Representative Alma A. Allen – District 131, Texas

Alma A. Allen is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 131 in Harris County, which covers parts of south and southwest Houston. Born on April 7, 1939, in Livingston, Texas, Rep. Allen is a Baptist and a long-time resident of Houston. She is a retired educator and an ordained minister who has spent much of her life serving public schools and her community.

Before entering the legislature, Allen built a distinguished career in Houston Independent School District , beginning as a classroom teacher and later serving as assistant principal and principal at several schools. She retired from HISD after 39 years of service and subsequently worked as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University, while also performing as a motivational speaker and educational consultant.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Education, Texas Southern University
  
• Master of Arts in Education, Texas Southern University
  
• Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Houston
  
• Additional certification in school administration, University of Houston
  

Political Experience

Rep. Allen was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2004 and has represented District 131 for multiple terms, re‑elected several times through 2022. She also previously served on the Texas State Board of Education for more than 10 years before her election to the House.

Throughout her legislative service, Rep. Allen has been deeply involved in public education policy. She has served multiple terms on the House Public Education Committee, including stints as vice chair, and has also been a member of the Corrections Committee and chaired or served on related subcommittees such as the Subcommittee on Educator Quality. In her final years in the Legislature, she was vice chair of the Public Education Committee and an active member of the House Corrections Committee.

Rep. Allen is widely recognized for her advocacy on behalf of public schools, students, educators, and marginalized communities. Awards and honors she has received include the Texas Freedom Network “Walking the Walk Award,” presented by former Governor Ann Richards, and the Living Legend Award from the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. She has also been honored in her hometown with the designation of Alma Allen Day.

In 2025, Rep. Allen announced she would not seek reelection after 20 years in the Texas House and endorsed her son, former State Board of Education member Lawrence Allen, Jr., to succeed her in District 131.