HIGH STANDARDS, ASSESSMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, and STUDENT SUCCESS
Officers
Jon H. Fleming, Chairman (e-mail)
Jon is Chairman of Shepherd Creek Enterprises, an educational and health care consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and capital formation. His life and work includes service on the faculty of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston - Psychiatry (Lecturer to Professor of Psychiatry and Ethics - 1971-76; Adjunct 1976-84); Executive Director of Health Science Center Relations - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (1974-76); Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Executive Vice President of Texas Woman's University (1976-78) and Professor of Psychology and President of Texas Wesleyan University from 1978-1984. In 1983, Jon was appointed to the Governor's Select Committee on Public Education resulting in House Bill 72. He was chairman of the Academic Subcommittee and Vice Chairman of the Teaching Profession Subcommittee. Out of these two committees came various reform recommendations including "no pass-no play," textbook and curricular revisions, teacher testing and a Gubernatorial appointed State Board of Education. In 1985-86 Jon served on the Executive Committee of the Governor's Criminal Justice Task Force. He co-chaired the Health Affairs Subcommittee and was Vice Chairman of the Education Subcommittee. He was Chairman of the Mental Health Advisory Committee to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Windham ISD of the TDCJ. In 2003, he was appointed co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Texas eLearning Initiative, charged with identifying and making recommendations to the Legislature for technology's rapid and effective integration in Texas' schools.
Tom Burnett, Vice Chairman (e-mail)
Tom Burnett is the Manager of Strategic Initiatives for Apple Computer, Inc. in Austin, Texas. He was also Vice President for Product and Business Development at ArticuLearn Inc. Tom received his Ph.D. in General School Administration with an emphasis in Computer Science and Educational Research and Statistics from The University Missouri-Columbia; he also received his M.A. and B.S. degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has taught in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Lee’s Summit High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He has also served as Executive Director of Technology Services for the Austin Independent School District and Director of Technology for the Independence Missouri School District.
Torrence Robinson, Vice Chairman (e-mail)
Torrence is senior director, community affairs and Fluor Foundation for the Fluor Corporation where he is responsible for the development and execution of global strategies and initiatives that enhance the company's long tradition of community service, especially in the areas of education and human services. He co-founded The Infinity Project, a national program that delivers math and science-based engineering curriculum to secondary students. Torrence also founded The Compelling Why, a nonprofit organization that produces seminars that inspire and connect middle and high school students in the "academic middle" to programs that promote the college-going culture and academic enrichment. He is involved in several public education initiatives to improve student achievement and frequently presents to students, faculty and education organizations on the issues facing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the United States.
Martha Harris, Secretary (e-mail)
Martha is currently serving as the Director, External Affairs for AT&T Texas. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services. Prior to joining SBC/AT&T in October 2003, Martha served as a public policy consultant to SBC for nine years with particular emphasis on economic development, telemedicine, and educational issues. A former classroom teacher, Martha also represented Texas State Teachers Association and the Council of South Texas Economic Progress before the legislature for over 12 years. She is currently serving her third term as a council member for the City of Bastrop, Texas. She is also a founding member of the Bastrop Education Foundation and a member of Texas Business and Education Coalition Coordinating Committee.
David Webb, Treasurer (e-mail)
David is the CFO for Deer Park Independent School District. He is responsible for managing the budget and leads the business office operations. David has served as the CFO for LaPorte Independent School District, Executive Director for Business & Finance for the Alief ISD, Director of Accounting & Payroll for Pasadena ISD, and Controller/Internal Auditor for Alvin ISD. He has served as the President of the Texas Association of School Business Officials. David is a member of the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Business and Education Coalition.
Board Members
Arthur L. Baird, Former Vice Chairman, Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries, Inc.
Gretchen M. Bataille, Former President, University of North Texas
Dan Branch, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
Darlene Brown, Director Alternative Certification, University of Texas at El Paso
Gene Buinger, Superintendent, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Patti Clapp, Vice President Workforce Development, Dallas Regional Chamber
John Cornyn, United States Senator - Texas
Bill Daggett, Advisory Director, CEO, International Center for Leadership in Education
David E. Daniel, President, The University of Texas at Dallas
Robert Duron, Superintendent, San Antonio ISD
Rob Eissler, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Public Education
Gayle Fallon, President, Houston Federation of Teachers
Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of the KIPP Foundation
John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Texas High School Project
John Folks, Superintendent, Northside Independent School District
Terry N. Ford, Executive Director, East Dallas Community Schools
Lorenzo Garcia, Superintendent, El Paso Independent School District
Jeanne Gerlach, Dean of the College of Education, The University of Texas at Arlington
Terry B. Grier, Superintendent, Houston Independent School District
John D. Hofmeister, Founder/CEO Citizens for Affordable Energy
Dianne Johnson, Former member, Houston Independent School District Board of Education
Melody A. Johnson, Superintendent, Fort Worth Independent School District
Susan C. Kellner, Trustee, Spring Branch independent School District
Daniel P. King, Superintendent, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
Duncan F. Klussmann, Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD
Susan H. Landry, Director, Children's Learning Institute, UT Health Science Center, Houston
Vidal G. Martinez, Martinez Partners LLP (Former Chairman)
Harvin C. Moore, Trustee, Houston ISD Board of Education, CEO, Space Services, Inc.
Geanie W. Morrison, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
Jim Nelson, Executive Director, AVID
Diane Patrick, State Representative, member of the House Appropriations and Higher Education Committees
Cynthia Pearson, Executive Director, Day Nursery of Abilene
Pedro Reyes, Ashbel Smith Chair in Education Policy, The University of Texas at Austin
Richard Rhodes, President, El Paso Community College
Randle Richardson, President & CEO, Community Education Partners
David Russell, Vice President, Verizon (Former Chairman)
John Sawyer, County School Superintendent, Harris County Department of Education
Jake B. Schrum, President, Southwestern University
Florence Shapiro, State Senator and Chair, Senate Committee on Education
J David Thompson III, Partner, Thompson & Horton, LLP
Johnny Veselka, Executive Director, Texas Association of School Administrators
Robert Wimpelberg, Dean, College of Education, University of Houston
Justin Yancy, Executive Director, Governor's Business Council
Sylvia McMullen, Executive Director, TERF