to win. Although their roles are different, both are making an impact in various ways.
“About five years ago, I heard a speaker say that running for school board is one of the most important roles you can hold, and I realized I needed to step up,” Stephanie said. “Frisco ISD has 63,000 students, and our budget is about $1 billion to educate those students. Public education is very complex, and making it better is important. Having a seat at the table makes a difference.”
Stephanie first won in 2022 in a race that garnered national attention, which boosted her reputation as a determined advocate, unafraid to defend difficult decisions in honoring her commitment to serve the community’s students, parents, educators and residents. Having worked in corporate human resources for 25 years, this role aligns with her background when it comes to reviewing budgets, working through complex situations and partnering with staff, parents and students.
She supports numerous forward-thinking plans, such as the Access Frisco initiative and the district’s Teacher Incentive Allotment program, as well as developing policies and standards for student testing, teacher retention and school redistricting.
Jared, founder and wealth advisor at Diamond Capital Wealth, decided to run in 2025 after seeing the impact Stephanie was making and won 52% of the vote in a runoff election. He is a strong public safety advocate who believes in balanced growth, disciplined spending and sound community policies that protect and prioritize families.
“I am passionate about bringing more businesses to Frisco,” Jared said. “We have Major League Soccer (MLS), The Star, the PGA and Universal opening this summer. Parents are working harder today. If we can keep taxes low, then we will have more disposable income for health care, schools and personal needs. That’s always the No. 1 thing for most folks when you ask them about their budget. I am passionate about that. The more businesses we have here, and if we can have better services, that makes a difference.”
Judaism also plays an important role in their lives and shapes how they lead — primarily through tikkun olam and tzedakah. With antisemitism on the rise, the Elads noted that having public roles like these sets an example for Jews in North Texas and the broader Jewish community.
Stephanie noted that Frisco ISD doesn’t have a lot of antisemitism on its campuses. However, when it does, “being in this position allows us to use situations as teaching moments when incidents arise.”
Stephanie explained that a few years ago, a Jewish parent brought to her attention that one of the campus student magazines ran an article that was anti-Israel, promoting BDS. She brought the issue to the attention of several senior administrators.
“I used it as a teaching opportunity,” she said. “What I’ve learned is that a lot of people don’t know that saying a certain thing would be upsetting or harmful to a Jewish student, or writing a certain thing in a newspaper or yearbook.”
Stephanie said she doesn’t “believe that Frisco ISD has an antisemitism problem. However, incidents will occur, especially post-Oct. 7.”
She said that she was pleased that her concerns were taken seriously and that administrators have followed up with her on more than one occasion.
“This is where having a voice and a seat at the table can help and part of the reason that Jared and I are so passionate about serving,” she said. “I’ve been able to explain why a Jewish student would be deeply upset by something. I have found that through the relationships I’ve built, people are receptive. I feel fortunate to be in Frisco ISD because I know this isn’t the case in all districts.”
Jared added that Jewish representation on the City Council is impactful for Frisco as the city continues to grow. More people are moving to Frisco and areas north, and there is also a Chabad of Frisco.
He said he is proud that Chanukah celebrations at City Hall and Kaleidoscope Park have drawn hundreds of attendees over the past couple of years.
“In the past, only one member of the City Council would attend the Chabad of Frisco Chanukah program. For the past three years, it’s been at The Star, and I invited the entire City Council to attend,” Jared said. “When you are on the inside, you can affect change. I hope to recruit more Jews to seek office. There are Jewish city council members in Dallas and Fort Worth, and this allows us to raise our profile in a positive way.”
In addition to serving the community, the Elads both maintain their full-time jobs and enjoy spending time with their daughters, Marissa and Rachel.
As they continue in these positions for the next two and a half years, both Stephanie and Jared plan to continue making a difference for the residents of Frisco.
“Nobody thought either of us would win,” Stephanie said. “What makes what we did special and unique is that we were both political outsiders and newcomers.”
“We want to show that people can give back in various ways — whether it is through the school board, City Council, or volunteering for the PTA or a favorite charity,” Jared added. “This also shows that Jewish people can get involved, give back and be positive role models.”
