Her story

Stephanie Limon Bazan is a working mom, former educator, experienced board member, non profit leader and fifth-generation Texan. She’s running for Texas State Board of Education District 5 to strengthen our public schools and put students first.

A proud product of public schools and a first-generation college graduate, Stephanie believes deeply in public education because public schools helped shape her life. Now the parent of a 7- and 10-year-old, she’s running to ensure every Texas child has access to a high-quality public education no matter their zip code, the language they speak at home, or the supports they need to learn.

Stephanie is running to focus on what truly matters: supporting students, teachers and families; fully funding schools; and teaching honest, inclusive history rather than politicizing classrooms.

Education and service have guided Stephanie’s life. She taught at St. Edward’s University, her alma mater, where she lived out the university’s mission of critical thinking, service, and community leadership. She has spent more than 15 years as a community and nonprofit leader, advocating for students and working families across Central Texas.

Her career spans education, healthcare, law, and nonprofit leadership, with experience at the University of York Medical School; at LifeWorks, where she addressed youth homelessness and literacy; and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she led the nationally recognized Hispanic Austin Leadership program.

A member of the Limon family, Stephanie’s Texas roots and commitment to service are strong. Stephanie doesn’t just talk about service, she does the work.

Stephanie’s service began as a young Brownie Scout, where she later earned her Girl Scout Silver Award, and has continued through decades of leadership and community involvement. She currently serves as Secretary of the Board at Integral Care, the local mental health and intellectual and developmental disability authority, where she also sits on the Finance Committee overseeing a budget of more than $100 million. She is also Chair of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board, helping shape policy, lead collaboratively, and serve constituents citywide.

In addition to her governing board service, Stephanie volunteers and serves in advisory roles with organizations focused on youth and education, including the Advisory Board of Explore Austin and the St. Edward’s University School of Arts & Humanities Advisory Board as well as the Steering Committee for the Austin Community Foundation Hispanic Impact Fund, where she previously led grantmaking efforts to advance health, education, and economic opportunity. 

Born and raised in South Austin, Stephanie attended Austin ISD schools and is a proud St. Elmo Mighty Mustang, Porter Panther and Crockett Cougar. She is a first-generation college graduate and attended St. Edward’s University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree while also working at her neighborhood grocery store. She later earned her master’s degree from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and graduated from the LBJ Women’s Campaign School (LBJWCS) at the University of Texas School of Public Affairs. She continues to be an ambassador of the LBJWCS and has traveled to Washington D.C. to share her story and lift up other leaders. 

Stephanie and her husband, an educator, live in South Austin with their two children. They enjoy playing sports together and love living room dance parties and going on adventures in Texas.