For decades, the Texas State Board of Education has been known for its ideological approach to public education. While the pace of its meddling has slowed, the board still manages to invite ridicule and unwanted publicity. Take its 2018 debates about whether to continue to include Moses in U.S. history textbooks, and whether to cut out Helen Keller and Hillary Clinton. The board spends too much time churning out terrific material for late night television talk show hosts, and too little ensuring that Texas children get a first-class education.

Despite the late-night ridicule, the 15-member board’s work is critically important — and that makes the March 3 Democratic primary a race voters should pay close attention to. The board is responsible not only for setting curriculum standards and adopting textbooks and other instructional materials for public schools, but for overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund and for reviewing applications for new charter schools.

Three well-qualified Democratic candidates are vying to replace Chair Donna Bahorich,R-Houston, who is not seeking re-election. They are Debra Kerner, a speech and language pathologist; Kimberly McLeod, an assistant superintendent at the Harris County Department of Education; and Michelle Palmer, a social studies teacher. About 1.8 million Texans live in District 6, which stretches from Tomball to the north to Bellaire to the south. The good news for Texas voters is that all three Democratic candidates are qualified. Each brings to the table considerable experience in education.

Out of this talented field, we’re urging voters to vote for Palmer, 49. Her years as a teacher in area schools including Aldine ISD and Houston ISD have made her familiar with curriculum issues and will bring a rare perspective to the board: that of an active teacher. Her zeal for change, especially for ending Texas’ abstinence-only sex education and for expanding the history lessons to include a broader array of perspectives, is admirable. But she’ll need to be flexible in dealing with board members who see things differently, placing the interests of Texas school children first.